Doing away with copyright

[Ken Behrens]

I've been a little afraid to mention this here, because i don't want to get swamped. I have been given (literally for free donated) an internet 24/7 website that i administer, and it just plays original Christian music at random all day. It's called WWW.JCIC.US If you'd like to be included, let me know. I don't know if we can personal message at this site, as I am new yet, but you can get my FB and Skype addresses from my profile.

 

[SwordmanJr]

If anyone were to "steal" one of the songs I composed, and made money off it, there is a record of origin on websites where I posted my music long in advance of the time they could get it copyrighted under their own name. Many, many court cases have been lost by thieves. I don't know of any who have actually succeeded thus far.

 

[SwordmanJr]

I've been a little afraid to mention this here, because i don't want to get swamped. I have been given (literally for free donated) an internet 24/7 website that i administer, and it just plays original Christian music at random all day. It's called WWW.JCIC.US If you'd like to be included, let me know. I don't know if we can personal message at this site, as I am new yet, but you can get my FB and Skype addresses from my profile.

Ken, it's great to meet you, brother. Unfortunately, I'm no longer involved with FB. I walked away from that site a couple months ago with no desire to return. Too much political, prophesying nonsense on there. People are all too fired up to talk about anything else. I am interested in providing music for play on the site you administer, but will wait until you have a means for private communication.

Presently, I'm working a large Engineering project, so my time is limited for the next week or so (I'm a Electrical Engineer by trade).

Keep in touch.

Jr

 

[SwordmanJr]

Ken, I left you a message in your INBOX on this site. You can access it at the top of the page next to your "User Panel" drop-down.

 

[RDKirk]

If anyone were to "steal" one of the songs I composed, and made money off it, there is a record of origin on websites where I posted my music long in advance of the time they could get it copyrighted under their own name. Many, many court cases have been lost by thieves. I don't know of any who have actually succeeded thus far.

What country are you in?

 

[Dave-W]

I have had stuff "lifted." One full song by one of the musicians on my CD (at least he listed my authorship) and someone else who recorded in the same studio where I did the cleanup of my CD. He lifted (without any attribution) the opening recorded reading of Psalm 150.

 

[Ken Behrens]

I have had stuff "lifted." One full song by one of the musicians on my CD (at least he listed my authorship) and someone else who recorded in the same studio where I did the cleanup of my CD. He lifted (without any attribution) the opening recorded reading of Psalm 150.

What did you do about it?

 

[Dave-W]

The guy that lifted the whole song - I drafted a usage agreement with him.

The other guy I was never able to get ahold of. And since it was only the scripture reading (KJV) I let it go.

 

[Ken Behrens]

The guy that lifted the whole song - I drafted a usage agreement with him.

The other guy I was never able to get ahold of. And since it was only the scripture reading (KJV) I let it go.

Sounds fair to me. From your experience at least, what I am advocating does work.

 

[All4Christ]

Sounds fair to me. From your experience at least, what I am advocating does work.

Personally, I think putting one's work in Creative Commons is better than just assuming no one will lift it due to having it in print on a program or digitally recorded. It is easy to do, keeps the ability and rights of others' using the work in non-commercial settings, but still keeps someone else from making profit off songs or works that they did not create, and keeps them from claiming it as their own work. Otherwise, you can enter it into a digital repository like we discussed, and give a license for non-commercial usage.

 

[Ken Behrens]

Personally, I think putting one's work in Creative Commons is better than just assuming no one will lift it due to having it in print on a program or digitally recorded. It is easy to do, keeps the ability and rights of others' using the work in non-commercial settings, but still keeps someone else from making profit off songs or works that they did not create, and keeps them from claiming it as their own work. Otherwise, you can enter it into a digital repository like we discussed, and give a license for non-commercial usage.

I agree, but the respondent has as his avatar, a picture of four granddaughters. I think when this happened, creative commons did not yet exist. For '90's and even before, this was the best Christian solution.

 

[All4Christ]

I agree, but the respondent has as his avatar, a picture of four granddaughters. I think when this happened, creative commons did not yet exist. For '90's and even before, this was the best Christian solution.

True. I'm just suggesting that today, it would be good to take advantage of those opportunities (for anyone considering their own music).

 

[onemanband2112]

It has long been a vision of mine to replace the entire copyright/CCLI/royalty system with churches writing their own songs, and simply sharing unofficially.

I actually achieved it when we were livestreaming for my online fellowship. But I have only had very limited success in normal churches.

I'd like to get your comments.

That's a very interesting point of view Ken.

God Bless!
George Arriola Music Vocals

 

[Dave-W]

I don't know of any who have actually succeeded thus far.

Personally or by report?

 

[RDKirk]

If anyone were to "steal" one of the songs I composed, and made money off it, there is a record of origin on websites where I posted my music long in advance of the time they could get it copyrighted under their own name. Many, many court cases have been lost by thieves. I don't know of any who have actually succeeded thus far.

In the US, if the originator has not registered the copyright of his work with the US government, a court will not even hear a case of its violation. Technically, yes, the copyright exists out in the ether somewhere, but if it's not registered with the government, the court is not going to bother putting the case on the docket.

So, no, "many, many court cases" of a situation like yours have not been lost by thieves.

 

[Dave-W]

In the US, if the originator has not registered the copyright of his work with the US government, a court will not even hear a case of its violation. Technically, yes, the copyright exists out in the ether somewhere, but if it's not registered with the government, the court is not going to bother putting the case on the docket.

So, no, "many, many court cases" of a situation like yours have not been lost by thieves.

So - for it to come to court - it has to be registered. I think what Swordman was talking about was where the thief registered the work. If it is registered then it can go to court, right?

 

[Greg J.]

I see copyright law as a good thing. It is people being greedy and others violating the copyright law that make it seem bad. Scripture is pretty clear about paying what is right for things that others had to work to produce. No one should be forced to comply with working for free (such as could happen if the copyright law were altered in certain significant ways). That's enslavement, and no matter what, people are not going to stop expressing themselves creatively. And that thought brings us to the very purpose of the existence of copyright and patent laws: to encourage creativity. The law are unfortunately being abused to the point that people use the same laws to inhibit creativity. I'd love for changes in the laws to address that. None of this prohibits someone from giving their work away if they want to, but imposing that model on others is another matter.

 

[RDKirk]

So - for it to come to court - it has to be registered. I think what Swordman was talking about was where the thief registered the work. If it is registered then it can go to court, right?

If the actual creator has not registered his copyright, a US court will not hear his case.

 

[RDKirk]

I see copyright law as a good thing. It is people being greedy and others violating the copyright law that make it seem bad. Scripture is pretty clear about paying what is right for things that others had to work to produce. No one should be forced to comply with working for free (such as could happen if the copyright law were altered in certain significant ways). That's enslavement, and no matter what, people are not going to stop expressing themselves creatively. And that thought brings us to the very purpose of the existence of copyright and patent laws: to encourage creativity. The law are unfortunately being abused to the point that people use the same laws to inhibit creativity. I'd love for changes in the laws to address that. None of this prohibits someone from giving their work away if they want to, but imposing that model on others is another matter.

I think the problem is not the singer-songwriter who wants to make a living for his work and perhaps even leave a legacy for his children. The problem is that corporations are considered persons.

 

[Greg J.]

I think the problem is not the singer-songwriter who wants to make a living for his work and perhaps even leave a legacy for his children. The problem is that corporations are considered persons.

Well, the group of a few people working together should be able to get a copyright, however, there are definitely problems in U.S. law with corporations being persons, such as when it comes to accountability.