The RIAA don't like those who are litigious, Godzilla again
I'm in Washington DC attending the 2005 Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit. It has been its usual inspiring and amazing self. Good triumphs over evil here as good thinking happens (to paraphrase a bumper sticker slogan).
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To give an example of how the rich and powerful can look so damn foolish - Mitch Bainwol, the head of the RIAA, is here and complained today about others being litigious. WHAT?!?!???!! The RIAA complaining about others being litigious is like someone in a tropical monsoon complaining that the rain is wet, or Bill Gates complaining that the competition is being heavy handed, or that Department of Motor Vehicles employees are slow and impolite. The RIAA - they're only right once or twice. The examples in which they are right are.... 1. they had "horses" on both sides in the Bridgeport v. DImension case (in which both plaintiffs and defendants were well-to-do RIAA parties and the RIAA chose the side of making life easy for creators. (More on this later - if you don't know what I am discussing, call me so we can talk, or I can write about it more later). 2. They are right to defend those who write and sing/speak lyrics that are offensive. If one does not like offensive lyrics, one should turn off the sound source. This is the U. S., the country that has freedom of speech. The offensive stuff is what needs protecting. Everyone loves shiny happy people speech. That does not need protecting. The offensive, tastelss and challenging stuff does need help.
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GODZILLA JONES, who knows I am away from my NY home, wrote and sent me some poetry/haiku to post. Thank you GJ man for your gift. Here is what he sent.
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Using and stealing
Are they synonymous or
Are they different?
If they are or not
Equivalent why should one
Have such a bad name?
Why is "borrow" O-
K," "use" a little better
And "steal" very bad?
Is "new" the same as
"Original" and if so
Is "new" important?
If it is new it
Has not happened before and
Is protectible
As any child knows
We are free to copy if
Unoriginal
Unoriginal
Material cannot be
Copy protected
That last haiku needs
To be emphasized and said
Repeatedly, so...
Unoriginal
Material cannot be
Copy protected
Unoriginal
Material cannot be
Copy protected
Unoriginal
Material cannot be
Copy protected
(Doing things over
and over again always
makes me feel better)
My trouble comes from
Copying original
Works of authorship
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If you are around or within 50 miles of DC, call me at 615-293-7455, or better yet, visit me at the George Washington University Inn. You know who you are.
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SPINAL TAP question:
"Barbershop raga" was performed by Spinal Tap at ____________________________