p2pnet - rss feed: Big Music stomps Dutch site
p2pnet.net news:- “The world is becoming a weird place,” posts Stefan Koopmanschap on Electronic Music World.
True. But what prompted Koopmanschap to make the statement?
Someone with Big Feet in the world of Big Music appears has been successful in stomping a small Dutch site.
Here’s what’s happened.
“A few weeks ago, I received a letter by registered mail from the US,” he says, going on:
A lawyer claiming to represent some of the big labels was telling me that my website, Electronic Music World, was publishing information that was meant for the US market only. I had two choices: I either had to take the site down, or take technical measures to ensure only people from the US would be able to see the site. That, or I’d have to only publish news that was not ‘just meant for the US market’.
Crazy. Of course, this is stupid. I thought I was being joked with. But when you receive a letter, from the USA, through registered mail - that’s some effort to take just to do some practical joking. So I started checking some stuff out. I ended up calling to the US, and indeed, the office of the lawyer sending the letter confirmed that it was indeed true.
At that point, I got a bit scared. I called around a few Dutch services for free legal advice (I don’t have an insurance for legal assistance). With the limited knowledge they have about foreign laws, the only advice they could give me was to comply to the demands. Either that, or spend a bunch of money to get in an export on US regulations.
I’ve given it some thought, and even though I don’t agree with what they say and feel at least 50% of what they claim is a bunch of bullsh*t, I’ve decided to comply to their demands. Obviously, I can not ensure that no others than US people can read my content, but I can make a reasonable effort to block people based on IP addresses. Their lawyers have agreed with my technical plan, which I am required to have implemented by the end of this month.
And so, starting from next sunday, Electronic Music World will only be serving content to the USA. I am sorry, but I don’t like to quit. This is my site, I still feel dedicated to the music industry, both indie and commercial, and I want to continue that. And so I will continue.
Who’s behind the letter, Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG, the members of the Big 4 music cartel, perhaps? Koopmanschap doesn’t go into detail.
Meanwhile, “I want to keep running my site, and I also want to occasionally post news items with links to digital music streams of new releases on the site,” he says on Left on the Web. “Even of commercial artists. And so I’ll be taking some measures to prevent non-US visitors from seeing my content. My measures? IP filtering. I know it’s far from ’secure’, I don’t care. The lawyers have accepted the proposal. They feel it’s a ‘reasonable technical effort to ensure the content is only viewed by the target audience.’ Fine by me.”
I lifted the pic from a mcville.net interview with Koopmanschap, shown introducing a family of ducks to his baby son, Tomas. He seems like a nice person. Pity he’s standing in the way of Big Music’s unquenchable lust for lucre
Stay tuned.
(Cheers, Julian)
Also See:
Electronic Music World - Electronic Music World to become US-only, March 26, 2007
Left on the Web - I’ve had it with the music industry, March 26, 2007
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Tired of being treated like a criminal? They depend on you, not the other way around. Don’t buy their ‘product’. Do bug your local politicians. Use emails, snail-mail, phone calls, faxes, IM, stop them in the street, blog. And if you’re into organizing, organize petitions, organize demonstrations and then turn up on your local political rep’s doorstep, making sure you’ve contacted your local tv/radio station/newspaper in advance. Don’t just complain. Do something!
March 31st, 2007 at 10:10 am
what was this US market only information? and since when is information controlled by region?
March 31st, 2007 at 10:19 am
exactly
March 31st, 2007 at 3:17 pm
So how long is it before he receives another letter claiming info being posted on his site is only for European markets?
Seems like a catch 22 on that one. Again it demonstrates there is nothing to like or support about big music and the cartels. The vampire is at the door once again.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Since WHEN do COMPANIES in the US have jurisdiction over websites in OTHER countries?