On one hand, this is an insult to personal liberty and an example of how deathless, uncaring corporations will consume until all is destroyed.

On the other hand, this might be only way to stop people from cycling through their ringtones at full volume on the bus.

I'm torn.

Wow. Despite their being devastatingly anti-consumer, I must admit that some of the ASCAP arguments, though rebutted by precedence, are very clever. They must have a seriously twisted legal counsel to make some of those allegations.

This still cheesed me off much less than companies patenting sections of MY OWN DNA. Man, that's annoying.

Additionally, it's illegal to monitor certain radio frequencies (wireless telephones). That bothers me a bit because they are passing through MY body and all.

(Annoyance, the feeling of being annoyed and other nearby emotions are patented by Monsanto. $0.002c annoyance fee has been charged).

(More seriously, why doesn't you having your DNA count as 'prior art'?)

(It might, but a judge has not yet been given the chance to say one way or the other)

Summary: ASCAP wants "public performance royalties" for musical tones.

Anyone use a rather standard ringer, like myself?

this guy: http://xkcd.com/479/

I changed mine to be the sound of the communicator from Star Trek:TOS.

I expect to be sued by Paramount in a couple of days.

My text alert is Charmander's self-proclaiming blart as it appears. I expect to live to 20.

Eventually an old Nokia with a standard ringtone comes full circle as "ironic" with the hipster crowd.

::waits::

In the meantime I'll just have to continue enjoying only having to charge my phone once a week...

I'd rather pay for ringtones, knowing part of the part of the proceeds go towards mercilessly countersuing litigious scumbags like this :).

I make my own, though on occasion it's embarrassing to have sci-fi alien noises issuing from my pocket.

Wow, what a nuclear hand grenade this is. By this logic maybe I can earn money every time my likeness is displayed on CCTV in a situation were more than one security guard can see it. That would be a public performance I would think.