Homeless piano guy goes viral, gets ripped off

[glo]

TLDR context: Woman finds a homeless guy stricken with addiction, can barely talk and all but can seemingly play the piano flawlessly. Plays his own composition for her, video goes viral.



Come to find out that this lady is somehow partnered with YouTube, she's easily pulling in $5,000+ for a video with over 3 million views, likely to be much more since articles have only been breaking since yesterday.

Come across this: http://fox6now.com/2014/11/02/haunti...retty-amazing/

The woman apparently has the audacity to claim that she'll spend the partner money as she sees fit, giving it to a social agency to help homeless people.

Here's the issue, she doesn't own the music that she's profiting off of, he does. She has no right to be taking ad money in the first place, let alone deciding it should go to anyone buy the poor guy that she's filming.

Could this guy in theory lawyer up and sue?

[nyjl]

In USA? Easy.

[glo]

In USA? Easy.

It's in Canada. The whole "derp derp US lawsuits are ez and stupid" thing is irrelevant anyway considering that the overwhelming majority of first world countries observe copyright law.

[diddle]

Am I the only one who thinks this is a full party scam given he's wearing a wig? That or he has access to some damn fine smoothing shampoo for being homeless.

[AeneasBK]

The idea that you can own music is disgusting

[belfpala]

If it's his composition, he has copyright. So yes, he could lawyer up.

[Wilian]

If it's his composition, he has copyright. So yes, he could lawyer up.

I don't know what sort of laws there are but in Finland you are allowed to record everything in public space.

[Deleted]

Homeless guy gets ripped off. More shocking news at 11.

[Deleted]

So yes, he could lawyer up.

Yeah. A homeless drug addict will, of course, "lawyer up".

[belfpala]

I don't know what sort of laws there are but in Finland you are allowed to record everything in public space.

In the US there are distinct copyrights for the composition and for the recording. For example, if I go pick up my guitar and whack out an improvised song, I have the rights to that combination of notes. If I then go into a studio paid for by a record company and record it, they have rights to that recording (assuming no other agreements).

So there's a fine line in this one. He was performing in a public space. He was also performing at the request of someone recording him. There was no indication he was giving away his composition copyright, or had previously.

Therefore I'm at an... IDK point.

- - - Updated - - -

Yeah. A homeless drug addict will, of course, "lawyer up".

Could does not equal will. lol.

[glo]

Yeah. A homeless drug addict will, of course, "lawyer up".

Hence the "in theory" part. Lawyers also commonly take cases for free when they know it's a pretty cut and dry win and take their fee from the settlement.

[Bladeface]

Am I the only one who thinks this is a full party scam given he's wearing a wig? That or he has access to some damn fine smoothing shampoo for being homeless.

what are you talking about.... his hair looks like any homeless person I have ever seen.

[diddle]

what are you talking about.... his hair looks like any homeless person I have ever seen.

Even disregarding his hair, where the fuck did this fully functional piano come from on "on the street"?

[AeneasBK]

Even disregarding his hair, where the fuck did this fully functional piano come from on "on the street"?

People throw stuff out because they don't want to keep it and can't be arsed to dispose of it in other ways.

What surprised me most is that he wasn't really that amazing at the piano. Was expecting more considering the word "flawlessly" in the OP, but I'm a bit of a music snob, you can probably tell.

[Deleted]

I'm finding it really difficult to remotely care... I imagine the hobo doesn't either

[Immitis]

i thought you only have the copyright for something if you file for copyright/trademark/whatever.

maybe im wrong though.

but even so, this shit happens all the time. that homeless guy probably doesnt even know. its her video she can spend the money however she wants. unless someone files a copyright claim.

[RH92]

Even disregarding his hair, where the fuck did this fully functional piano come from on "on the street"?

I think some group of people decided to randomly place pianos on street, the idea was to give music to public or something.

I found the link: http://www.streetpianos.com/

[Elian]

Reminds me of Skinny Pete.

[Slant]

The idea that you can own music is disgusting

What is the alternative for the composer to earn money?

[AeneasBK]

What is the alternative for the composer to earn money?

Oh, there isn't a working one in the world as it is set up now. I have... radical... opinions on music (for starters that its not as rare a talent as it's made out to be) I don't mind people getting paid to play music, or even people paying to hear music. But on the other hand suing someone for plagiarism because they used some notes in the same order or rhythm as "your" song... is disgusting.

If you hadn't said "money", I'd have simply answered that "being listened to and enjoyed should be payment enough" but you're right that doesn't put food on the table