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Metallica to McCartney
From Death Magnetic to death threats, this Weekly Fix covers all that and in between. Get the latest on Metallica, McCartney, Mozart and more. From Death Magnetic to death threats, this Weekly Fix covers all that and in between. Get the latest on Metallica, McCartney, Mozart a... more
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Metallica interview canceled over mention of torrent
A Swedish journalist reviewed the new Metallica record, based on a mashup he heard from a bit-torrent. The version cut out parts of the songs, which the writer appreciated. He said it was like removing a person from a fat suit.
Metallica's label, Universal, canceled the interview because the writer linked directly to where you can download the music for free.
Metallica has long been at war with the internet. A Swedish journalist reviewed the new Metallica record, based on a mashup he heard from a bit-torrent. The version cut out parts of th... more -
The Best Buy for Napster is $121 Million
"Best Buy said Monday it has agreed to purchase Napster Inc. for $121 million as part of a bid to accelerate growth in the emerging industry of digital entertainment and leverage its relationships with content studios."
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/09/15/best_buy_... "Best Buy said Monday it has agreed to purchase Napster Inc. for $121 million as part of a bid to accelerate growth in the emergi... more -
Veoh Wins Copyright Infringement Lawsuit; Viacom-YouTube Next?
No, this isn’t the big one, but nonetheless an important precedent: A federal judge in San Jose ruled today that video-sharing site Veoh was not liable for copyrighted material uploaded to its site, dismissing an early 2006 case filed against it by Io Group, an adult video firm. The site pleaded its defense under the “safe harbor” provisions of DMCA copyright law, which meant it could be safe as long as it removed the infringing video when alerted by the copyright holder, which the judge said that Veoh was doing.
SAI points out a key distinction that the judge mentions, between this case and the original P2P music piracy cases: “Napster (NSDQ: NAPS) existed solely to provide the site and facilities for copyright infringement, and its control over its system was directly intertwined with its ability to control infringing activity… by contrast, Veoh’s right and ability to control its system does not equate to the right and ability to control infringing activity. Unlike Napster, there is no suggestion that Veoh aims to encourage copyright infringement on its system. And, there is no evidence that Veoh can control what content users choose to upload before it is uploaded...unlike Napster (whose index was comprised entirely of pirated material), Veoh’s ability to control its index does not equate to an ability to identify and terminate infringing videos. For the most part, the files in question did not bear titles resembling plaintiff’s works; and, Io did not provide Veoh with its titles to search.”
Updated: Viacom came out with a statement as well: “Even if the Veoh decision were to be considered by other courts, that case does nothing to change the fact that YouTube is a business built on infringement that has failed to take reasonable measures to respect the rights of creators and content owners. Google and YouTube have engaged in massive copyright infringement – conduct that is not protected by any law, including the DMCA.” No, this isn’t the big one, but nonetheless an important precedent: A federal judge in San Jose ruled today that video-sharing site Ve... more -
Napster: worth more dead than alive? Ask JDS
Maybe it was a sign that the dude who turned me onto Napster back in its heyday was the laziest guy in the office. But it wasn't long before his suggestion went viral in the building, and Napster launched the P2P era. Since then, it's been sued, overtaken and batted around by the likes of Lars Ulrich.
Its stock? How does a 95 percent nosedive in the last six years grab you?
So whither Napster, now that it has become the laughingstock of downloading? According to Bloomberg, it's become a possible takeover target for hedge funds in search of failing businesses whose cash on hand exceeds the value of their shares. Currently, Napster has stashed nearly $70 million in cash and investments, while its stock valuation limps along at around $50 million. One possible buyer would be JDS Capital Management, according to one of Bloomberg's sources, since the elusive hedge fund also currently owns eMusic and Dreamworks' publishing arm.
"At today's valuation, Napster has the dubious distinction of being worth more dead than alive,'' dissident shareholders complained in a proxy statement in June.
Which leaves the question: Can anyone raise Napster from the dead? Here's a better question: Why would they want to? The future belongs to torrents. Napster's P2P ship might have sailed long before Metallica burned its sails. Everything that remains can't help but seem like sound and cash, signifying nothing. Maybe it was a sign that the dude who turned me onto Napster back in its heyday was the laziest guy in the office. But it wasn't ... more -
United Kingdom Talk Tuesday 6th May 2008
Tuesday's edition of my three times a week talk show. Watch the show here on Current TV Tues, Thurs & Sats.
In today's show :
More extra stuff today on the You Tube video after the main part of the programme.
I nearly drank a fly.
The highlight of my week - 20 years ago !
Sunshine & showers.
It MUST be silver.
Cook me a proper meal please.
The wind is not too bad.
They drive too fast up north.
Ring your mum often.
Susan, the cat, & the bed.
They are tapping away - but are they doing anything ?
The new Mariah Carey album.
I await the lion hair !
Ice cream & biscuits.
A flashing light.
A quick return to the bread machine.
Super bitch.
Flick.
The rough look.
Gary the butcher.
Hands getting rough.
I know an old lady who swallowed a horse.
Don't want my bits getting wet !
The magpies.
A dream.
Walking.
Same top twice in a row ?
The snails are back.
