Internet music "piracy"

[Graelin]

Music is played on the public airwaves all the time. Information crosses distance and time. Once this happens, the information is documented to be in the public domain. So how is it that a musician is entitled to exclusive property rights now? It was released into the public domain and can be proven.

This particular business model is going to have some SERIOUS issues in the next bi/centennial. What is going to happen when we have bio-mechanical/electro interfaces (not far off I might add) or 'wetware'. By listening to a digitally broadcast radio station, I'd be able to store a song as a memory (perfect copy) to be recalled at a whim. Does the artist now own a sequence of chemicals stored in the abyss of my mind? How many songs/books/movies would it take before some corporation could claim my consciousness as their own? Will court cases come up where the verdict allows a third party to go in and alter/erase/re-posses my memories? What do we do with those individuals that have a natural photographic memory. Are they branded criminal 'pirates' just by existing?

This business model obviously is a big fail. The only way that a musician could conceivably make (honest) money is to fire their mafia contract holders and play a live concert. A fair percentage payed to the concert hall and the rest being profit for the musician. This can easily be managed through a private voluntary contract between the two parties involved. If someone bootlegs from the concert there is still no damage to the parties in question as money from admissions is all that the contract was about. Musicians provide a service... they deliver information in a particular way. No more no less. Concert halls provide a service.. they allow large groups to assemble in a (hopefully) safe venue so that others can distribute information to said paying people.

Releasing IP to the public is free (and good) advertising. Giving credit to the original creator is obviously a good idea, but is really all that is necessary.  I have heard many different versions of 'Heart Shaped Box'. There is never a doubt in my mind who 'owns' the right to call it their own original work, but some of the 'copied' versions actually sound better to me.

A musician or agency trying to collect on copied music or infringe on a freemans rights to liberty can only be called fraud. They are claiming that a copy is the original. Very similar to me photocopying the Mona Lisa and trying to sell it as the original. Tell me you don't think someone would try to steal my money or put me in a cage for doing that. Throw in the fact that an MP3 isn't even a perfect copy (original information is lost in the encoding process) and we begin to see that we are now comparing apples to oranges... or maybe more appropriately apples to apples (McCouns to Red Delicious).

Personally if I ever create and release something to the public, I intend to do it under one of the 'saner' licenses such as GNU or Creative Commons etc etc etc. Take it.. make it better.. make money and send some to me if you feel the need/want to (I won't argue... really!) just document in your version somewhere that it was based off of some information I collated into meaningful data that allowed your creative process to blossom. By crediting me, you have stolen nothing from me. By doing so, you are actually paying me by advertising my concept. People may want to see the original version.. or other works by me. Or maybe they just want to spread warm fuzzy feelings and send me some compensation for creating a concept that allowed your 'better' version to be.

Blah I babble too much

[Ogre]

Jared, I can't afford to buy music now, either. And I love music. So I just use Pandora and the radio.

As a note, while I believe people who create own what they create, most of what I create on the software end of things I do release under GNU. Of course, that means I can't make a living that way, either.

[MaineShark]

As a note, while I believe people who create own what they create...

Of course they do.

If I build a house, I own it.  If a friend comes over for a party, really likes my house, and builds an identical one on his property, I still own my house.  And he owns his house.

Just because you own something, does not mean you own everything else that's similar to it.

...most of what I create on the software end of things I do release under GNU. Of course, that means I can't make a living that way, either.

Why?  Folks make a living in the open source realm.  Heck, I'm working on a venture that will use open source software that we create.  Customers will hand us a spec sheet, and we'll obtain appropriate hardware, assemble it, load the software, and pre-configure it to meet their specs.  We'll also provide several years of monitoring, software updates, and service if they have any problems, as part of the sale.  The software will be free, but the other stuff, they'll pay for.

Joe

[Ogre]

Interesting model, that's for sure. I'm working on connecting my software to web sites and the like so that while you can obtain the software, you can't actually use it without connecting to the web site that will determine your permissions to use parts of it.

[MaineShark]

Wait, so you accept that there are ways to make money by creating things, which don't require armed thugs to extort the unwilling?

Joe

[Ogre]

Just to check, since you mention the armed thugs a lot -- do you believe that it is okay for government to enforce contracts? Or should that only be done by private gangs?

[MaineShark]

Just to check, since you mention the armed thugs a lot -- do you believe that it is okay for government to enforce contracts? Or should that only be done by private gangs?

The victim of a breach of contract can seek assistance from anyone in obtaining restitution for the breach.

Joe

[Russell Kanning]

this thread has now become the property of the Nhunderground

you cannot quote from it, copy it, broadcast it, or otherwise enjoy it without the expressed written consent of the company

[Jared]

LOL

[SethCohn]

this thread has now become the property of the Nhunderground

you cannot quote from it, copy it, broadcast it, or otherwise enjoy it without the expressed written consent of the company

I'm bittorrenting it right now, so the entire world can enjoy it.