Wired News: What’s Next, Ramen Noodles?

0atwong • 3rd Sep 2006 • Conversation Pieces

Wired News: What’s Next, Ramen Noodles?
What if making ramen were like playing guitars?

Last weekend I was sitting on a stool in Sapporo’s famous “ramen alley” trying to decide what type of ramen dish to order for breakfast. I had just read an article in The New York Times reporting that the Recording Industry Association of America was threatening to sue websites that publish guitar music tablature, or tabs, alleging copyright infringement.

The article said that the RIAA considers tabs copyright-protected information. According to the recording industry, even incorrect tabs and tabs developed by users from listening to songs are its property as “derivative works.”

I started thinking about what it would be like if there were an RIAA for ramen.