In a libel case, the use of subjective adjectives — instead of objective adjectives that convey facts — may be the undoing of a TV station or journalist. They can imply that the writer had malicious intent when they wrote a statement. Al Tompkins gives an example sentence: “The city councilman flashed an evil look as he voted in favour of the contract.” It may be true that he smiled at his contractor friend who funded his reelection, but “evil” is an opinion, and a potentially malicious one at that. Read full article here
Oddities
Why Do Modern Pop Songs Have So Many Credited Writers?
The music industry has changed dramatically over the last few decades – with the number of songwriters credited on number one hits more than doubling. This is due to a combination of factors, including money, the computer and a changing definition of what songwriting is. For example, if The Beatles’ classic “I Feel Fine” was released today, it would likely have four writers credited instead of two, due to the influence of producers, samples and interpolations. With the rise of lawsuits, artists now preemptively add songwriter credits to their songs, even if the similarities between their song and the source material are coincidental. It all goes to show that the music industry is becoming more complex and competitive. Read full article here
Merv
March 29, 2023
