2015 California Code
Business and Professions Code - BPC
DIVISION 7 - GENERAL BUSINESS REGULATIONS
PART 3 - REPRESENTATIONS TO THE PUBLIC
CHAPTER 1 - Advertising
ARTICLE 2 - Particular Offenses
Section 17537.12.

17537.12. (a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the Truth in Music Advertising Act.

(b) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) Performing group means a vocal or instrumental group seeking to use the name of another group that has previously released a commercial sound recording under that name.

(2) Person means the performing group or its promoter, manager, or agent. Person does not include the performance venue or its owners, managers, or operators, unless the performance venue owns or produces the performing group, or knew or should have known that the performing group does not have a legal right to perform.

(3) Recording group means a vocal or instrumental group, at least one of whose members has previously released a commercial sound recording under that group s name and in which the member or members have a legal right by virtue of use or operation under the group name without having abandoned the name or affiliation with the group.

(4) Sound recording means a work that results from the fixation on a material object of a series of musical, spoken, or other sounds regardless of the nature of the material object, such as a disk, tape, or other phonorecord, in which the sounds are embodied.

(c) No person shall advertise or conduct a live musical performance or production through the use of a false, deceptive, or misleading affiliation, connection, or association between a performing group and a recording group unless any of the following apply:

(1) The performing group is the authorized registrant and owner of a federal service mark for the group registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

(2) At least one member of the performing group was previously a member of the recording group and has a legal right by virtue of use or operation under the group name without having abandoned the name or affiliation of the group.

(3) The live musical performance or production is identified in all advertising and promotion as a salute or tribute, and the name of the vocal or instrumental group performing is not so closely related or similar to that used by the recording group that it would tend to confuse or mislead the public.

(4) The advertising does not relate to a live musical performance or production taking place in this state.

(5) The performance or production is expressly authorized by the recording group.

(d) (1) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) per violation, as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 17206. An action for a civil penalty shall be brought by a public prosecutor as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 17206 and shall be enforceable as a civil judgment.

(2) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to the equitable remedies described in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 17200) of Part 2.

(3) Nothing in this section shall preclude prosecution of a violation of this section under any other provision of law.

(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 140, Sec. 20. Effective January 1, 2010.)