March 23, 2003
Lawrence Lessig writes about MIT Press requesting permission to publish single lines from 12 different songs in a book being released this summer. They requested permission and received 10 forms and two replies.
One reply, from the representatives of the Kinks, demanded $1500 … for permission to reprint a single line "help me, help me, help, me sail away" from the song "Sunny afternoon," and $10,000 for a more extensive quote.
The other reply, from representatives of the Kobain estate (which I assume is within Courtney Love?s control) forbids him from reprinting the line "polly says her back hurts? from the Nirvana song "Polly."
MIT has nonetheless decided that these words are protected by fair use, despite these demands.
Sounds about right to me.
