Canadian copyright cops crack down on dentists

Watch out Dentists, here come the copyright cops! The music industry in Canada is cracking down on professionals in Canada who play music in their offices. In the US the copyright law is also such that playing music in an office may be a "public performance" that the business should have to pay for.

Similar copyright laws exist in the United States. Some dentists, doctors and law offices choose to use background music services like Muzak or DMX Music, which take care of the licensing drudgery via subscription fees. Those who opt to play their own iPods, CDs, records or tapes are required to pay the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; Broadcast Music Inc., or BMI; and SESAC, a performing-rights organization. These organizations represent songwriters, composers and publishers. Because these groups represent different copyright owners, professionals who play their own music in their offices must pay fees to some or all of the organizations.

Music played through headsets worn by patients may be considered public performance, too, since multiple patients use the headsets throughout the day, according to Jerry Bailey, a spokesman for BMI. If the office is particularly small, they may be exempt from paying fees for radio.

Not too cool.