Actually one should count to ten before firing rockets. Quite often a midi collection gets separated from the readme file originally embedded within the collection. Then users re-publish part or all of the collection, and any trail to the originator is both lost. SOmeone else downloads that collection and the cycle repeats. Welcome to the web!

Another aspect is that most folks I've ever bothered to contact were unaware that midi file arrangements are protected by copyright, even if the tune itself is in the public domain. To their credit they have also been quite apologetic when informed of the principles that apply.

There have been a few sites that indeed sent me on a cyber-rant. They either refused to include an acknowledgement of authorship, or tweaked something (e.g., changed an instrument voice or two) in my midi sequences and then claimed authorship themselves. One even charged money to allow access. As is all too common on the web, the behaviour of a few hurts many.

Thankfully, most infringement is done out of simple ignorance. But I must confess that it hurts to see someone else getting cyber-applause for hundreds of hours of my work! No loss of revenue, to be sure, just a little damaged pride.

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