Little Red Tape

*KROW* · 09-15-2007, 08:27 AM

I was thinking of putting this in the Music section, but figured it'd be best here. But, if it needs moving, then... yeah.

Quote:

U.S. pop star Prince plans to sue YouTube and other major Web sites for unauthorized use of his music in a bid to "reclaim his art on the Internet."

The man behind hit songs "Purple Rain," "1999" and "When Doves Cry" said on Thursday that YouTube could not argue it had no control over which videos users posted on its site.

"YouTube ... are clearly able (to) filter porn and pedophile material but appear to choose not to filter out the unauthorized music and film content which is core to their business success," a statement released on his behalf said.

YouTube responded by saying it was working with artists to help them manage their music on the site.

"Most content owners understand that we respect copyrights, we work every day to help them manage their content, and we are developing state-of-the-art tools to let them do that even better," said YouTube chief counsel Zahavah Levine.

"We have great partnerships with major music labels all over the world that understand the benefit of using YouTube as another way to communicate with their fans."

In addition to YouTube, Prince plans legal action against online auctioneer eBay and Pirate Bay, a site accused by Hollywood and the music industry as being a major source of music and film piracy.

The legal action is the latest bid by the music industry to wrest back control over content in an age where file sharing, mobile phones and video sites make enforcing copyright increasingly difficult.

But it is believed to be rare for an individual artist of Prince's stature to take on popular Web sites, while some up-and-coming performers actually encourage online file sharing to create a fan base and buzz around a record.

"Prince strongly believes artists as the creators and owners of their music need to reclaim their art," the statement added.

British company Web Sheriff has been hired to help coordinate the action.

"In the last couple of weeks we have directly removed approximately 2,000 Prince videos from YouTube," said Web Sheriff managing director John Giacobbi.

"The problem is that one can reduce it to zero and then the next day there will be 100 or 500 or whatever. This carries on ad nauseam at Prince's expense," he told Reuters.

He said his company had also removed around 300 items from eBay, where whole lines of pirated goods trading on Prince's name had appeared, including clocks, socks, mugs and key rings.

Prince's latest initiative is likely to please record industry executives and music retailers, who have not always seen eye-to-eye with the 49-year-old.

He has referred to the record industry as "the speculation business" and gave away copies of his new album "Planet Earth" for free with a British Sunday newspaper.

SOURCE

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Thank you, Prince. Finally, someone who can overshadow Lars Ulrich and his spat with Napster years ago.

**Barkworm** · 09-16-2007, 02:10 AM

You know, this is weird since this is the same guy who basically gave his latest album away for free with a British newspaper.

**GK Punk** · 09-16-2007, 02:13 AM

So this is what it sounds like... when the doves cry

*Drtooth* · 09-16-2007, 12:19 PM

Prince = anus. Plain and simple.

But forget him... here's a bit that's more interresting reguarding the same thing...

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9778541-7.html

THAT I'll agree with. even if it was a Mel Brooks style parody of the guy, that could get you in trouble.

**GK Punk** · 09-16-2007, 04:18 PM

Meh, Prince is a musical genius. It's hard to be mad at the guy. We've all known he's been pretty secure with his trademarks forever. This is nothing new. and I don't really blame him.

*Drtooth* · 09-16-2007, 05:16 PM

Lemme just say I'm not as mad at him for this as being mean to Weird Al yankovic. That's inexcusable in my book!

But I digress, at least prince owns his own music. Unlike most of the other artists out there. He'll never see any of his music used for diaper ads. Unlike the Beatles....

**GK Punk** · 09-16-2007, 05:30 PM

Yeah and I think that's why I'm cool with Prince doing things like this. It's him who owns the music that he wrote and performed, and he's just looking out for what he feels is best for his art.

I mean with Metallica I was pretty outraged. But for some reason, Prince I kind of understand his reasoning I Guess.

09-16-2007, 02:10 AM	#2
Barkworm Draconian leftist ruler Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 6,761	You know, this is weird since this is the same guy who basically gave his latest album away for free with a British newspaper. __________________ Make ****, not kill!

09-16-2007, 12:19 PM	#4
Drtooth Foot Elite Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,439	Prince = anus. Plain and simple. But forget him... here's a bit that's more interresting reguarding the same thing... http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9778541-7.html THAT I'll agree with. even if it was a Mel Brooks style parody of the guy, that could get you in trouble. __________________ [Insert mildly amusing banner here]

09-16-2007, 05:16 PM	#6
Drtooth Foot Elite Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,439	Lemme just say I'm not as mad at him for this as being mean to Weird Al yankovic. That's inexcusable in my book! But I digress, at least prince owns his own music. Unlike most of the other artists out there. He'll never see any of his music used for diaper ads. Unlike the Beatles.... __________________ [Insert mildly amusing banner here]

09-16-2007, 02:13 AM	#3
GK Punk I'm your Devil Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12,439	So this is what it sounds like... when the doves cry

09-16-2007, 04:18 PM	#5
GK Punk I'm your Devil Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12,439	Meh, Prince is a musical genius. It's hard to be mad at the guy. We've all known he's been pretty secure with his trademarks forever. This is nothing new. and I don't really blame him.

09-16-2007, 05:30 PM	#7
GK Punk I'm your Devil Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12,439	Yeah and I think that's why I'm cool with Prince doing things like this. It's him who owns the music that he wrote and performed, and he's just looking out for what he feels is best for his art. I mean with Metallica I was pretty outraged. But for some reason, Prince I kind of understand his reasoning I Guess.