The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #126218   Message #2802558
Posted By: GUEST,Ian Anderson
03-Jan-10 - 07:46 PM
Thread Name: Free Rare Old Folk Album Downloads
Subject: RE: Free Rare Old Folk Album Downloads
The people behind the Time Has Told Me site have a very bad track record in terms of putting stuff up for free downloads without consulting the copyright holders or the performers (whichever is most appropriate)

I can confirm this from personal experience. They're continually having to be asked to take stuff down, some of which is even bad dubs from old vinyl copies when the material is currently available decently on legitimate CD re-issue - and even on releases owned by the artists themselves. The only good thing I can really find to say about them is that they do take the stuff down when asked, but it seems they can't even be bothered to run simple checks to find artists - many of whom are easily traceable these days through the wonders of the internet - to ask first before posting. I was particularly upset to find them putting up a badly dubbed copy of a crap album I did to get out of a major label contract in 1969 and had hoped had vanished without trace. If I wanted it heard again (I don't), I would have made sure it was at least re-mastered properly from the original tapes - and would also have earned something for the indignity!

They're not the only ones doing this, but I'm annoyed by the way they hide behind the righteous cloak of being "enthusiasts". Enthusiasts have respect and don't steal.