National’s DVD copyright questioned
The NZ Herald reports that the music used in National’s DVD about John Key may be similiar enough to Coldplay’s Clocks to infringe copyright.
Now my musical talent is somewhere between retarded and non-existent so I can offer no opinion on whether it is too similiar or not. But I would make two observations:
- If the music is too similar, then I would be placing some high grade explosives under the professional production company who made the DVD – their job is to know what you can and can’t do in this area, and are the experts.
- Regardless of the professional responsibility resting with the production company, someone within National should have made 100% sure the DVD had no legal or copyright issues with it. When associating a party brand or the Leader’s brand with something, you need to make certain beyond doubt that it will not bite you in the rear. Politics is an arena where even the most minor potential infringement will be noticed and seized upon. Every photo you use has to be double checked for model release etc etc.
I suspect there will be a few unhappy people today. Of course it may not infringe, but even the fact there is a story saying it is debatable is untidy.