THIS IS SOME BULLSHIT - The MPA must Die - Guitar Players Unite

[Samite Healer]

Ok, for any of you guitar players or music enthusiasts out there, etc., The MPA has now apparently launched a war against intenet sites that host and provide musical content such as guitar, bass, or drum tablature to the public for free.

READ THIS!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4508158.stm

They claim that it hurts the publishers because it affects the sale of tab books and that this is illegal material --BULLSHIT

1) Tons of bands don't even offer tab books

2) Most of the material online isn't even entirely accurate

3) People just figure it out anyway, and no one is making profit from these tabs

I don't think this will hold up in court, but I'm still willing to give the MPA a piece of my mind, especially since I still purchase all of my CDs and I would buy some tab books if they were available, AND have a bunch already.

I would encourage the following:

1) The severe asskicking of anyone caught wearing an MPA t-shirt.

2) E-mailing the MPA telling them that this is bullshit

-Jeff

[Machinus]

1) The severe asskicking of anyone caught wearing an MPA t-shirt.

These exist???

[Revvik]

From the linked article:

The MPA would target "very big sites that people would think are legitimate and very, very popular", Mr Keiser said.

Targeting the popular, big websites first speaks volumes about their testicular fortitude, but I'm not sure if attacking something with a strong fan base and thousands, hundreds of thousands of loyal supporters is the best way to prove that what you're doing is right.

Especially when it comes to musicians writing songs about such deeds.

[kl0wn]

If they're actually going to do somehing like that, then they should also go after music instructors who tab out music for their students, since they're making a buck off other musicians' work and the published material without any kind of permission.

They should also go after any musician or group of musicians who perform any copyrighted material without permission. THAT should be a jailable offense.

They should also require licenses to buy copying machines and copying supplies which, in the wrong hands, could be used for copyright infringement. Same with pencils, pens, typewriters, computers, styluses, quills, ink or any kind of pigment and pointy stick that could be used to reproduce any copyrighted information without explicit authorization.

Shit, they should just require everybody to get a license in order to give any kind of musical instruction, posess a musical instrument or even sing. Then they can tax and regulate these licensees and penalize everybody for reproducing any kind of copyrighted musical composition in any way, ESPECIALLY AUDITORILY, without first paying royalties.

Most importantly, these people should hire me to lead their crusade against these rip-off artists who would be so dastardly as to take from the potential profits of these sheet music publishing companies. I have their asses covered; I've thought of every technique that could be used to undermine their livelihood and RIGHTS to profits from their intellectual properties.

[forests failed you]

That really sucks actually.

I remember internet tabs as being a great way for beginners to learn how to play songs, back when I was a youngster just learning to play.

A shame.

[t3h_fury]

This is really stupid.  Like someone needs to stop this stupid.  I'm sick of music people bitching.  If I was in a band I'd be exited if people were downloading my music and looking at my tabs.  Those people would probably go to the shows and may buy a CD or two.  However, the record companies are alienating people by being tightwads, and are actually their own worst enemies.  Also, the stuff they call music, is shit.

[TJ-Whoopy]

how about some liks to some of these sites, I haven't tuned my guitar since highschool and was thinking of getting back into it

[nataz]

I used to go to mxtabs.net

[Godder]

There was a piece on one of our local radio stations in which the DJ ripped the MPA a new one on-air. As he said, it's just as well cover bands aren't popular...

[WildWillieWonderboy]

This pretty much underscores the weightlessness of intellectual property arguments. If I play Hurt on my guitar, everyone's going to know I didn't write it. There's no fraud involved because the audience keeps it from happening. Furthermore, how does one go about copyrighting an arrangement of notes? How does one go about copyrighting programming code and 1's and 0's? The answer is that one can't. If artists/programmers are a bit shady and won't opensource their material, they have the right to do so. They can't expect people to stop looking.

I guess I can understand why the MPA is angry, though. I'd be pissed off too if my only money came from providing an obsolete service.

[Godder]

I guess I can understand why the MPA is angry, though. I'd be pissed off too if my only money came from providing an obsolete service.

No wonder the RIAA gets so angry .