一 奧運報導出現台灣原住民歌聲
當山海間自然迴盪的原住民歌聲，響徹台東縱谷之際，演唱歌曲的這一對老夫婦怎麼想得到，這首阿美族流傳百年的〈歡樂飲酒歌〉竟然傳唱到奧林匹亞運動會上，甚至引發長達三年的國際音樂著作權訴訟！
接到滾石唱片集團的子公司—魔岩唱片的張培仁總經理Landy來電，我已經在中視晚間新聞播報前的「一九九六亞特蘭大奧運特別報導」看了三天宣傳影片，也聆聽了多次這首奧運宣傳曲。當時只覺得歌聲渾厚高亢，洋溢奧運和平、競爭、寬容、光亮的精神，卻從未想到這樣的樂聲居然來自台灣的阿美族歌唱。
總經理Landy以一貫不疾不徐，低沉富磁性的聲音告知這個驚人的重大事件。語氣中透著隱隱的焦慮，給人些許壓力，他說：「律師，妳還記得上個月我們公司簽的原住民藝人郭英男夫婦嗎？出事了……」
怎麼可能忘記呢！這是魔岩唱片簽過的歌手唱片約年紀最大的人，簽約時已經七十三歲，滾石集團內部審慎評估合約的風險及投資的可行性，不過最終在總經理Landy推動「原浪潮」—原住民音樂的堅持之下，滾石老板決心將音樂夢想置於商業考量之上，毅然支持總經理的提案。於是滾石唱片排除萬難，以行動和真摯的態度感動部落與家人，終於獲得這位被譽為阿美族最善於歌唱的原住民長老首肯，夫妻倆簽下生平第一份唱片歌手合約。
咦！不是剛簽約嗎？怎麼會出事了？莫非合約出了問題，不會吧！前幾個月我跟公司法務討論多次，琢磨許久合約才定稿的，怎麼可能一執行就有事?!律師通常心臟要很強，隨時準備迎接無奇不有的悲慘爭端，雖然擬訂修改合約，不會像處理訴訟案件一般刀光劍影，勝負立判。但合約一執行，就看得出律師的功力，倘使合約條文邏輯不通，規範不夠明確，一定會反映在實際操作上，衍生更大的糾紛，所以合約簽署後，在執行過程中，才會測出合約擬訂的優劣。難不成合約沒訂好才出事？我開始忐
忑……
郭英男歌聲成為奧運宣傳曲
原來跟那一份歌手合約無關，總經理說出更令人不敢置信的消息：「這幾天中視的奧運特別報導，律師有看嗎？背景音樂好像就是郭英男唱的歌，我們正設法再蒐集更多資料比對聲音。」
「有啊！這幾天晚上我都看奧運特別報導，沈春華當主播嘛，你是說奧運選手的影片配的歌聲嗎？那是阿美族音樂嗎？聽不太出來，只覺得歌聲高亢、渾厚，震懾人心，咦！你怎麼知道呢？是藝人或部落傳來的消息嗎？」我一邊回想昨晚七點多的中視新聞報導片頭的影片，一面覺得奇怪，奧運宣傳曲怎麼會用到我們台灣原住民的歌聲？
「剛才郭英男他們在台東打電話過來說的，前兩天部落族人聽收音機，聽到奧運的報導，立刻發現背景音樂是郭英男的聲音，趕快告訴郭英男。他們家人一起看中視新聞確認是他唱的，感到很疑惑又生氣，為什麼奧運用他的歌卻沒告訴他？他們就去找台東一位議員請教要怎麼處理，了解事情梗概後，議員跟他們說這種事情跟法律有關，要找律師處理，民意代表幫不上忙，因為可能涉及侵權訴訟。郭老先生也沒認識什麼律師，後來想到有跟唱片公司簽約，就問公司怎麼辦，剛剛製作部同仁才告訴我發生這等大事，我向三毛（滾石老闆段鍾潭）報告後，三毛叫我立刻諮詢律師，這是不是一個音樂侵權事件？我們要怎麼處理？」Landy清楚交代消息來源與事件背景。
歌聲比對鑑定
「奧運歌曲到底有沒有侵權，還是要先確認是不是郭英男的歌聲。你們手上有奧運的宣傳影片跟郭英男的錄音帶或CD嗎？必須先用精密的音響設備同步比對，確定是他的歌聲後，才能判定是否構成侵權。」我先提醒侵權的前提事實及證據的鑑定問題，繼之一想又問道：「奇怪，公司不是還沒幫郭英男錄製唱片嗎？奧運是用哪首歌曲，怎麼拿到郭英男的錄音帶，是他以前還沒簽約時唱的嗎？」
「目前無從得知是怎麼拿到郭英男的音樂，郭家的人說奧運用的是〈歡樂飲酒歌〉。這首歌他們在豐年祭都會唱，是有人錄下來，或是什麼時候請郭英男夫婦唱的，現在還不清楚。事情剛發生，資訊還太少，不過我已經請同事側錄中視的奧運報導背景音樂，還有拜託郭英男的家人從台東寄他以前唱的這首歌錄音帶來比對，應該下午會送到，律師傍晚有空嗎？請妳來公司一起聽，辨認一下，我們再討論怎麼處理這個緊急狀況。」Landy危機處理經驗豐富，立刻付諸行動。
「好，我四點過去公司討論。」我掛斷電話，趕緊交代法務助理盡量蒐集奧運宣傳影片的資訊，我開始找著作權法關於音樂著作及錄音著作的相關規定，再查原住民的音樂有沒有特別規定，後來想到今年奧運在美國亞特蘭大舉行，侵權行為地在美國，於是接著查詢美國著作權法的規定。同時研究如果確定屬於侵權事件，究竟侵害什麼人、什麼權利？不過，還沒能建立整個事件的思考架構，就趕著要到魔岩唱片公司開會了。
踏進魔岩總經理辦公室，看到Landy戴著專業耳機，面對辦公桌後面的大型音響專注地聆聽，轉身看到我，立刻拔掉耳機的插頭，放音樂給我聽，一面解釋：「這是郭英男的歌聲，出現在『謎』樂團（Enigma）《徘徊不定》（The Cross of Chamges）專輯中〈返璞歸真〉（Return to innocence）這首曲子中，律師妳聽聽看。」
音樂流瀉一地，先是前奏，接上原住民歌聲〈歡樂飲酒歌〉，穿插英文唱腔，搭配得天衣無縫，自然順暢，歌曲長度四分十五秒。聽畢一曲，Landy接著放奧運宣傳曲，音樂完全相同，但是樂曲較短，最後將這兩首歌曲分由兩部音響同步播放，完全重疊，無法區分，Landy以他專業的音樂鑑賞力斷定是同一首歌。
I
Disclose the Hidden Voice from East Coast Taiwan
When the Indigenous music echoed in Taitung East Rift Valley and the song flew from mountains to the sea, little did the elderly couple singing “Elders Drinking Song” could imagine, this Amis* song, which has been passed down for centuries, would be presented at the Olympic Games! Not to mention to give rise to a cross-border copyright infringement lawsuit lasting three years long.12
