scott wrote:
>> I'm frustrated not so much that I can't use copyrighted material 
>> without permission, but rather than it's not possible to *ask* for 
>> permission.
> 
> Of course it's possible to ask for permission, even if you are a tiny 
> local radio station you can get permission to play songs to the public.

After a whole heap of digging, I discovered that the way to do this 
(apparently) is to apply for a license from a fee collection agency. 
Looking at the prices they're talking about, it boggles my mind that a 
"tiny local radio station" can even come close to affording it. But more 
importantly, a UK license only applies to the UK, so you can't use it on 
the Internet unless you can prove that distribution is limited to UK 
residents (which it isn't, in this case). So that's still no help.

It does, however, explain how coffee shops manage to play music and not 
get sued out of existence. I've always wondered about that...

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