The answer is ‘no’, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, although the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers believes otherwise. ASCAP is involved in legal action with AT&T, which points out that songwriters and music publishers are already paid for each ringtone download - but ASCAP wants to collect a payment for the ‘public performance’ of those ringtones in a similar way to the rules that mandate radio stations, shopping centres and restaurants need permission to play music. [EFF.org]