…from the This Charming Charlie Tumblr…

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

With no local music news to speak of today, I thought I’d chime in on the latest Morrissey controversy. Morrissey fans already are aware of the “This Charming Charlie” Tumblr, which marries some of Morrissey’s best lines to Peanuts cartoons. Well apparently the blokes at Universal and Johnny Marr tried to take the site down with a copyright claim. Morrissey chimed in from his unofficial website True To You.

“Morrissey is represented by Warner-Chappell Publishing, and not Universal Music Publishing, (who have allegedly demanded that the lyrics be removed).  Morrissey is delighted and flattered by the Peanuts comic strip with its use of Morrissey-Smiths lyrics, and he hopes that the strips remain.”

And remain they do. It apparently came down to a question of “Fair Use” vs. copyright claims. Both Marr and Morrissey control the Smiths’ songs’ copyright, so either can license others to use the lyrics. With Morrissey’s approval of Charming Charlie, the litigation threat, it appears, went away. Read the details (and learn a little about Fair Use) at the Tumblr site and then enjoy some Charming Charlie…

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In this week’s column, why I listen to Magic 1490 AM, the new all-oldies renegade station. You can read it in this week’s issue of The Reader or online right here.

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Tonight at Slowdown Jr., Saturn Moth takes the stage with Hussies and Manic Pixie Dream Girls. $5, 9 p.m. Check out some MPDG below…

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Read Tim McMahan’s blog daily at Lazy-i.com — an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. Copyright © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.