MySpace policies - ?

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 05:27 AM

Trusting R Murdoch to look ater your financial interests - it's a bit like asking Myra Hindley in to do the babysitting.

That said, I doubt that it would mater much exactly which big business owned the site. Anyone who imposes a dodgy contract does not do so for the benefit of the unwary possible victims.
I seem to recall that a few years back a lot of mudcatters had music on a site called MP3.com and were fairly happy for a while until the bosses of the firm started messing them about in favour of people they thought they could make big cash from exploiting. The result was lawsuits and finally the web site closing down. The name was then bought by some other firm and used for diferent purposes.
I'm not sure how much overlap the problems with myspace and MP3.com might have, but as soon as somebody thinks that they can make a swift buck, make sure that they don't have a contract which makes it legal at your expense.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 03:51 AM

As Countess Richard points out "a back-up or residual copy of the Content posted by you may remain on the MySpace.com servers after you have removed the Content from the Services, and MySpace.com retains the rights to those copies"

Secondly, Rupie can change the deal any time he likes "MySpace.com may modify this Agreement from time to time and such modification shall be effective upon posting by MySpace.com on the Website. You agree to be bound to any changes to this Agreement when you use the Services after any such modification is posted. It is therefore important that you review this Agreement regularly to ensure you are updated as to any changes"

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 03:25 AM

Ralph,
You are entitled to your opinion, and I respect that, but I am also entitled to mine as well and therefore, I would ask *you* to respect that.

To be honest,I'm fair fed up with you telling me what to do and to dampen my enthusiasm etc.etc. I would rather die than give up an ounce of my enthusiasm or love for this music that I have found! So....I'd suggest we agree to differ. You enthuse your way and I'll enthuse mine! And PLEASE stop being so patronising as to suggest that I've not heard of Bonnie or Billy!

Sheesh!!!!



Lizzie.
Apologies for the Bonnie and Billy bit. Glad to know that you listen.
With great respect, I am not talking about enthusiasts here.(Like yourself, and nothing wrong with enthusiasm)
There are a lot of fine musicians on this board (and others) who are trying very hard to make a living by playing music.

We are a suspicious lot. I know of many people who have had their fingers burned by getting "into bed" with unscrupulous agents, Record companies, etc, etc.

Personally, I wouldn't even answer the phone to Mr Murdoch.
And the thought of giving up my rights (all of them) to such a place as My Space. ....!
Well, I might as well respond to the Nigerian Scam...

"Yes, I'd love to look after your 50 Million Nigerian dollars, here is my bank details and my PIN number"

Sorry Lizzie. You are a fan of music...Good, Enjoy...
But don't start telling struggling artists how to run their lives.

(Quote from Lizzie)

"It strikes me that nearly all the criticism that comes on these threads is from people who don't have a Myspace page in the first place, and who are therefore totally unaware of the power that this site has to promote music and support musicians, in a way that's never happened before."

And the reason why the critics of My Space don't have a page on My Space......???? Go Figure

Ralphie

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Anne Lister
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 02:40 AM

Um ... Richard, if the US has a compulsory mechanical licence for published works, how is it that I'm dependent on honest folkies to pay me when they record my songs? Because nothing - nothing! - ever reaches me via ASCAP or Harry Fox. And that I know of at least two recordings for which I've never received a cent?   

And on a different tack - to quote again

6. Proprietary Rights in Content on MySpace.com.
By displaying or publishing ("posting") any Content, messages, text, files, images, photos, video, sounds, profiles, works of authorship, or any other materials (collectively, "Content") on or through the Services, you hereby grant to MySpace.com, a non-exclusive, fully-paid and royalty-free, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense through unlimited levels of sublicensees) to use, copy, modify, adapt, translate, publicly perform, publicly display, store, reproduce, transmit, and distribute such Content on and through the Services. This license will terminate at the time you remove such Content from the Services.

Isn't the last sentence significant? So if I remove my content from the services, the license is terminated. Surely?

Anne

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 06:14 PM

Bonnie, you can't get your rights back from Myspace.

