Comments on: Mom continues to chase Prince over 'fair use'

Prince accused Stephanie Lenz of violating his copyright in a YouTube video of her child. His label has backed down, and now it's Lenz suing the artist for violating her rights.

[WayneSMT]

That was my graduating class commencement song and we use to play it during football games. That song, "Let's go crazy" and Prince defined my senior year in high school. Damm Universal to hell and the whole industry. I guess I get to add another media company that I do not need anymore in my life to my already growing list, with Viacom still perched nicely at the top. That song wouldn't have existed and Prince never would have gotten so big if if it weren't for me and the masses making it so by growing up in Minneapolis and the suburbs, hanging at First Ave, partying, cruising the Hopkins strip, getting arrested at Burger King for turning around, and living the life. We the listening public that skipped school, got stoned, hung out in Chaska and the Renissance fair have as much right to call that song our own as anyone. I own the rights to that song, and so does Devery, Rock, JP, John Smith, (yup that is really his name), Greg, Lisa with a C. (don't ask), Lisa T. , Julie, Shannon, and god there are a ton more, the entire student body of Robinsdale Senior High that walked out in protest over the closing of the highschool and the teachers that joined us. Prince may have wrote the song, but we made it what it became, we the public own that song, every single one of us. That's fair use.

[mymee]

No worries all you people who believe this is copyright infringement. Soon the music companies will come after you for letting your friends come over and listen to your cd's because you are infringing upon their right to receive their fair share of advertising dollars.

Ludicrous you say? I think this whole thing is stupid beyond belief. Might as well accuse her of being a pirate and using youtube to distribute it for cash.

[mhatlau]

mymee said "No worries all you people who believe this is copyright infringement. Soon the music companies will come after you for letting your friends come over and listen to your cd's because you are infringing upon their right to receive their fair share of advertising dollars. Ludicrous you say?"

You are apparently unaware that the British version of the RIAA successfully sued a Garage for copyright infringement because a radio in the back being used by one of the mechanics could be heard by the customers.
I'm all for Copyright, it is why the music, writing, etc is produced. On the other hand, it is also recognized that 'Fair Use' is just as critical to the Copyright owners profits. Not that many people are willing to put down money for something 'Sight Unseen'. And there is a tipping point where 'Piracy' is a valuable supplement to the advertising budget and where 'Piracy' should be vigorously pursued. This is a point learned the hard way by Digital Research and others in the 'DOS Wars'. And is being relearned by the MPAA and RIAA, dead-set on extracting every possible penny in profit for their distribution network (did you really think they were doing it for the Artist? Read a recording Contract). Heck, the Canadian RIAA gets a cut from EVERY CD sold in Canada on the grounds that it MIGHT be used to store copyrighted music! Sweet.

[JimTreacher]

Things I've learned in this thread:

Putting up a Youtube clip of your baby dancing to the radio is "freeloading."

The baby should have contacted the Universal Music Group and gotten express written permission before daring to dance to one of the songs it owns.

Apparently, not everyone is conversant with the case of David v. Goliath.

[drtyrell]

I have been a Prince fan since 1981. When I heard about this case, and all the others, I became an anti-fan instantly. Prince has become one of the biggest JERKS music has EVER produced. He is a child in child sized man body. Prince, you have become complete and utter scum. Death to your music.

[Thomas, David]

Rip UMG a new one!!!