Date:         Thu, 26 Jul 2007 09:50:15 -0600
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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Sender:       Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         phillip holmes <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: Copyright Extension Rejected In UK
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Even if an artist lives to see his copyrights expire, there will still 
be a market for his/her "authorized" releases.  They can even have 
"value added" features that the competition wouldn't have, like a signed 
certificate of authenticity and/or picture of the artist and/or 
personalized thank you from the artist.  Hell, if your 80-90 years old, 
and still able to think/write/dress yourself, that would be a good way 
to spend your day.  Get up, sign a form letter with a serial number with 
the buyer's name.  I think most musicians wouldn't have to worry about 
copyrights that much if they were willing to take control of their own 
destiny.  Too many sign papers and wait for money to come in like it was 
manna from heaven.  Yes, it's part of what makes a musician who they are 
to disregard more mundane things like bills and retirement, but that 
doesn't excuse the irresponsibility (I'm not accusing all musicians of 
being irresponsible).  They should exercise stewardship over what they 
have.  Recently, Speakers Corner reissued a Mercury box set of Bach's 
Suites for Unaccompanied Cello with Starker.  First of all, the quality 
of the product was actually better than the original pressing.  That's 
rare.  Then, Mr. Starker wrote some comments and an appreciation for Bob 
Fine.  Also, he signed the first 1,000 copies.  I may be wrong, but I 
don't see Janos Starker bitching and moaning while he wrote the comments 
and/or signed those limited number of pressings.  On the contrary, if I 
know my classical musicians, I bet he was happy as a lark to do it.
Phillip

Dismuke wrote:
>
> My guess is that Prince and other acts who follow in
> his steps and give their recordings away to their fans
> for free will also no longer be considered to be
> "musicians and artists" by the Big Four cartel and its
>  various front organizations in different countries
> such as the RIAA here in the USA.
>
> C) I don't really have a problem with sound recording
> copyrights expiring after 70 years instead of 50. The
> fact that some of the artists have lived to see the
> copyrights of their recordings expire is, I think, a
> valid concern.   But I regard this as good news on two
> counts: 1) I am not sure whether the proposed changes
> would have been applied retroactively and cover stuff
> that is currently in the public domain.  Considering
> that a great deal of stuff has been effectively
> ABANDONED by the labels who no longer keep it in
> print, taking the stuff back out of the public domain
> will effectively keep it locked up.  2) Considering
> the stunts they have been pulling here in the USA
> through their SoundExchange puppet organization with
> regard to Internet radio, I tend to welcome news that
> is bad for the Big Four labels.  So, if for no other
> reason, this news makes me happy. 
>
>