Saturday, August 10, 2013

ITP V.013 SOCIAL MEDIA: YOU TUBE STREAMING A FELONY? new SOPA-style streaming ban proposed

DEMAND PROGRESS has sent this important message on internet tech issue censorship.
Last week, the COMMERCE DEPARTMENT'S INTERNET POLICY TASK FORCE has proposed making it a FELONY to stream copyrighted material content (AKA SOPA SECTION 201).
Underneath this proposal, and interpreted broadly, any one uploading cover tunes without permission, a video with copyrighted music in the background, or even a video of you singing "Happy Birthday" (copy written tune) would be criminalized as much as a violent offender.

In early 2012, SOPA BILL (STOP ONLINE PIRACY ACT) was defeated as the U.S. SENATE "killed the bill" due to mass online protests and blackouts from various websites, civil liberties groups and user content sites as diverse as EFF, GOOGLE, WIKIPEDIA, WORDPRESS ect.

The Stop Online Piracy Act would criminalize websites featuring "pirated and copy written" material making the Internet fair use policy obsolete. SOPA opponents state that the SOPA bill is to broad as written and could censor the web infringing on first amendment rights, civil liberties and freedom of speech.

This law (stream copyrighted material content -AKA SOPA SECTION 201) is PROPOSED, not confirmed and not voted on. Let's stop this SOPA pro censorship, draconian proposal of corporate suppression.

FROM TECH DIRT:
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130805/12472124074/administration-cant-let-go-wants-to-bring-back-felony-streaming-provisions-sopa.shtml

As for music journalists, viral marketing would die, and we're back to the stone ages.
Please take heed to this proposal, and protest this internet censorship, sign this petition:
http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/streaming/?akid=2242.791003.irxXhB&rd=1&t=3


More on this later, and expect ITP V.013 to protest this proposal of criminalization of streaming music as I would go DARK in protest.
The irony, is most of these record labels DO sign artists whom feature primarily original music and sometimes covers straight from MYSPACE, MP3.com, BANDCAMP, SOUNDCLOUD and YOU TUBE as it is considered common in the context of both a signed and unsigned band press kits.
Usually if a band, artist or musician RECORDS a cover, they would have to pay a licensing fee. Performing   live covers of a signed artist in a bar or club, publishing fees are paid out to ASCAP, BMI or said publishing company via the bar, club or music venue.
Keep in mind: Recording artists do NOT receive a penny in royalties until said artists RECOUP a record label and overhead.
https://www.songclearance.com/
http://www.ascap.com/members/onstage.aspx
http://www.kentlaw.edu/perritt/courses/seminar/katherine%20wardein%20Final%20Paper.pdf
http://www.musicesq.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Davis-Identity-Theft.pdf
http://www.musicianwages.com/recording-releasing-performing-cover-songs/
Most bands and artists encourage and are HONORED if others cover their tunes and are very curious to hear the covers.
 Pop artist JUSTIN BIEBER got his start performing covers on YOU TUBE  before being discovered by r and b artist USHER.
NO SOPA! NO CENSORSHIP! COVER WHAT YOU WANT, THE ARTISTS LOVE IT!!!



FROM DEMAND PROGRESS:
There's more SOPA-style censorship on the way from the Obama administration.
Last week, the Commerce Dept's Internet Policy Task Force proposed making it a felony to stream copyrighted content (aka SOPA Section 201).
Interpreted broadly, this proposal would apply to anyone who uploads a YouTube video of themselves covering a song without permission, a video with copyrighted music playing in the background, even your friend's embarassing karoake performance or your family singing "Happy Birthday To You."

The federal government wants to make streaming -- including material which falls under the "public performance" category -- punishable by years in prison.
As was pointed out last time they tried this, many artists depend on uploading YouTube covers to jumpstart their careers (including the young Justin Beiber...). This proposal would make them subject to felony prosecution. 
The Obama administration apparently hasn't been paying attention the past two years: The American people don't want SOPA-style internet censorship. Period. 
We've stopped them before -- from SOPA to PIPA to CISPA -- and we can stop them again. 

Thanks,
Demand Progress Team



Here we go again. 
The Obama administration apparently hasn't been paying close attention the past two years. Let's put it plainly: The American people don't want SOPA-style internet censorship. Period. 
Last week, the Commerce Dept's Internet Policy Task Force proposed making it a felony to stream copyrighted content (aka SOPA Section 201). 
Interpreted broadly, this proposal would apply to anyone who uploads a YouTube video of themselves covering a song without permission, a video with copyrighted music playing in the background, even your friend's embarassing karoake performance or your family singing "Happy Birthday To You."

The federal government wants to make streaming -- including material which falls under the "public performance" category -- punishable by years in prison.
As was pointed out last time they tried this, many artists depend on uploading YouTube covers to jumpstart their careers (including the young Justin Beiber...), and many others enjoy streaming creative interpretations of existing songs on their own websites or blogs. This proposal would make both subject to felony prosecution. 
The thing is, we've stopped them before -- from SOPA to PIPA to CISPA -- and we can stop them again. 


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Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-