By STU JOHNSON
Western Kentucky Senator Whitney Westerfield CREDIT TWITTER.COM
The Kentucky General Assembly is considering ways to prevent fraudulent musical acts in the state. Senate Bill 222 got committee approval last week.
Judiciary Committee Chair and Bill Sponsor Whitney Westerfield said it’s not a rampant issue or runaway problem. Westerfield added the request came from the Recording Industry Association of America. “They want to prevent and create a civil way of prohibiting, or stopping, and ceasing people from committing fraud in claiming to be a performing artist or group that they aren’t or claiming to have authorization as a group, when they don’t.”
Westerfield noted such actions are harmful to consumers, but also to performing artists or their families and organizations. “I mean tribute bands are fine, but you can’t, and I joked with a reporter on twitter a week or so ago, he can no longer moonlight as Spruce Bringsteen. You can’t be that close to the name without having someone from the original group or having their authorization to do it,” explained Westerfield.
The legislation sets out civil penalties ranging from not less than $5000 or more than $15,000 per violation.
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