The New Year starts out poorly for karaoke lovers. Because the Ninth Circuit holds here that even after you get the compulsory mechanical license provided by statute, it's not thereby permissible (or fair use) to display the lyrics to the songs as well. That'd be a copyright violation. So if that's what you want to do, you have to pay more.
Oh well. Looks like your tab at the karaoke bar will go up. Unless everyone memorizes all the lyrics. Which ain't gonna happen.
Music Companies 1, Karaoke Singers 0.
