Song lyrics to be banned!

I think Geck0 was referring to Mr Keiser being an idiot.

If this is the case then I apologise, but the fact remains that 99% of the music-loving public are totally unaware or uncaring about the fate of music that they love and the way they are gradually being shafted. I intend to shatter this apathy once and for all - our only weapon is to get the word out and boycott.

I am a musician. I do not have a contract and quite frankly if I was offered one now I would tell them to screw themselves for a change instead of the honest artist and record-buying customer. I make my own CDs of my own compositions and sell them - often give them away even. Most of them come back with complaints like "I can't get this to play on my new CD player / DVD player / computer" etc. And why is that? DRM, that's why. All the modern players have DRM software installed that automatically rejects home-made CDs as "unplayable" when in fact there's nothing wrong with them.

When buying a CD or DVD player people tend to buy expensive models because they think they're getting more for their money. And why shouldn't they think that? But the fact is they're getting LESS. Cheap CD players do not have DRM installed, so they will happily play any disc that is loaded into them. Very soon DRM will be installed in EVERY CD and DVD player manufactured, and there will be no-one left I can sell my CDs to. All thanks to Sony and DRM.

Is that fair? I have broken no laws; the music I write and record is my property and the copyright is in my name. But of course THEY can't control mavericks like me in any other way. THEY can't make any money from me, so they effectively shut me down instead. And I'm not the only one in this position.

So I am fighting back. I have had enough of the big companies stopping me doing what I should be able to do legally and without harassment. And I'm not just talking about my own music now - if I buy a CD then it should be MINE to do whatever I want with. I have paid for it, ergo it belongs to me. If I want to make a copy to listen to at work or on the train or just for a backup, then I should be able to do so. God knows, I have paid enough over the last 30 years of record buying to deserve that right. For example:

In 1973 I bought a brand new LP of "Dark Side of the Moon"
In 1978 I bought a new copy as I had worn out the old one (a Quadrophonic version this time)
In 1984 I bought the picture disc version
In 1986 I bought the CD version
In 1994 I bought the Remastered version

And this is just ONE album. Over the years I have spent tens of thousands of pounds on music, often simply replacing items with "new" versions. Very often I would buy an unknown album on spec, and spent £5 to £10 on something which ultimately I didn't like, but what the hell, it was all part of the game. Hands up everybody who has done that.

But now the tables are turning, and the Record Companies have realised that they can't screw us over any more. So what are they doing? They are trying to change the law instead, making it illegal to make copies, download, make your own compilations, etc. etc. And so far they are succeeding, because of one thing that is vastly in their favour. APATHY.

Apologies for the long post, but I think this message needs to get out. We need to do something before it's too late. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Find out what's going on, read the articles that are freely available on the Net. Educate yourselves. Do a Google search on these items for a start:

XCP, Sony BMG, DRM, Russinovich, rootkit, Mediamax, Santangelo

Start from there, and work your way in. I've spent over a month doing this, and I am FURIOUS.



Edited by ElwoodHerring

I can't even find lyrics for my beloved Keef Hartley Band online.  They do say they'll be only stop large sites, but are they telling the truth?  If I post lyrics on a forum, or in a blog, can they tell me to remove them?  I'm not a guitarist, but I do play harmonica, does this affect me too?

I really hate corporate idiocy like this, they just want to make more money.  I don't think the current situation really makes any difference, are artists being deprived of money because websites are printing their lyrics?  I doubt it very much.

That Peter Hammill comment was tongue in cheek Elwood, I know they won't prosecute him.

I never called you an idiot either and I never once thought you were.  I'm concerned as much as you are.  I admit I've not read up on it, but I shall be.

Yes, I was referring to Mr. Lauren Keiser.

Is there anyway we can stop them?


Edited by Geck0

Geck0 wrote: Argh, he's talking out of his rear end, what an idiot! I understand the reasons for copyrighting lyrics, but it's not a huge crime.  Besides, there are lyrics to songs about that I don't even know and half the albums I own don't include any lyric sheet in the album. Will they prosecute Peter Hammill for putting up his own lyrics on Sofasound?

I object to being called an idiot just for trying to forewarn all the people on this site to the implications of all these new laws that are being passed - yes PASSED while you and me (well you anyway) are sitting on your arse listening to Close To the Edge for the millionth time.

"Will they prosecute Peter Hammill?" - of course not. That just proves that you don't know what's going on and don't care. Sony BMG are trying to change the law in the U.S. so that when you buy a CD you NO LONGER OWN IT even though you have paid for it. You have "leased" it only, and you will be severely restricted in what you can do with the music you have "leased". If you break the terms of their "licence agreement" you will risk going to JAIL.

Go ahead - laugh at me. Say I'm making it all up. But I'm not. Since Mark Russinovich exposed Sony's nefarious activities on October 31st (www.sysinternals.com) I have spent the last month trawling through all the online blogs and news items (the latter mostly from the BBC since they seem to be the only news service NOT in Sony's pocket) gathering evidence and finding out what exactly is going on the the Music World. And what I have found out is extremely worrying. This latest outrage about song lyrics is merely the icing on the cake.

Your precious music is being STOLEN from right under your noses, and you don't care. The Music Industry is content to call all of its customers criminals and thieves and still you don't care. They install insecure poorly-written copy protection software on your PC without you knowing, (which also leaves you vulnerable to virus attacks) and you turn a blind eye.

Well don't say I didn't warn you.

Edited by ElwoodHerring

Don't be fooled into thinking this is a load of hot air. The MPA nd RIAA and all the other multifarious arms of the music industry are clamping down ever harder on their precious business model. They are pushing new laws through that severely restrict our rights as consumers. Look at the recent row about Sony using XCP and Mediamax copy protection software on CDs.It won't be long before merely whistling a "copyrighted" tune will be illegal!

THINK I'M JOKING???

READ the blogs on the Internet such as www.mp3newswire.net

KEEP UP with all the latest news from sites such as the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation)

EDUCATE YOURSELF to what is going on in the Music Industry as a whole regarding digital media.

The more you dig, the more you will be astonished and hopefully, outraged.

THIS IS NOT A JOKE.

The next thing for the record companies to clamp down on apparently, is publishing copyrighted song lyrics on web sites such as this one.

Read this and prepare to be infuriated!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4508158.stm

Note this paragraph:
Mr Keiser said he did not just want to shut websites and impose fines, saying if authorities can "throw in some jail time I think we'll be a little more effective".

So theoretically I could face a jail term just for including my signature here (which is part of a song lyric by Gryphon.)