Billy Bragg's MySpace protest movement

Bragg removed his songs from MySpace in May, saying site's legal agreement was too far-reaching.
The New York Times

The story "Billy Bragg's MySpace protest movement" published July 31, 2006 at 5:30 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

Content from The New York Times expires after 7 days.

What the world needs now is another folk singer...

...You know the rest.

Seriously, I dont go to Burger King because it gives me gas. But you dont see me issuing a press release about it. If he doesnt like it, he can just use some other site, or make his own.

[ddesy]

Look at yourself!

You don't like the fact that this person is out there letting people know that he disagrees with something, but you read it anyhow and complain yourself!

People have a right to say and think what they want to, and you have the right not to read it if you can't stand it!

[zaznet]

It is even more silly than that.

Billy is trying to educate others about the Myspace license of music using an incorrect assumption and most likely without first seeking legal council.

[Too Old For IT]

Pete Seeger

.. always was a big supporter of American troops and veterans.

[umbrae]

Pretty standard...

This allows MySpace to seize your data if you are doing anything "funny". Most ISPs or ASPs will have a clause like this. It may also be worded like "No responsible for loss of data". These causes shield them from liability if content needs to be removed.

[zaznet]

A little wrong

It is not so they can sieze the data. This is so they can protect themselves from the artists seeking a royalty payment from member use of the music.

If I make a song, upload it to Myspace and you listen to it then Myspace is legally responsible for any royalties to me the owner of the song. This license prevents me from charging Myspace for the performance of the song through their service.

Their right to control the service is another issue and does not require original ownership of copyright over any of the media. There are many images or songs that are copyrighted and Myspace still has the right to remove content that is found to be used in violation of the content license or copyright.

[zaznet]

This is about Myspace liability to pay the copyright owner.

Myspace gets music licensed to them for free. The artist gains exposure and a customizable page on Myspace that they also control. The copyright owner retains control by selecting what songs to provide and includes the ability to remove the songs. Once a song is removed Myspace no longer keeps that license. At no time does Myspace own the copyright, they simply have a royalty free license to use it and allow their other users to listen to the music.

[fear_and_loathing]

A related news story

12 year old Timmy Smith has lost interest in his myspace page
because they wouldn't let him post "a really funny picture I took
of my step sister in the shower".
Said Smith, "I'll probably never go back to myspace because it's
pretty lame as it is. I only went on it to post a picture of my step
sister naked". The photo was removed it because it violated
myspace's terms of use."
When asked to comment, Smith's friend Mike replied "Myspace? I
haven't been on myspace in months. Tim has a page?".
As with most protests of free on-line servives, no one seemed to
notice or care.

[tipper_gore]

sheep

You people are sheep.

He put something up, took it down because he didn't like the TOS, put it back up when the TOS changed. Not clear on why that's so abhorrent to some people -- seems like the system working the way it's supposed to, and in this case was deemed to qualify as "newsworthy" because his name is known to many. His personal life or style of music or whatever else is of no interest to me, nor to the reporter covering this story.