Before I get the phone call from Landy**, the promotional video of Olympics Special Report has been showing in front of me on the evening news of China Television Company (CTV) for three days, and I have no idea how many times I’ve heard this Olympics promotional song already. I only find this sonorous voice a perfect match for the feature of the Olympic Games resembling peace, competition, tolerance, and brilliance. It never crossed my mind that it would be oriented from Taiwan’s Amis folksong.
While Landy is about to disclose this breaking news in his usual manner, calmy and with a low-pitch sound, I could still sense some tension in the tone that puts people under pressure. “Lawyer Huang, do you remember Mr. and Mrs. Duana, the Indigenous artists who signed the contract last month? Something happened ...” He pauses.
Of course I remember them, how can I forget? The couple are the oldest artists that Magic Music has ever signed a contract with. When Mr. Difang Duana put his signature on the agent contract, he was already 73 years old!
At first, Rock Records Group had some concerns over the risks and the investment feasibility. But Landy never gave up on his master plan promoting the Indigenous music and combing the folksongs into a collection named “Het Eyland Formosa.” Landy’s persistence eventually convinced Rock Records Head, so an idealistic rather than realistic decision was made to fulfill this music lovers’ dream.
Yet, there was still something to overcome. The artist couple not only have had high respect from the tribe, but also been found the best singers among Amis people. It was not that easy to get them on board. It took Rock Records a lot of effort and time to knock on the tribe’s door and show its sincerity to the couple and their family. Finally, the couple came to an agreement, accepted the offer and signed the first artist agent contract in their life.
So this contract is still fresh from the oven, what can go wrong? A contract dispute? I don’t think so.
I just finalized the contract with in-house legal a few months ago, and the contract underwent several discussions and revisions between us. I don’t think the contract can go wrong as soon as it leaves the table.
Being a lawyer requires a strong heart. A lawyer has to be prepared for any unexpected and extraordinary disputes. Although contract reviewing does not require an immediate response like in the courtroom, you still can see if this is a capable lawyer once the contract is executed. If the contract terms, conditions or wordings are illogical or ambiguous, problems will arise in the execution, which triggers more significant disputes. So basically, you can tell a good or bad contract drafting by the outcome of the contract execution. Unavoidably, I start to doubt if I overlooked anything in the contract...