Jed, if Rupie decides to offer a service associated with Myspace that replicates anything your music publisher exclusively has, you have just put yourself in breach of your music publishing agreement and the Myspace terms in one fell swoop. Why not check with your music publisher "Uh, I'm thinking of putting one of the songs you have on Myspace and here are the Myspace terms for you to check". Wait for the explosion!

US has compulsory mechanical licence for published works. UK does not (abolished it in 1988), other places vary.

What about commercial downloads? Ooh-er Missus!

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 05:46 PM

What's the deal with this?

> EVEN AFTER MEMBERSHIP IS TERMINATED, THIS AGREEMENT WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT, INCLUDING SECTIONS 5-17

And guess what number 6 is:

6. Proprietary Rights in Content on MySpace.com.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: JedMarum
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 05:36 PM

I can't imagine placing anything on Myspace that was not already published - therefore my licensing rights already limited to mechanical license. My permission is NOT required for mechanical license of a published work.

I understand the dangers of placing UNpublished works on Myspace - but I don't see that I have anything to loose with published works. ASCAP already tracks performance roylaties (radio play) for me - and my mechanical license agreements for those also publishing my sonsg are still in effect.

Am I missing something?

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 04:54 PM

Distinguish fees that may be payable to anyone else for any part of your work - eg if you used a sample and have to pay for it - from the money raised by your work.

If you owe someone royalties for Rupie's use of your work with the sample in it - you pay it not him.

The other side of it is you getting the royalties for your own work.

How to explain "non-exclusive"? Hmm. You write a song. Copyright arises automatically (even in the USA, since the USA joined the Berne Convention). Only you can authorise anyone to do any of the acts restricted by copyright. That's exclusive. It excludes everyone else, unless you permit what they do.

A non-exclusive right, someone else can permit things, as well as you. So if you give Rupie a non-exclusive right (for example) to authorise downloads of your music, either you or he can authorise that thing. So if you get offered a paid-for contract for downloads of your music, if you are prepared to accept 1 cent per download, but Rupie is prepared to accept 0.5 cents, he gets the contract and you get nothing.

If you get offered a songwriting contract or a music publising deal (invariably only ever offered on an exclusive basis) you can't give the exclusive rights to the songs you put on mysapce 'cos Rupie already has concurrent non-exclusive rights with you.


Did I make that clear?

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 03:49 PM

Richard does this mean they still can hold on to your rights even after you've ended your MySpace agreement? And that they'll take a hunk of your pie but YOU pay all the fees and royalties even if it arises out of some action of theirs? I'm not sure if I understand the last sentence right. And what exactly does non-exclusive mean in legal talk? Fully-paid WHAT? Sorry I find this confusing

Term. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect while you use the Services or are a Member. You may terminate your Membership at any time, for any reason. MySpace.com may terminate your Membership at any time, without warning. Even after Membership is terminated, this Agreement will remain in effect, including sections 5-17.

EVEN AFTER MEMBERSHIP IS TERMINATED, THIS AGREEMENT WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT, INCLUDING SECTIONS 5-17

And guess what number 6 is:

6. Proprietary Rights in Content on MySpace.com.
By displaying or publishing ("posting") any Content, messages, text, files, images, photos, video, sounds, profiles, works of authorship, or any other materials (collectively, "Content") on or through the Services, you hereby grant to MySpace.com, a non-exclusive, fully-paid and royalty-free, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense through unlimited levels of sublicensees) to use, copy, modify, adapt, translate, publicly perform, publicly display, store, reproduce, transmit, and distribute such Content on and through the Services. This license will terminate at the time you remove such Content from the Services.

But will they still own a piece of you?

- - You agree to pay for all royalties, fees, and any other monies owing any person by reason of any Content posted by you to or through the Services.

You grant them a royalty-free worldwide license, royalties which you yourself have to pay?

