Judge Rules Ringtones Aren't Performances

The legal scuffle between the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and the mobile carriers it sued has come to a close. ASCAP argued that it deserved to collect royalties every time one of its licensed ring tones was played on a Verizon or AT&T phone, claiming the typically twenty second-long sound bits to performances. But a court ruling from US District Judge Denise Cole deemed ASCAP’s argument insubstantial, likening the situation to “demanding royalties when someone plays the radio with the car windows down.” [Daily Swarm]

Going after the wireless powers that be is a risky move. Here are some smaller targets ASCAP can pick on next time:

• The designers of musical toothbrushes
• Buskers who do crappy Beatles covers 
• Strippers who dance to music
• Anyone who watches a stripper dance to music
• Anyone who fantasizes about watching a stripper dance to music
• Party hosts who play Girl Talk for their friends
• Girl Talk

Who do you think ASCAP should sue? Leave your thoughts below.