topic Re: Really? in Community Chat

Really?

Cecily Gerard — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:36:47 GMT

Prince takes bootlegging seriously—very seriously. He's suing 22 people who allegedly posted his live performances online, and he wants $1 million from each of them, the Independent reports. The lawsuit claims the fans posted bootleg copies of the performances—some of which are from as long ago as 1983—to Facebook or Google's Blogger service, and that they allowed others to download unauthorized copies of the files. One individual alone is allegedly responsible for 363 unlawful file sharing links, the New York Daily News reports.

Prince fans are split in their reactions to the news, theBBC reports. On one fan forum, a user wrote, "Doing things like this is making him lose more and more fans." Prince is well-known for hitting back at bootleggers via lawsuit. Another fan called it "a black day in Prince history," while a third called Prince "crazy" and noted that he doesn't exactly need the money. But other fans expressed support: "I appreciate Prince's music and Prince himself enough to be against people who go against his rights as an artist," wrote one.

Re: Really?

Luv2Decorate — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:40:39 GMT

Some view it as stealing. He has a product that he is selling and that's his music.

Re: Really?

Qwackertoo — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:42:38 GMT

I think he has always been VERY protective of ""his brand"".

Re: Really?

scotttie — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:42:40 GMT

I don't blame him for suing. It's his product. HOwever other entertainers say that the file sharing increases their popularity.

Re: Really?

Cecily Gerard — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:46:26 GMT

I guess he needs the money.

Re: Really?

scotttie — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:49:24 GMT

On 1/28/2014 Cecily Gerard said:
I guess he needs the money.

Maybe he does LOL! You know they have big spending lifestyles...maybe he doesn't have that much $$ anymore.

Re: Really?

RainCityGirl — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:52:33 GMT

Obviously, it's not about the money. Technically, each time a bootlegged video is viewed, he deserves a royalty...by law.

Re: Really?

gazelle77 — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:57:05 GMT

How many average people have a million dollars to give him even if he won his suit? He would see nothing......

Re: Really?

sidsmom — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:58:21 GMT

Pearl Jam is of the same ilk. We had another thread about the this recently...Costco vs Tiffany. I was the only one defending Tiffany. This is the exact same thing...Prince has every right to sue. Companies, including those of one person (ie artists), work hard to get that level of reputation. Downloading concerts to the internet (Prince) & using a named brand (Tiffany) is just like walking in to a store & grabbing the money out of the cash register. Just because "someone doesn't need the money" is not a good reason....sorry, that won't hold up in court. Dress it up any way you want...it's just stealing...plain & simple. #teamprince. #teamtiffany

Re: Really?

Cecily Gerard — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:58:25 GMT

On 1/28/2014 gazelle77 said: How many average people have a million dollars to give him even if he won his suit? He would see nothing......

Exactly.

Re: Really?

sidsmom — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:59:57 GMT

On 1/28/2014 gazelle77 said: How many average people have a million dollars to give him even if he won his suit? He would see nothing......

That very well be true, but winning this lawsuit will set a standard....it's the principle of the matter. Sometimes the things we do today won't affect us, but the next generation.

Re: Really?

Yuban3 — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 22:03:21 GMT

On 1/28/2014 sidsmom said:
Pearl Jam is of the same ilk. We had another thread about the this recently...Costco vs Tiffany. I was the only one defending Tiffany. This is the exact same thing...Prince has every right to sue. Companies, including those of one person (ie artists), work hard to get that level of reputation. Downloading concerts to the internet (Prince) & using a named brand (Tiffany) is just like walking in to a store & grabbing the money out of the cash register. Just because "someone doesn't need the money" is not a good reason....sorry, that won't hold up in court. Dress it up any way you want...it's just stealing...plain & simple. #teamprince. #teamtiffany

Agreed.

Remember when Napster went after people for file/song sharing without paying for it?

Re: Really?

Yuban3 — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 22:04:18 GMT

On 1/28/2014 sidsmom said:
On 1/28/2014 gazelle77 said: How many average people have a million dollars to give him even if he won his suit? He would see nothing......

That very well be true, but winning this lawsuit will set a standard....it's the principle of the matter. Sometimes the things we do today won't affect us, but the next generation.

