Silence please

an english rockband, The Planets, has been sued for plagiarism. on their latest album the band included a minute silence. this is said to be an unlawful ‘cover ‘ of “4’33”, a piece by the late composer John Cage, who created a composition with nothing but silence. The Planets have paid the publishers of Cage a six sum figure, to avoid a lawsuit.

questions:

  • how long may silence last, before it’s named a John Cage cover?
  • and what about all the ceremonial minutes of silence performed live? the Cage Estate must have earned a lot after 11 September…