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Decision of Note: Songs in Karaoke Not Fair Use

By ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |
July 31, 2007

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit decided that the unlicensed use of songs for karaoke recordings was not a fair use. Zomba Enterprises Inc. v. Panorama Records Inc., 06-5013. Panorama produces monthly karaoke CDs of re-recorded recent hits, with graphic displays of the songs' lyrics. After Nashville attorney Linda Edell sent cease-and-desist letters for Zomba to Panorama over the unlicensed use of Zomba compositions for the karaoke CDs, Zomba sued for copyright infringement. Panorama then agreed to a consent order to stop releasing karaoke recordings with Zomba songs, but breached the order within a few days. The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee subsequently granted summary judgment for Zomba.

Affirming, the Sixth Circuit began by noting: 'Countless people have lined up at various venues to perform their favorite songs with, and in front of, their friends. But few participants (with the possible exception of IP lawyers) ever stop to consider the intellectual property regime governing karaoke.' The court also noted that 'Panorama Records, Inc. ('Panorama'), a purveyor of karaoke discs, resembles the majority of these participants. It entered the business of recording and selling karaoke discs without considering whether doing so infringed the intellectual property rights of others. Before long, this lack of foresight caught up with Panorama.'

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