April 3, 2009

Dear IFPI (and Blogger)...

Dear IFPI (and Blogger). Thank you so much for your mail of yesterday, notifying me that you’ve taken down one of my posts. In a way I do respect the work you’re doing. I mean, you’re supposed to be the good guys. Aren’t you? And there are indeed plenty of bad guys out there doing their best trying to kill the music industry and stealing the bread out of the mouth of the musicians. So chasing those guys are just fine by me. And since this is my first notification and I do know other bloggers, who have received several, I probably should have no problems with this. But you see. There are a few things I don't understand and I honestly believe that asking blogger to remove my post was a stupid and ignorant thing to do. First of all I have no copy of the post, so it’s gone. Just like that. And since English isn’t my first language it did take a considerable time to write. It might not have looked like it did. But it did! Instead you could have asked me to remove the song within, let’s say 24 hours perhaps? At least that would have saved my writings and made you guys look more human and a little less like those pricks you so suspiciously look like right now. Had you bothered to read my right column (-> the arrow is there to help you, if your mothers didn’t teach you the difference between left and right. And I do have my doubts, because she clearly didn’t bring you up learning to think before e-mailing) you would have seen that I don’t post anything, unless I have a permission or the song is free and legal available somewhere else. So basically my policy, when it comes to posting MP3’s, is that I don’t post anything unless I’m pretty certain that it will be OK posting it. I know “pretty certain” isn’t worth anything from a legal point of view, but trust me. Do I have even the slightest of doubts; I’m not going to post it. So what make you look like pricks, no matter how clever you think you are, is that the song that caused my post to be taken down, was the Still Going Remix of Kingdom of Rust by Doves, which the band itself is giving away for free. Yes for FREE. So before moving on, I suggest you remove whatever is stuck up you’re asses, because it’s evidently keeping in what should be out, thus building up pressure and preventing your brains from functioning. Once you’ve done that, I suggest you once again read the word free. Then taste it, smell it, inhale it, absorb it and (at least try to) understand it. If this doesn’t help and you remain dumb-fucked, nit-picking morons, I suggest you actually check the band’s webpage and then explain to me exactly WHY and HOW I’m violating anything, by sharing what’s already being shared by those who have the rights to what is being shared? Unless of course you think that they aren’t really serious with the whole sharing thing and don’t want anyone to have it after all! But somehow I very much doubt that this is the case. Personally I believe that (in this case at least) the band wants as many people as possible to get the chance to listen to, what they think, is a great remix.
So just because I’m a stubborn and ill-bred human being with a childish attitude despite my 40 years of age (you see – my mother didn’t do such a fantastic job either), I’ve posted the song once again. And I’m not going to make the same mistake twice, so I have a copy of this post and swear that I will re-post it again and again (with the song) no matter how many times you remove it, until you’ve explained to me (in a personal and not some stupid standardized email) what exactly I'm doing wrong. Thank you!
+ Kingdom of Rust (Still going remix)

11 comments:

Krillo said...

Hi Blogger.
The thing is that free is not always free - sometimes it just fells like free - but mainly its data for the record company or the band. Maybe there is a plan for the "free" download on the webpage - maybe they track how many thats going in to the webpage - directly to the download page, or how many that navigates on the page before ending up on the download page.
And copyright rules are generally not to be messed with - what I own I have the right to give away, and that should not be misinterpret as 'what I own, you have the right to give away'. And yes maybe they needed the track taken down - right away, because they had focus on the download - i do not know - and not you either, because you did not ask for permission - you just assumed you were right.
That might be an explanation?

Unknown said...

@Krillo: That’s a pretty good point. And if this is the case I for sure will accept it and remove whatever they ask me to remove. But contacting me in a personal way would have been preferable rather than mailing some lengthy mail with all kinds of legal threats and references. And of course I can see that it’s convenient for the band/label to track downloads etc., so if I’m violating something important then that’s what I’m doing. But I find it very difficult to understand that I’m causing any financial damages whatsoever, since I’m sharing what’s already free for anyone to grab. And just like me you're probably aware of several other blogs out there that should have been closed yesterday, as they are sharing something that we all were supposed to pay for! So if for nothing else, I hope we can agree that chasing me seems like a rather pointless action compared to other blog violations? So perhaps I should just refrain from posting the song and direct people to the band’s webpage instead? Well maybe. But that’s not really the whole idea of an MP3 blog, is it?

Anders said...

Stick it to the Man, Morten!

Like Krillo, I've always found the mp3 blogger's code somewhat dubious ("if it's free there, it's free everywhere"), but, still, 99% of the bands you cover would probably agree with you as you're doing them a favour by spreading their songs. If Doves posted the remix in order to lure people to their website, they might have a problem with your actions, but why should that be the case?

I think you've been subject to a mistake, an uptight IFPI employee, or both.

Søren said...

Sådan Stytzer, stick it to the man!

Søren said...

Honestly, I didn't see Anders' comment before posting mine. Great minds think a like, I guess...

thomas said...

Bands allowing their representatives to perform this sort of ridiculous over-protectiveness, are shooting themselves in the foot. Tell me honestly; where else in a commercialized world do you get free, honest, no bullshit, word-of-mouth advertisement like this?

Idiocy comes in many forms; IFPI is, despite their well meaning efforts, but one.

a Tart said...

here's what i do... grab the url of the track, put it in your html and it comes up from their source as an mp3 on your post. that way you're connecting directly to their page and they keep track of who's getting what and they can turn it off when they wish (which is what they want control over, frankly) and you still get to have something to show up and be aggregated.

now, this is not to say that the IFPI and the RIAA are doing anyone a service by picking on bloggers like you or I. we're music fans, simply directing other fans on how to find music and become even greater fans. more fans = more money for artists, period. unlike those full album download blogs or some ticket scalpers or stupid scammers out there, we're actually often working in tandem and in full communication with artists and their legal representatives. that's not something that the IFPI or RIAA can seem to get their heads around. probably because they're far too far up their own asses.

xoxo,
tart

Danielle said...

ive posted a link to this entry on my blog. i hope its ok.

Unknown said...

Thank you all of you for reading and commenting!

Chris said...

...welcome to the club. :(

Auto guy said...

Great ideas. I think that the internet shoul remain free - music too. Besides, this social thing is a two way street and a lot of musicians and comedians have made it to the top or big leagues because of free internet play.

Here's an interesting article on how CMT took advantage of this free internet thing to help make their CMT countryfried videos a sure hit:
Country Fried Home Videos
(www.mdwholesale.com/Country_Fried_Home_Videos_1.html)