by Matthew Hennessey

Created on: February 18, 2010

Should guitar tab sites be penalized for displaying free sheet music, lyrics and tablature

Music artists, recording, and publishing companies derive income on sales of recorded and printed music products. Regardless of whether an amateur or professional reproduces any type of copyrighted intellectual property, for whatever reason, the copyright holder is entitled to royalties and/or licensing fees.

Although the internet may be considered by some as a "free access and use library", this does not legally apply to property that is owned by other parties. Free music tablature, lyrics, and sheet music on the web are prime examples of unlawful use of property. Before the internet, sheet music with was sold in stores, with royalties paid to the artists and publishers. The issue isn't limited to music. Video clips, posters, and still pictures of movies, shows, celebrities, and concerts are regularly removed from internet video sites because of copyright issues.

The "gray area" regarding free tablature may stem from the prolific modern use of this music writing medium by musicians who transcribe the music and create the tablature. This is not very different than a musician transcribing music and creating traditional sheet music, or recording a version of a piece of copyrighted music. Even if no income is derived, the potential is there. There are very strict rules on what can and cannot be done with copyrighted music and other intellectual property, and given the blazing growth of the internet, new laws and rules have been slow to follow.

Learning and sharing information, music or otherwise, is the cornerstone of modern life with the internet. Are the people sharing the information entitled to share it in the first place? If they created it themselves, the answer is an easy "yes". If they are simply passing on the hard work and property of others without consent, it's probably a "no".

The internet has turned the music industry on its head in many ways. Some of them good, some of them not. While most any music artist would be thrilled at the prospect of so many musicians wanting to learn and perform their songs, it tends to hit them in the pocketbook the same way illegal downloading of songs does. Many artists have taken to extra touring schedules as a way to meet expenses, as CD and music book sales steadily decline. It's a matter of economics: If buyers aren't buying, businesses suffer or fail.

Most agree that the music business does need a bit of "adjusting". CD prices and music books are quite high, and the average person just can't afford them. But look what has been done to compensate-concert tickets are higher than ever. Any business will always have a certain amount of overhead to cover, and profits it must make. In the end, what might seem free today, will be paid for in other ways tomorrow.

The only legal and fair alternative, the guitar tab sites and their users, is to initiate a fair and reasonable subscription or per-unit price. Artist royalties will be paid for what they create, their partner businesses get paid for their time and effort, the site makes some money, and the buyer receives something of value. Tab, sheet music, and lyric quality will improve, and all will be right with the world.  

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