Napster.
http://unitedkingdomtalk.forums4free.org/
Email :
chris@unitedkingdomtalk.co.uk
WWW.UNITEDKINGDOMTALK.CO.UK Tuesday's edition of my three times a week talk show. Watch the show here on Current TV Tues, Thurs & Sats. ... more -
Fall from grace: from Napster to Volkswagen
He created Napster, and terrorized the music industry.
Then he started Snocap, which crashed and burned.
Now Shawn Fanning is doing this for Volkswagen. He created Napster, and terrorized the music industry. Then he started Snocap, which crashed and burned. ... more -
O2 team up with Napster
O2 has reportedly announced a deal with Napster which will offer its mobile phone users access to more than five million individual tracks.
Acting kind of like iTunes on your mobile, O2 subscribers will be able to buy songs which will then be forwarded to an email address.
According to initial reports the tracks will cost cost 99p or £4 for five, album prices haven't been specified.
Anthony Douglas, head of content for O2, said that the service was about "giving people what they want." O2 has reportedly announced a deal with Napster which will offer its mobile phone users access to more than five million individual tr... more -
Steal This Film II
Finally, it's released!
Steal This Film Part 2 is now out and it's very important to see this film!
You can download it directly from the STF2 site or download it from TPB using this link where you can also find the first part which features The Pirate Bay quite a bit.
Please support the STF2-crew by at least helping out with seeding this movie (or even donate some cash towards the next part...). Thanks!
Steal This Film 1, which was downloaded nearly 3 million times, has now been succeeded officially (as the sequel premiered and was ironically leaked last month) by none other than Steal This Film 2. By producing this video, the League of Noble Peers, which features many prominent individuals from the BitTorrent community, has the goal of bringing new people into the leagues of those now prepared to think 'after intellectual property', think creatively about the future of distribution, production and creativity. For those still confused, Steal This Film is a series documenting the movement against intellectual property. The films discuss piracy culture as well as raids against file sharing websites. In the spirit of piracy, the movie is completely free for download.
It's very fascinating look at where we've come and where we are going in the world of information. Finally, it's released! Steal This Film Part 2 is now out and it's very important to see this film! ... more -
Last Major Label Gives Up DRM
Back in December 2005, we announced the beginning of the end for DRM on music. Well, two years later, we're getting close to the end of the end, with Sony-BMG announcing that it, too, will be giving up on DRM for music downloads (at least for some of its catalog). Sony-BMG is the last of the four major labels to take this step.
It's about time. As online music retailers have been pointing out for years, DRM has only held back the authorized downloading services in their efforts to compete against the unauthorized world of P2P file sharing.
This isn't quite the end of DRM on digital music, however. The last hold out is DRM on subscription services like Rhapsody and Napster. Some have argued that DRM is necessary for the subscription business model, an argument that I think doesn't hold up under scrutiny. After all, anyone with any motivation can convert their Rhapsody "streams" into downloads, DRM notwithstanding. So it's not the DRM that keeps people paying their monthly subscription bills -- it's convenience, inventory, and other features that add value to the experience (DRM, on the other hand, is about subtracting value from the fan's experience).
But there is also evidence suggesting that DRM on streams may be dying, as well. Leading next-generation streaming music services, like iMeem, are using FLV (a streaming format with no DRM) for their music offerings. And iMeem is licensed by all of the major labels, so it appears that DRM is no longer a requirement for authorized music streaming, either.
Next step (and I hear that at least one major label is considering it) will be a blanket license for music fans -- pay a small monthly fee, and download whatever you like, from wherever you like, in whatever format you like. This is the inevitable end-game in a world where file sharing remains hugely popular and the labels want to prevent new retailers (like iTunes) from controlling distribution. Back in December 2005, we announced the beginning of the end for DRM on music. Well, two years later, we're getting close to the ... more -
Universal Music CEO Doug Morris Speaks, Recording Industry in Even Deeper Shi* Tha...
...but then he says something so ridiculous it sort of blows our minds.
When Morris is asked why the music business didn't work harder, in the early days of file-sharing, to build its own (legal) online presence, there's this exchange: ...
Follow the link to get the full story. Pretty amazing how stupid these executives are. ...but then he says something so ridiculous it sort of blows our minds. ... more -
Proposed Bill Requires Colleges to Deter p2p Piracy
How much responsibility do colleges have for deterring peer-to-peer piracy on campus? Enough to jeopardize the financial aid assistance of all students if a bill introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives gets passed. The College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007 would require colleges to not only deter piracy on campus but also to engage in alternatives such as paying for monthly subscriptions to sites like Napster for every student.
According to the bill, if universities did not agree to test "technology-based deterrents to prevent such illegal activity," all of their students--even ones who don't own a computer--would lose federal financial aid.
The exact details of the piracy issue could get lost during voting as it is only one part of a 747-page proposal (pdf) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965. It is apparently one aspect of a plan to make college more affordable; it just so happens that it will also benefit the movie and music industries with all those new subscriptions. The bill, which was introduced into the House by Democrats, will be voted on by the full committee next week. How much responsibility do colleges have for deterring peer-to-peer piracy on campus? Enough to jeopardize the financial aid assistanc... more
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