Why My Voice on TV?
It turns out it has nothing to do with the artist agent contract; it is something much more unbelievable.
“Lawyer Huang, have you watched the special report about the Olympic Games on CTV? The background music seems the song sung by Difang Duana. At this moment, we are trying to get more details to confirm it.” Says Landy.
“Yes!” I reply, “I’ve been watching the special report in the past evenings with Shen Chun-Hwa as the anchor. Are you talking about the song they play in the Olympic athletes’ clips?” I try to recall. “Is that Amis music? I can’t really tell. I just feel it’s so sonorous, powerful, and so beautiful! How did you learn that it is their voice? Did you get this information from the Amis artist or their tribe?”
While recalling the footage on CTV evening news around 19:25 last night, I find it hard to believe that the Olympics is using a Taiwanese Indigenous song in their promotional music. How come?
“Difang Duana just called me from Taitung and said that two days ago other tribe members heard the Olympics music on the radio and immediately recognized it was his voice in the background. Then they hurried to tell Duana about this.” Landy said. “Watching CTV’s special report with the family, Duana and his family confirmed it is his voice, and he said he feels confused and offended - Why does the Olympics use his voice without telling him?”
“They contacted a Taitung councilor for help. After knowing what was going on, the councilor suggested that engaging an attorney is a better way to handle a legal matter like this as it looks like a copyright infringement, which is out of reach for a role of legislator.”
Landy continues. “Mr.Difang Duana doesn’t know any lawyer. But he remembers he has a contract with us and that is why he called. The staff in our Music Production Department just informed me of this incident, and I reported to Sam*. And Sam would like me to get the answer from you. So, Lawyer Huang, is this a music copyright infringement? What should we do?” By now, Landy finally gets me a clear overview and background explanation. 3
Whose Voice is This ?
So now it’s my turn. First thing first, I need to remind them of holding the facts tight and get experts to testify the evidence.
“Before we can determine if the Olympics promotional song has committed copyrighting infringement, we need to verify if the voice in the song is Difang Duana’s. Do you have the Olympics promotional video and Difang Duana’s recording or CD? You must run audio forensics with precision equipment to ensure that the voice in both clips comes from the same person before jumping into any conclusion.”
Then I shot the other question. “It seems odd to me that there was not any recording made by your company for Difang Duana yet, so how did the Olympics obtain Difang Duana’s recording for the song? Did he make that recording before signing a contract with your company?”
“Right now, we have no idea how they got Difang Duana’s work. According to his family, the song the Olympics used is called “Elders Drinking Song,” which is sung by Amis every year during the harvest festival. Maybe someone taped it during live performance or specifically invited Mr. and Mrs. Duana to sing. Nothing is certain for now. Things just came out, and information we have is very sketchy.”
Nevertheless, armed with rich crisis management experience, Landy knows how to speed things up, so he continues. “I already had my staff record the background music of CTV’s Olympics Special Report and also asked Difang Duana’s family to send us his previous recordings from Taitung so we can run audio forensics. The tapes should arrive this afternoon. Lawyer Huang, are you available this evening? Can you be present with us during the process of voice identification? Then, we can go from there for our discussion on handling the current situation.”
“Alright, I’ll be there at 4:00 p.m.” After this phone conversation, I urge my assistant to gather information about the Olympics promotional video. And the task for me is to review the applicable laws regarding music and audio work, especially if there are some special regulations governing Indigenous music. Not long, it strikes me since this infringement occurred in the US, I should be searching for the Copyright Law of the United States. Suppose we have this copyright infringement case, then the question to ask is - Who are the victims? What right is infringed?”
The clock is ticking. Before a legal framework can be built up in my head, I need to hustle up to the meeting at Magic Stone Music.
When I set my foot into the office, I see Landy listening attentively with a professional headphone in front of a large stereo behind his desk. As he turns around and notices me, he at once unplugs the headphone and plays the music through the speakers for me. “Lawyer Huang, come to listen to it,” Landy explains. “The is Difang Duana’s voice in the song, “Return to Innocence” of Enigma’s album, “The Cross of Changes.”
You can feel the music flows in a very natural and smooth way. The Indigenous song “Elders Drinking Song” begins following the Intro, seamlessly mixed with the English part. Total 4 minates 15 seconds long. Then Landy plays the Olympics promotional song. The music itself of both pieces is identical, except that the promotional song is shorter. Finally, Landy plays both songs synchronously, and they overlap each other perfectly. You cannot tell one from the other. Based on his expertise in the judgment of music performance, he can conclude that they are the same song.
2024專利防護中