[KRAFTWERK] Re: Karl Bartos Interview

[Klaus Zaepke]

> > ... probably it isn't such a big difference anyway,
> > since credits are usually regarded as prima-facie proof for
> > copyright.
> 
> Even if generally accepted as such, a public acknowledgement that somone 
> participated in the production of something in the form of a 'credit' 
> doesn't necessarily grant the credited party the exclusive legal right of an 
> originator or his assignee to publish or perform musical material &/or to 
> authorize others to do the same. 
> So, it makes a difference if one seeks a legal battle; record sleeves aren't 
> necessarily the best piece of 'evidence'.

Sure, but quite often it is the only piece of evidence that is 
available...


> As long as the recordings are 
> registered in Bartos name (as well the others) with mechanical rights 
> societies on various continents, 

Yes, sure, I just guess it isn't very likely that on the one hand they 
acknowledge his copyright (thus registering the composition under 
his name), but refuse to credit him on the album sleeve. It seems 
much more likely that they don't acknowledge his claimed 
authorship at all ("He was just a hired drummer" etc.)...


> it'd take a naive court to accept a record sleeve as the 'whole 
> truth'.

Yes, but when the authorship is not clear, and Karl Bartos' word 
stands against Ralf Huetter's, the court would probably believe the 
one who is credited on the album sleeve, assuming that no better 
evidence is available.
 

>     And Herr Doktor Bartos seems to have no problems 'making use' of his 
> copyright...

How do you know that he doesn't have to pay royalties for that 
track when he plays it in concert?

    Klaus Zaepke