A comment at the (heated) LGF discussion on the terrorists-for-bodies swap (see below) links to a very interesting letter in the Jerusalem Post. It seems that Dror Feiler ripped off the music for his infamous exhibit in Stockholm.
The letter is signed by Robert Van Bahr, Chairman of BIS Records in Stockholm. He says that, as background music for his "Snow White" exhibit, Feiler used a BIS recording of Bach's Cantata No. 199, Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut (My Heart Swims in Blood) -- without permission or attribution. Mr. Van Bahr's attempts to resolve the issue directly with Feiler were unsuccessful.
The Swedish Copyright Act clearly states that the rightholders - in this case the record company and performing artist, since Bach is in the public domain - have the exclusive right to decide about the work recorded. No one else has the right to copy, arrange and/or make publicly available such a work without the rightholders' prior consent. Not only did Feiler not seek any such permission, he didn't even care enough to know whose recording, with what artists, he had stolen, mutilated and unlawfully exhibited; odd behavior from someone who so vehemently defends his own "art."
I therefore went to the Swedish police and brought charges against Feiler for his theft, and against the Museum of National Antiquities for playing unauthorized music on its premises. The museum, after consultation with its lawyers, had to give in and closed down the music part of the installation as of January 22. Rumours are Feiler is now searching high and low for a recording older than 50 years, so he can stamp on the artists' droit moral with impunity.
ROBERT VON BAHR
BIS Records
Stockholm
I do so hope this story is legit.
Update: I now see that Imshin has it, too, as well as some typically insightful comments on the "prisoner swap" and other stuff.
