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The message that I got wasn't from the NMPA, it was from the legal representation. I got Michelle Zarr's phone number (who is the only person listed), but that's it.
The letter comes from the law firm who are acting on the instructions of the NMPA, so it should be signed "by" the firm. The fact that you've got somebody's name means that person is a "nobody" who works for the law firm, and will happily work 24/7 if needs be and sleep with anybody remotely important enough so they can make partner; their job is to make sure you comply with the firm's request.
That's life in the legal profession.
A (in sympathy)
"Be good at what you can do" - Fingerbanger"
I have always felt that it is better to do what is beautiful than what is 'right'" - Eliot Fisk
Wedding music and guitar lessons in Essex. Listen at: http://www.rollmopmusic.co.uk
Posted : 05/04/2010 4:51 pm
Topic starter
Maybe I can work that to my advantage. LOL.
I'm not going to deal with it, I don't have any money in this, nor am I making any money, so spending money to make nothing isn't in my best interest. I'll just find an off-shore video uploader, like Mega-Video and upload there or something.
I'll just post a youtube video later this week, in order to pacify my subscribers, and just go from there.
In Space, no one can hear me sing!
Posted : 05/04/2010 5:27 pm
Posted : 05/04/2010 7:22 pm
Topic starter
What are you trying to say? LOL
I just find it funny that I have to make MY OWN recordings WAREZ to make them available LOL.
In Space, no one can hear me sing!
Posted : 06/04/2010 4:14 am
I wonder how long it's going to take to sort this whole internet-copyright thing and provide us with clear boundries. I am surprised about what is up there on Youtube to begin with. Not clear.
Roy
"I wonder if a composer ever intentionally composed a piece that was physically impossible to play and stuck it away to be found years later after his death, knowing it would forever drive perfectionist musicians crazy." - George Carlin
Posted : 06/04/2010 3:53 pm
I suspect that the "side" with the most money on the line won't stop until they either get 100% control or have no money left.
I wrapped a newspaper ’round my head
So I looked like I was deep
Posted : 06/04/2010 6:36 pm
Topic starter
I hope they run out of money soon. They've got to have better things to do.
In Space, no one can hear me sing!
Posted : 06/04/2010 11:40 pm
Topic starter
It's been gutted....I'm kind of sick about it....but I'm going to look at this as a new beginning....new way to do lessons without real TAB, maybe a play along type thing, who knows.
But maybe it will be a good thing.
In Space, no one can hear me sing!
Posted : 09/04/2010 3:27 am
I´m so tired of this! How can these lawyers get away with this. They don´t care about music or the artists, they don´t even realise that internet-tabs are generating MORE revenue for the artists and record companies!
How blind can you be?
I actually wrote mr Rosenthal, of the NMPA, an e-mail, using the address posted earlier in this thread (don´t worry, it´s in plain-no-cursing-language :lol: ). I know Ãt´s not going to help the least, but - hey - I feel I have to speak my mind since this is so ridiculous. This is what I wrote:
Dear mr. Rosenthal,
At present time a lot of internet sites are being contacted by legal representatives of the NMPA & MPA, in being asked to remove any sort of guitar tablature of copyrighted songs from their sites.
I agree that artists should be paid for their work, but I strongly disagree that publishing "tabs" of an artists song on the internet would somehow diminish the revenue for that particular artist - if anything it probably increases it, as more people come in contact with the music and there´s a good probability that several people in fact go out and buy the record, based on this.
I know this e-mail isn´t going to make a difference, but I just had to write to you and speak my mind. I think this action of the NMPA & MPA will hurt the music industry as a whole as well as the individual artists, and I know a lot of people are really upset with this. There must be some way of resolving this, that will benefit both the artists as well as the "user/listener", as the current solution only brings negative consequences for both parties - guaranteed!
