Originally Posted by
MyUsername
In belgium some reporters showcased some outrageous conduct by the Belgian version of this type of organisation. They are called SABAM here.
They made up some artists and songs, just out of thin air and then they told SABAM that they organized a concert and those imaginairy artists were booked. The thing is there were no songs, no protected intellectual property at all BUT they still got a bill for a couple hundred euros. There was no actual concert, no actual music, yet still a bill.
They payed the bill anyways and went to collect some money in name of the artists that they made up, but then they were told that they were not covered by SABAM and the artists couldn't collect fees.
So they charge for not covered artists but they don't pay the artists they collect for.
Pretty outrageous.
They also did some other stuff just to fuck with them, like organize a party with lights and everything but they did no promotion and they themselves also didn't show up, so that you have a party with litterally 0 people. Since no one is hearing the music they can't collect money.
Or organize parties with a footprint smaller then 1 square meter, because if you read their policy to the letter they can't collect for that either.
Anyways after their report made it to national television their conduct was altered any are now a lot looser, they 're still bastards, but looser bastards.
And hey, there 's one shimering piece of hope: ACTA was rejected by the EU recently.
EDIT: I wrote this in sleep deprived state, did it make any sense at all ? Much love ;)