And it will (hopefully) make people think twice before recording something at a concert.

Re: Really?

LilacTree — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 22:10:12 GMT

Something I don't understand about "Prince." He's supposed to be this huge star, bigger than MJ, and yet he's never on any of the music venues on TV, at least not from what I have seen.

Does he do concerts? Because I remember he used to. One of my daughters was a huge fan of his until she went to one of his concerts, and she came home hating him. This was way back in the 80s.

He obviously considers himself a genius whose work is untouchable or something. I don't know, maybe I have it all wrong.

Re: Really?

Cecily Gerard — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 22:18:03 GMT

Prince has an ego the size of Gibraltar.

Re: Really?

scotttie — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 22:26:37 GMT

On 1/28/2014 sidsmom said:
Pearl Jam is of the same ilk. We had another thread about the this recently...Costco vs Tiffany. I was the only one defending Tiffany. This is the exact same thing...Prince has every right to sue. Companies, including those of one person (ie artists), work hard to get that level of reputation. Downloading concerts to the internet (Prince) & using a named brand (Tiffany) is just like walking in to a store & grabbing the money out of the cash register. Just because "someone doesn't need the money" is not a good reason....sorry, that won't hold up in court. Dress it up any way you want...it's just stealing...plain & simple. #teamprince. #teamtiffany

For once in my life I agree with you sidsmom.

Re: Really?

croemer — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 22:27:35 GMT

On 1/28/2014 beammeupscottie said:
On 1/28/2014 sidsmom said:
Pearl Jam is of the same ilk. We had another thread about the this recently...Costco vs Tiffany. I was the only one defending Tiffany. This is the exact same thing...Prince has every right to sue. Companies, including those of one person (ie artists), work hard to get that level of reputation. Downloading concerts to the internet (Prince) & using a named brand (Tiffany) is just like walking in to a store & grabbing the money out of the cash register. Just because "someone doesn't need the money" is not a good reason....sorry, that won't hold up in court. Dress it up any way you want...it's just stealing...plain & simple. #teamprince. #teamtiffany

For once in my life I agree with you sidsmom.

I do as well.

Re: Really?

littleblueparakeet — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 22:29:22 GMT

On 1/28/2014 Ford1224 said:
Something I don't understand about "Prince." He's supposed to be this huge star, bigger than MJ, and yet he's never on any of the music venues on TV, at least not from what I have seen.

Does he do concerts? Because I remember he used to. One of my daughters was a huge fan of his until she went to one of his concerts, and she came home hating him. This was way back in the 80s.

He obviously considers himself a genius whose work is untouchable or something. I don't know, maybe I have it all wrong.

I have no idea if he still does concerts, but the last time I saw Prince on TV was a few years ago during the Superbowl Halftime Show.

Re: Really?

RainCityGirl — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 22:32:12 GMT

On 1/28/2014 Yuban3 said:
On 1/28/2014 sidsmom said:
Pearl Jam is of the same ilk. We had another thread about the this recently...Costco vs Tiffany. I was the only one defending Tiffany. This is the exact same thing...Prince has every right to sue. Companies, including those of one person (ie artists), work hard to get that level of reputation. Downloading concerts to the internet (Prince) & using a named brand (Tiffany) is just like walking in to a store & grabbing the money out of the cash register. Just because "someone doesn't need the money" is not a good reason....sorry, that won't hold up in court. Dress it up any way you want...it's just stealing...plain & simple. #teamprince. #teamtiffany

Agreed.

Remember when Napster went after people for file/song sharing without paying for it?

Napster was guilty of encouraging music file sharing illegally. It was Napster itself who ran into copyright infringement trouble. They didn't go after anyone; someone went after them.

Re: Really?

sidsmom — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 22:37:15 GMT

Thanks, guys! <3. For all those that doesn't "get" Prince or says he has an ego....he deserves every ounce of that big ego. He writes. He produces. He records in his own studio in Minneapolis. He owns his own label. He's a mentor for countless artists throughout the years. And the list goes on and on...but more importantly, he's a smart businessman. A lot of artists have control over their own brand...and their success shows. Love me some Prince. #respect