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Anne Lister
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 03:45 PM

OK - this is what I've sent to Customer Services:

I am concerned about the Terms and Conditions of MySpace, following the public withdrawal of Billy Bragg. I hadn't realised that the assumption by MySpace of rights over my intellectual property and recording would be so complete, and that in agreeing to waive my own royalties I appear to have given carte blanche to MySpace to take over my material.   Can you let me know whether there are any plans to re-word the agreement to reduce this assumption of control? If not, I will regretfully have to cancel my participation in the whole procedure. I'm an independent songwriter and have always been careful to avoid allowing anyone else any rights over my material.
I'd appreciate a prompt reply.

As I said, I'll keep you all posted!

Anne

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Anne Lister
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 03:34 PM

Whether or not RM wants proceedings to be legal under State of California legislation I think he or his minions would have a hard time claiming any form of ownership of my songs (other than the low fi recorded samples) on the words of his T&C.
At any rate I will email MySpace and raise my objections and see what happens next.

I'll keep you all posted.

Anne

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: JedMarum
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 03:21 PM

do you really believe Myspace will attempt to claim royalties or mechanical license fees for my music?

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 02:42 PM

Hello Lizzie, I'm a lawyer, read my lips.

Jed, sorry, but you only retain non-exclusive rights to whatever you put on Myspace. So you do lose your intellectual property rights. You lose joint ownership in them to Rupie.

And do you think Rupie is scared of a lawsuit, no matter from whom? They are his hobby!

Read the contract before signing it. If it is not fair to you don't sign it.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: JedMarum
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 10:21 AM

I just don't see any dangers. I cannot loose my intellectual property. I have agreed not to hold Myspace resonsible for any royalty fees for distribution of my music (words or photos) through their site and I have guaranteed that I own the rights to music (pics and thoughts) I put there (or that the music is in the public domain). These are all reasonable things to me.

A quick look at Mypspace members shows that the Mypsace contract has passed the legal scrutiny for these folks, American folk/bluegrassers: Tim O'Brien , Willie Nelson, Gillian Welch, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Doc Watson, Tony Rice

And for these Celtic performers:
Lunasa , Altan, The Chieftains, David Francey, Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas, Rachel Hair, Tommy Makem, Battlefield Band

These are just my friends or my Myspace freinds. There are many many other professional musicians who've agreed to put up their music - and there are thousands of semi-pro and amatuers as well.

What would Myspace gain by getting into an ugly distribution rights issue with me, with Dolly Parton, with Tommy Makem or with a class action suit by all of us? Would they really risk all by a dodgey intellectual rights issue for the SALE of music for any of us?

They may be evil, but they're not stupid. It is in their best interest, to take advantage of the "pull power" of our music to their site, so they can sell advertizing. That is their obvious motive - and that's OK with me.

That is obviously OK with many many other artists.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 09:42 AM

It was not to you John, it was to me (Jon).

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 09:41 AM

The open letter to Billy Bragg in the MySpace blog appears to have been written by the same Guest who posted the link to it here, one Russell Brand (who mentions his goat in his own subtext). Interesting profile he's got (not sure if he's taking the piss or not, Gawd I hope so):

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=816193

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: John Hernandez
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 09:40 AM

"What a great shame you feel that way Jon, [sic] but it is your freedom to think that way. Nothing else to say to you I'm afraid, except that I hope you're feeling better." Wow, what did I write that someone is concerned about my health? My point is that the Terms and Conditions offered by MySpace are completely one-sided because they were drawn up by lawyers for only one side. I work for a general contractor and I know when contracts are drawn up by only one side they are always one-sided. When contracts are drawn up in negotiations by lawyers from both sides they are always more equitable. That's not a choice MySpace offers.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 09:11 AM

I tried to complain about that poster using the word 'fart' and they insisted on knowing who I was.

Sounds like a Commie Plot to me... wait on, Murdoch, OK, Fascist Plot, then...

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 09:00 AM

Hmmmmm. Those of a nasty, suspicious nature could even begin to wonder whether that un-named flamer was someone from MySpace? Trying to insult a protester by calling them a commie is usually a dead giveaway...

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 08:57 AM

Anyway I read somewhere they censor their blogs. You write something they dont like & off it comes. So anything you read there is one-sided anyway

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 08:37 AM

And the website said blog appears on? One, two, threeeeeeeeee - it's - MYSPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE !!!!!!!

