Are jingles protected?
Are radio station ID jingles protected by copyright? If so, I think Microsoft is in some trouble!
Upon firing up Money 2005, I was greeted with the program's "launch" sound: launch.wav. I almost fell out of my chair - it's the WCCO audio logo! The same jingle I heard countless times growing up in Minnesota, where listening to 830 AM is virtually inescapable.
Listen to the two files and see for yourself - the Microsoft version has different orchestration, obviously, but the jingle is 100% identical - same notes, same rhythm. The only difference is that most (but not all) versions of 'CCO's jingle have a little pause and a stinger: W-C-C.........O! Not enough, I wouldn't think, to make this a new composition.
I wonder if the WCCO accounting department uses Money 2005? *evil grin*
Upon firing up Money 2005, I was greeted with the program's "launch" sound: launch.wav. I almost fell out of my chair - it's the WCCO audio logo! The same jingle I heard countless times growing up in Minnesota, where listening to 830 AM is virtually inescapable.
Listen to the two files and see for yourself - the Microsoft version has different orchestration, obviously, but the jingle is 100% identical - same notes, same rhythm. The only difference is that most (but not all) versions of 'CCO's jingle have a little pause and a stinger: W-C-C.........O! Not enough, I wouldn't think, to make this a new composition.
I wonder if the WCCO accounting department uses Money 2005? *evil grin*
posted by Bob at
10:07 PM
2 Comments:
While splitting my time between Alaska and the midwest, I heard the same jingle tune (different words, different companies) on radio stations in both places. Later while working on purchasing advertising from a national agency, I learned that jingle companies sell the rights to just one company within a certain predetermined geographical market, then they will turn around and sell the same jingle tune to another company in a different market. Companies are aware of this when they purchase the limited rights.
While I don't know the specifics of the Microsoft case, who they bought it from and what kind of rights they purchased would be interesting to learn. Did they buy out the radio station's rights? Was the radio station even still using it? You can't be the only one who noticed this - I wonder if anyone else has looked into it.
-elle
www.intolerantelle.com
By
Anonymous, at 5:23 PM
Thanks for the observation, Elle! While I've heard other radio stations' ditties used in different markets, I haven't come across the 'CCO tune anyplace else before this. Interesting to know that stations in your neck of the woods are using the same theme... I would have thought WCCO was a big enough gorilla that they'd have exclusive rights to the tune!
Since Microsoft is a nation (international!) player, this would seem to be an even worse situation, since now their "Money is starting" sound is impinging on not just one station's identity, but on many stations in many markets.
I'm just as curious as you are how MS came by its new sound, and whether anyone at the various organizations already using that jingle are OK with its use, or have any legal rights. Do you suppose that no one cares enough to go toe-to-toe with Goliath?
As you said, I can't be the only one who's noticed this!
Last night, however, I passed on a link to my blog entry to the WCCO radio people, just in case. ;) I'll post any response I get from them.
By
Bob, at 7:15 PM
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