Best Regards,
/Staffan Persson
Music Lover
Stockholm, Sweden
I don´t expect to get a reply :roll:
AAAFNRAA
- Electric Don Quixote -
Posted : 09/04/2010 6:56 am
Topic starter
Yeah it won't get you anywhere. I'm not even going to worry about it, the most I'd do is put lyrics and chords in the video...and that's been done alot at Ukulele Underground and they don't get any flack.
In Space, no one can hear me sing!
Posted : 09/04/2010 8:18 am
Mr Rosenthal did actually send me a reply - respect to him for that!
Here´s what he wrote:
Dear Mr. Persson: Thank you for your note. I appreciate your point of view and your obvious love of music, but I disagree with your conclusion. The choice of deciding whether to offer a gratis license for tablature must be made by the publisher and/or the songwriter – not by those running websites. That is what copyright is all about – the right to authorize use. Our ultimate goal is not to shut down websites, but to license websites. Enforcement of copyright is the only tool publishers and songwriters have to protect their rights – essentially, it is the human right of the creator and those owning the works. Enforcing copyrights is the only way to ensure there will be incentive for songwriters to continue to write and for publishers to support those songwriters.
But putting aside the law, morally I have always found it incredibly offensive for people to use the works of others without their permission. Many people say they love artists, but how can they when they use their works without permission and/or without compensation. It is not enough to love the art – you must also love and respect the artist. So perhaps you should focus your frustration toward those who use tablature without authority. Perhaps you can ask them why they believe they have the right to do what they do and why they disrespect the songwriter by not asking for permission. You may find the answers to be inadequate.
I hope that is food for thought. Take care.
Not very surprisingly he focuses on the LAW, and really stands up for those poor artists whose work are being spread over the world, and played and listened to without their explicit permission. :|
AAAFNRAA
- Electric Don Quixote -
Posted : 09/04/2010 11:32 am
Ok, I´m gonna quit bitching about this issue now. Just going to end with the reply I sent to mr. Rosenthal:
Dear mr Rosental,
Thank you for your reply! I won´t bother you with anymore e-mails, but I feel I have to comment on your reply.
I am not at all convinced that music artists anywhere would have a problem with people trying to transcribe one of their songs for purposes of learning to play it for themselves or to teach someone else how to play it.
I do think that would more likely be seen as a sign of respect and admiration for the persons work. If we were talking about performing someone elses songs for the purpose of making money - that would be a whole other issue - one for which I certainly agree that the artists permission should be sought!
It would be very interesting to hear from the music artist community and get their opinion on this, since I feel that this is rather an issue that is being pursued by lawyers and the record companies - not the artists themselves.
For a musiscian it´s the greatest compliment you can get if other people like your music so much that they want to learn it for themselves - and even teach other people!
Music is an art form that exists for the purpose of entertainment. It´s not a commodity like a car or even a painting. To forbid people to try to interpret a song, and to write that down, that´s just not right... it´s just wrong in my opinion.
But I guess we will never understand each others different point of views and will just have to agree to disagree. I do respect your opinions and I thank you for taking the time to write me an answer - for some reason I hadn´t quite expected that.
Best Regards,
/Staffan
AAAFNRAA
- Electric Don Quixote -
Posted : 09/04/2010 11:58 am
Topic starter
But putting aside the law, morally I have always found it incredibly offensive for people to use the works of others without their permission.
Wow, I wonder if he has permission to use the books he pulls this language from, or what paper he plagiarized that from.
In Space, no one can hear me sing!
Posted : 09/04/2010 1:29 pm
Thanks for sharing that Staffan.
I've tried to explain my position on the Tab Takedown page and my recent blog post.
In case you want to focus your frustration at me I only hope my answers so far are adequate. I'm afraid I can't match Mr. Rosenthal in terms of moral outrage.
Posted : 10/04/2010 8:53 am
There is only one question that Mr Rosenthal needs to answer "If you weren't being paid, how much interest would you have in pursuing this?"
I reckon an honest answer would be "None". Mr Rosenthal offers moral outrage by the hour.
I started with nothing - and I've still got most of it left.
Did you know that the word "gullible" is not in any dictionary?
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Posted : 10/04/2010 9:35 am