What a surprise.

I don't take seriously any anonymous post that begins         

"Get your claws, with the filth inches thick under the finger nails, back in you glorified busking hobo. Put down your well thumbed copy of Das Capital and engage your brain for a second or two. You've got problems with myspace, the church at which my cultists gather..."

and deteriorates from there.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 08:34 AM

What a great shame you feel that way Jon, but it is your freedom to think that way. Nothing else to say to you I'm afraid, except that I hope you're feeling better.

I've just been on Azizi's thread about African music, it's really interesting. I put the Myspace link to Ayub Ogada's beautiful music on there, I'd never heard of Ayub until I went into Myspace. We now have his CD and we'll be looking out for his next one as soon as it comes out. Utterly stunning music...and guess what? Azizi loves it as well....and Ayub's page is now whizzing it's way around Azizi's friends as well, on the other side of the world.

Here IS Ayub:
http://www.myspace.com/ayubogada

It is truly amazing.

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: John Hernandez
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 08:28 AM

Yes, not everyone agrees with Billy Bragg. But the blogger cited above, in addition to saying some harsh words about Bragg, calls MySpace, "the church at which my cultists gather." Well, MySpace is not a church, even for cultists. It is a commercial enterprise, and its sole purpose is to enrich Murdoch and his News International Corporation. The Terms and Conditions may not be a plot aimed at Bragg in particular, but they are completely one-sided in favor of the corporation. That should be expected since they were drawn up by lawyers for only one side.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: GUEST,Russells goat
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 08:00 AM

Not everyone agrees with Billy,

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=81619316&blogID=130719844&MyToken=c27802ce-7a42-49e8-8b0d-ac0517

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 07:43 AM

Sorry Lizzie, I started off accidentaly posting my first 2 posts in this thread without a name and then continued as anon rather than correcting what was a genuine mistake on my part - I shouldn't have done that.

I am Jon Freeman, my posts are 10/6: 4:20AM, 3:21pm - 11/6 10:21am - 12/6 5:26am, 6:30am. And I do think you are a troll and a handicap to any reasonable attempts at discussion.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 07:33 AM

I'm insulting Murdoch. It may be the same old but I've been doing it for a very long time, I do know what I'm talking about and I know as much about what's happening on MySpace now as I did about what was occurring on the Sunday Times then. LC on the other hand has clearly absolutely no idea what she's talking about and is insulting my friends. I'm telling her to stop it. I don't think I'm alone in wanting that.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 07:13 AM

...or even...(countess)...Woops!

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 07:13 AM

Same old, same old Diane (coutness). You can throw whatever insults you want to. I just want a specific answer to the question above about snippets of music etc.

You've no idea what is happening in Myspace or of the community in there, not just folk, but 'world'.

And 'GUEST' if you're too cowardly to hurl verbal daggers under your own name....then please, don't expect me to read them.

As I stated above, I'd say to get behind Billy Bragg...and...because of the magic of Myspace, here IS Billy's page, where you can read not only his Blogs, but also many replies from other Myspacers and from Billy himself.

Heck!...you could all even get your own pages and rush over there to communicate with Billy personally.

http://www.myspace.com/billybragg

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 07:03 AM

Hasn't it occurred to LC that those who have declined to place their work on a MySite page, thus handing it on a plate to a shyster known not for philanthropy but for megalomaniacal designs on world media domination and who screws anybody who gets in the way are merely taking care to hang on the what's theirs? No, clearly not. Nor has it occurred to her that those who are simply interpreting the obvious in the T&C have a head start of at least 30 years of musbiz experience and have seen too much happen to friends that they don't want to see again. Try respecting that. As Bonnie says, it's not what anybody thinks might happen. It's about what the law allows right now.

Grow up, LC. Go and listen to the replayer where Steve Knightley is somewhere, drivelling on the Today programme on R4 this morning. It's more your level.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 06:42 AM

Lizzie, someone "legal out there" has made numerous posts explaining in no uncertain terms what the problem is. You just don't want to see it.

