Posted on 06/16/2007 9:04:30 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
(CBS) TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Charlie Crist signed legislation Friday that makes it a misdemeanor for people to take the stage using the name of a band if they're not really the band who made the name famous, making it illegal in Florida to fake your way to fame by using another band’s name.
The new law prohibits people or groups from advertising or holding a live performance using a "false, deceptive, or misleading statement of an affiliation, connection, or association between a performing group and a recording group."
Backers of the bill to ban rock-n-roll impostors claimed this is actually a serious problem. Groups have held performances claiming to be the Coasters, the Drifters, the Shirelles, the Platters and other old groups when none of the original members were actually on stage.
Groups including condo associations who hired the impostors often had no idea no original members of the band were involved.
Bands will still be able to use the name of the original acts if at least one member of the group was a member of the original act and has the legal right to use the name.
If an organization holds a legal trademark, it would be able to use the trademarked band name even if no original members are involved. Tribute bands could perform as long as it's clear that's what they are.
Crist also signed legislation to strengthen penalties for the possession of child pornography and requiring sexual predators to register their e-mail addresses and online chat names with authorities.
Just to be on the safe side, I think you should stay out of Florida for a while. ;-)
Maybe we can outlaw corporate Clearchannel “rock” next.
“Now appearing: Dick Dale and at least one Del-Tone.”
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