Facebook silences Project Playlist widgets
Social network Facebook has disabled widgets from music-sharing site Project Playlist at the behest of the music industry, several days after rival site MySpace did the same. The reason? The user-uploaded music on Project Playlist that doesn't have industry sanction.
"The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) initially contacted Facebook last summer requesting the removal of the Project Playlist application for copyright violation, and recently reopened those communications," a statement from Facebook read. "We have forwarded the RIAA's letters to Project Playlist so it can work directly with that organization and music labels on a resolution. In the meantime, the application must be removed to comply with the Facebook Platform Terms of Service. Our hope and expectation is that the parties can resolve their disagreements in a manner that satisfies the developer and copyright holder, that continues to offer a great experience to music fans, and that doesn't discourage other developers from using (Facebook's) Platform to share their creativity and test new ideas."
Project Playlist has struck a deal with Sony BMG but has outstanding lawsuits with most other big players in the music industry, including the RIAA. The fast-growing start-up--it has 40 million monthly users, per ComScore--has gained most of its traction by encouraging users to embed its widgets on social networks like Facebook and MySpace, so bans from the big social network could be a critical blow.
But ironically for Facebook, Project Playlist recently brought on its former chief operating officer, Owen Van Natta, as CEO. Part of his job, the blogosphere assumes, is to ink those crucial deals with the music industry.
Caroline McCarthy, a CNET News staff writer, is a downtown Manhattanite happily addicted to social-media tools and restaurant blogs. Her pre-CNET resume includes interning at an IT security firm and brewing cappuccinos. E-mail Caroline. 
In MANY cases the files being linked to by Playlist Project are legally posted demo files that have been broadcast, been posted online elsewhere, or are released as band demos. This is ridiculous and I'm very frustrated that Facebook caved in to the RIAA on this.
This is you playing as a DJ at a Bar, and the bar has to have a license from BMI/Ascap.
The difference is that the site will likely have to pay the writers and the artists, while the Bar only pays the writer. With that said, AFAIK, in many (most?) countries, artists are paid when a song is played on the radio. In England, perhaps all of Europe, the only exception to that is artists from the U.S.
The reality is that we're getting hosed, because so many people steal music. If everyone was buying CD's (or crappy lossy audio files), instead of stealing them, then we'd probably get a moderated response, but when total sales constantly fall, it's pretty obvious that the industry needs to attempt to collect money any way they can (though not by suing customers with questionable evidence).
Personally, I think it'd make more sense to force Terestrial radio to pay the artists than to have Internet radio pay. Let's face it, FM rarely tells you who you're listening to, while internet stations generally provide a complete playlist (sometimes going back several days).
The original Napster caused, according to officially released RIAA documents, a upsurge in CD sales because people heard one song they liked and went out and bought the CD.
Nowadays, people refuse to buy CD's on principle because of the RIAA's practices. It doesnt help however, that most music released through the RIAA member companies amount to computer-generated garbage or Disney-created teen-oriented bubblegum.
It irritates and angers the public but really what's the RIAA going to do? They're not protecting artists which is just the politically correct thing they have to say... they're protecting their bottom line. Because really who will buy the music CDs when they can go online and get them free from sites like this? The RIAA and music companies will continue to pursue sites like this in court because they can't figure out a way to do the same thing AND make money from it.
The sad reality is that they're fighting a losing battle because for every well known site they knock down or bend to their will with some subscription fee based plan, another two sites will appear. The RIAA might as well go after public libraries while they're at it too as people checkout CDs, take them home and rip them to their pc, no purchase and no sale. Oop! did I just let the barn door open with that? Libraries nationwide to be sued by the RIAA!
Perhaps one of the most stupid things they've done beyond this is to attack internet radio stations too. Yes, I know it goes back to their not making money from it all but my issue with all this is that they don't seem to be learning anything and they're doing even less. This isn't a problem that can be resolved with a million lawsuits and if they were truly smart they'd come to realize that. They'd find a way to do the same thing that so many people want and deliver it in a way that it makes them money. I did say if ...because I doubt they're truly that smart it's simpler and better to throw attorneys around in attempt to force people into paying for music if they want to hear it.
Listen up RIAA... that's just not going to work. It may seem successful as you're granted wins here and there but ultimately it's not going to work. Using fear tactics and lawsuits on the very people you need to make money off of? Completely bad business decision making but it's still not too late (or maybe it is but I like optimism) to change and figure out a new way of doing things. Then again, subpoena and sue away we'll see how far that gets ya.
- by btalex1990 December 25, 2008 7:50 PM PST
- Ok people let me tell you why theres piracy and illegal downloading becoming more and more popular every year, because digital music is worthless, downloading isn't stealing because copying isn't taking, and digital music isn't worth sh*t, digital music is worthless because the RIAA doesn't have to pay for the jewel cases, not even the cds, you can't even sell your music, your stuck with digital stuff thats worth nothing.
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(9 Comments)The RIAA is the one thats greedy because they found a great way to make more money, even where music cds are cheaper then burned digital music bought on stupid napster. The RIAA is the ones ripping you off. They thought that it was great for them to tax us on digital goods while we get no value out of their content. NO VALUE!
When you pay hundreds for digital music (mp3 and wma) thinking ur not stealing, that ur supporting the artist, your really making them richer since they can easily produce music dirt cheap using Audacity and linux as a recording studio. The RIAA has taken value out of all our music, and you wonder why people pirate!
If the RIAA wants piracy to stop they better make it dirt cheap like 1 cent a song or 1 paso a song or put value into music again.