And: If you really care about the well-being of all the artists you endorse (and I don't think anyone doubts your sincerity) - DO YOU HONESTLY WANT THEM TO BE AT RISK OF GETTING RIPPED OFF in the way they stand a real chance of being?

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 06:30 AM

Lizzie

"I'll leave you all to it then."

Please do.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 06:17 AM

Ralph,

You are entitled to your opinion, and I respect that, but I am also entitled to mine as well and therefore, I would ask *you* to respect that.

To be honest,I'm fair fed up with you telling me what to do and to dampen my enthusiasm etc.etc. I would rather die than give up an ounce of my enthusiasm or love for this music that I have found! So....I'd suggest we agree to differ. You enthuse your way and I'll enthuse mine! And PLEASE stop being so patronising as to suggest that I've not heard of Bonnie or Billy!

Sheesh!!!!

AND.....It strikes me that nearly all the criticism that comes on these threads is from people who don't have a Myspace page in the first place, and who are therefore totally unaware of the power that this site has to promote music and support musicians, in a way that's never happened before.

SO...could someone 'legal' out there please tell me what the problem is with people just putting 'long snippets' on there then? Are you actually thinking that even if you so much as put *one line* of your song/s on Myspace, then Rupie will grab 100% of the rights to your song/s for evermore?

Or is it that he is saying, a bit like an estate agent would, "Hey, without my site people may never have discovered your music in the first place, so therefore I want a bit of the action?"

I'd appreciate it if the reply to this could be printed in easy to understand language, as I am of course a *complete and total idiot* as those of you who have watched the BBC board have no doubt obviously realised, if you've not already been over there and told me to so or to er..."Go away and leave you all alone" that is.

And have you all written to Myspace to get this sorted, as Billy has suggested? If not...I'd suggest you spend less time in here moaning and far more time over there helping to get it worked out properly.

I've already written to them. No doubt Rupert Murdoch has signed a contract of a very different sort for me, for doing that, but hey..I'm an ex Radio 2 Folk & Acousticer and I love to live dangerously! ;0)

Billy has asked as many people as possible to help him on this, so get out there and do just that!

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 05:26 AM

The terms would be of concern regardless of who owned myspace. As far as I can see, the only difference "nice guy Rupert" makes to the situation is that the knowledge that he has a proven track record of being a ruthless bastard does IMO add to the likleyhood of what could happen under the terms actually happening.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 05:23 AM

Tabster's not kidding about being aware of Rupie's doings in the Wapping days. I can remembering driving to see her one evening during that time and having to stop the car when it got surrounded by a group of men demanding to know where I was going and what I wanted. J-j-just v-v-visiting a friend I squeaked, and they let me through without further incident or any real unpleasantness (though being physically halted by a gang was pretty unpleasant). I suppose they realised that a lone woman in a small aging canary-yellow Renault wasn't going to pose much of a threat.

To try to steer this back on track, it shows you the impact Rupie and his dealings can have on society. You don't get street-vigilance over philanthropic acts.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Kenneth Ingham
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 05:16 AM

What's all the fuss Rupert is a nice guy!

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 04:47 AM

I had, at one time thought that 'The Halliard' might benefit from inclusion in MySpace. Having read most of the debate here & elsewhere & the T&C several times, I wouldn't touch it with the mandatory ten foot barge pole.
          Nigel Paterson (The Halliard)

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 03:21 AM

No, the T+Cs grant rights in the music words and recording.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Anne Lister
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 02:50 AM

For what it's worth - I'm as sceptical as most of you about Murdoch and his T&Cs (hey, I was living in Wapping when he moved in and remember how he got the local police to protect his workers instead of keeping the neighbourhood safe).   What we decided to do with my music samples was to keep them deliberately low fi, so if anyone (RM or someone else) decides to rip them off - or "own" them - they're not getting the best quality recordings.   He can only claim the recordings, not the songs themselves, so that should be some form of control.   It has resulted in one unpleasant message from someone who decided to inform me I should invest in better recording equipment, but I think I can cope with that level of feedback. But we may decide to pull out of the whole thing - so far the main messages I've been getting have been from fellow musicians anyway.

Anne (Lister)

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 11:55 PM

It's already there, see above. The only minor saving grace is that it is on a non-exclusive basis.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 07:21 PM

Just keep scouring the TOS for the bit that goes...

"posting a fragment of a work by a copyright holder assigns all rights in perpetuity for the entire work to MySpace"...

He has to sneak that one in when everybody is looking away...

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: GUEST,Ralph
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 07:15 PM

Lizzie.
If you have actually enjoyed my music, then please respect what I say.
MySpace is a way to fleece artists of the rights to their own music. No question about it..
No amount of enthusiasm from you will change that.
Mr Murdoch is not in this for himself. He is in it for what he can get. Can't imagine him singing a shanty....can you?
You may have not heard of Bonnie, or the wonderful music that she plays, you may not have heard of Billy Bragg. But realise that MySpace sucks.
Let it go.
There is enough injustice in this world without promoting more.
Ralph

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 07:02 PM

"Lizzie, it doesn't matter what anyone THINKS could happen. The point is what the law SAYS could happen."


"When I Rule The World, I'm going to murder an entire ethinc group, and as many others as I can", he said.

They all laughed, "No one is that crazy!"


"Of course the REAL test of MySpace's intentions hasn't been posed yet. Wait till someone gets a mega-worldwide hit with a song that's subject to those T's & C's. "

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 05:09 PM

Funnily enough, I'm reading (and had started before seeing the article that sparked off this thread) Simon Garfield's "Expensive Habits: The Dark Side Of The Music Industry" which deals with the huge lawsuits and losses and career-stalling legal delays incurred by famous & successful artists because of having signed a ruinous contract, usually hastily and without professional advice, with stars in the eyes and nothing in the fridge. It's enough to run your blood cold.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 03:47 PM

Where there's a hit there's a writ. Spot on Bonnie.

With all the music put up there sooner or later a recording or a musical work or some lyrics (a literary work) posted is going the become valuable.

Rupie is going to want a large sum of money to release the rights his T+Cs give him. Scamster.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 03:02 PM

Of course the REAL test of MySpace's intentions hasn't been posed yet. Wait till someone gets a mega-worldwide hit with a song that's subject to those T's & C's.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: hesperis
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 12:55 PM

I read the terms, which is why I only put up one 30-second clip on myspace, and a couple of photos. Everything else is on my own website.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 12:33 PM

Sorry Bonnie,

I've just been through all this before on the BBC board. I'll leave you all to it then.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Metchosin
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 12:13 PM

According to Billy Bragg's site there, the part regarding the back-up copy and MySpace's rights to the copy has now been removed from the fine print. It appears some good stuff does come about from getting your shirt in a knot.

I noticed that my daughter's band has removed their music from the site until such time as things get sorted.

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 12:00 PM

Lizzie, it doesn't matter what anyone THINKS could happen. The point is what the law SAYS could happen.

Nobody is stopping anyone else from using MySpace. But circulating the hard facts of the case ARE of interest to some. I know opinions are sharply divided on this matter, but arguing opinions, from any angle, is futile and will turn this thread - like so many others - sour.

I'm beginning to wish Joe had left it in the basement -

Subject: RE: MySpace policies - ?
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 11:45 AM

So what *is* ol' 'Rupie' going to do then Richard?

Could someone please explain to me exactly *WHAT* he may be planning?

People can already download from Myspace, if the artist has activated the button. There'll be millions of people who probably already have their own Myspace CDs, made up from a variety of artists. Do you seriously think they'd pay good money to buy one of Rupie's? Would anyone from the folk world buy a Rupie CD? I don't think so.

I just need to know in 'easy to understand terms' what you and Diane think Mr.Murdoch has apparently got planned for everyone in Myspace, that's all. I'm intrigued.

And why, as I said before, if you're really worried, can't you just put samples on your page, as some people do anyway? End of problem I'd have thought, if you've a problem that is, in the first place of course.