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Auset
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9/28/2008 6:42:10 PM
PLEASE HELP - STOLEN SONGS
Dear Friends,
I am so sorry to bother folks over here... but 3 days ago I was informed out of the blue that my entire first album of songs was STOLEN and posted on Last.fm. A group by the name of VIVID RAIN has ILLEGALLY claimed MY MUSIC as their own. I am at a loss as how to get this fraudulent activity removed.
I have submitted 4 formal complaints to Last.fm, I have privately messaged the person who posted my work, I have messaged and commented the "welcoming committee", I have commented VIVID RAIN'S page, AND posted a public thread on their forum. I have also set up a page just to inform others of the situation. I have informed local friends as well.
We initially tried to see the situation with humor and thought that there would be no trouble in getting support from Last.fm. However, thus far, it seems to be a ghost town and I have received absolutely NO help from them.
I am seeking any assistance possible from my IAC friends and community who might have pages at Last.fm or who can offer some kind of insight. This truly sucks! One thing I know for sure, is the one time that I did have a problem with my page here at IAC, I received a response the same day. Thus, I know without a doubt that if this situation were to take place here at IAC... those thieving @$$#$ would be dealt with immediately and that IAC would NOT stand for this.
peace-
Auset
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tom lee
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9/28/2008 6:56:33 PM
hey what a rip! that sucks man. shame on last.fm for not helping. i think the fact that IAC responded to a problem the same day speaks volumes. last.fm need to address issues like this as it isn't good for business (or indeed 'the' business). hope you get some resolution.
peace
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Paul groover
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9/28/2008 7:04:05 PM
http://www.benmclane.com/ check out these guy,s they are the pitbull terriers of music law. They do individual questions for a set fee.
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kranky king
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9/28/2008 7:47:10 PM
I have a very reasonable lawyer (a mandolin player as well :-).
Do you have access to a sensible lawyer who could inform the artists and the website to stop? It should only cost you a hundred bucks or so. Be sure to get the cost from the lawyer first if you don't know him well enough to trust him yet.
Once you have legally informed the offending parties, they are wide open to all kinds of liabilities. That ought to put the fear of God into them if they have any brains at all.
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9/28/2008 8:04:41 PM
i checked the site and search for vivid rain but i couldn't find them. perhaps this issue has been resolved. it looks like a poor site anyway and that it's just some chancer trying his luck in inventing this band and using your music. As such i don't feel that you need to worry about this too much. i assume your songs have copywrite anyway. I would take this matter as a compliment that someone wishes to be as good as you.
take care and please don't worry.
ray
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Steve April
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9/28/2008 8:32:52 PM
You might want to check over on myspace. com and post the same notes there you've done on last.fm.
If you click on "tracks" they seem to have a number of your songs posted, including "waterloo," and "runnin' in circles." Not on their front page at myspace, but under 'tracks."
good luck!!!!!!!!
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SILVERWOODSTUDIO
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9/28/2008 9:03:21 PM
=-==no honour among thieving musicians apparently----
I would threaten to sue them as a starting point ---do a google check on their other possible sites --- get your friends to hassle them as well!
Many of these sites managers are hard to get in touch with through e mail---
sometimes I think they don't have active management --
put out bulletins on myspace also b4 spending money on lawyers---
'tis a lesson to all of us-----I hope Ray is correct
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Larz Boah
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9/28/2008 9:45:03 PM
this is exactly why I haven't posted alot of my music without the
official copyright arriving in my hands and I suggest you get a lawyer
asap...and when they get 'the letter'...ha ha...believe me, they will
cease and desist.
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Beth Fridinger
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9/29/2008 12:37:20 AM
Where were the songs posted? Tracks? That isn't a site like Snow Cap selling mp3s? A friend of mine had someone else's songs appear for sale on his page in his Snow Cap account...so what he did was got rid of Snow Cap!
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Auset
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9/29/2008 7:28:59 AM
Thank you all so much for the feedback and support. So far, I have finally had dialogue with the person in charge of the page (tho claiming that "someone else" put the tracks there - from her account... hmmmm). She says that she is trying to remove the tracks.
Apparently, there is no administrative person at Last.fm and they really DON'T take copyright seriously. Thus... I would CAUTION any and all artists from Last.fm.
YES, all copyrights are in hand. In fact, these songs have been copyrighted on a few occasions as live tracks... then again as a complete work (once the album was complete 2006).
Per MYSPACE - Thank you for the heads up. Still trying to find where they are to deal with it.
I sent a message to a couple of local friends, who are all offering support... including legal, should that be needed.
And Raymond, yes, we laughed initially at the "compliment" view. But ultimately it harms all of us. The person who stole our music is a huge Sarah Bettens fan... I told her that WE play with Sarah's bass player here in town, he is the player on Waterloo and have opened for Sarah just last year. That her actions impact a much bigger circle than she can imagine. It comes down to one simple question... Are you part of the problem or part of the solution? Here's the link to Vivid Rain. http://www.last.fm/music/Vivid+Rain
*** This just in... Last.fm has finally responded, albeit a very cold response. They show that the offender has removed the album cover claiming our songs, and are now sending the streaming tracks on to technical to be removed. Wow, with Myspace, you have the power to delete tracks immediately.
Thanks again, I'll continue to keep you posted. Mostly, I love IAC and the community. I don't get to spend much time here, but treasure the values by which IAC has established this site. Just be careful out there.
All Love,
Auset
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Hugh Hamilton
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9/29/2008 7:35:05 AM
Nasty.
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Susan Raven
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9/29/2008 7:57:08 AM
Eew - glad it's getting sorted!
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Maria Daines
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9/29/2008 1:15:26 PM
Auset, you did the right thing by letting us know at IAC so we can support you and see if there is any way we can help, I have to dash now but I'll be back later to see if you can get to the bottom of this, what a raving cheek!!!
Maria xx
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SqurlyMurly
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9/29/2008 2:19:46 PM
Auset, check your state for Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. In Philly its the PVLA and Maryland has one as well. Depending on your financial status, you may or may not qualify for free aid, but give it a shot if you can.
I had a similar experience a while back, only the A-holes ripped off my song and called it theirs; and to add insult to injury they gave it the same name. From what I have read, they had some degree of success too - - MTV for one.!
I was in a situation where Imy finances put me over for free aid and I simply could not afford to pay a lawyer's fee. Catch 22, I guess. I posted here also and there were several who said the same thing - it was a rip-off of my song.
As a matter of fact, they have a page here at IAC, or did a few months ago and oddly enough that particular song is not on their page. Gee, I wonder why.
Find a lawyer fast. Perhaps an official letter from an attorney calling them on it is what you need. I would check further to see if they are trying to sell any of the tunes.
Whatever you choose, I wish you the best of luck.
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Dick Aven
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9/29/2008 4:56:50 PM
THAT is some serious BS! It's definitely got me thinking. Good luck Auset.
D
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Roy Muniz
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9/29/2008 6:03:49 PM
This does truely suck! It makes you sick when people rip you off in anyway. This dude from the U of Oregon, Wesly Mccraw used one of my songs "Bird of Love" in his bid to boost Jeb Bush for an election. There is corrupution all around us.
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Tony Vani and Debbie Hoskin
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9/29/2008 6:53:29 PM
Such blatant thievery! I am shocked that someone actually tried to steal your songs.
One time I went to one of our sites somewhere (can't remember which one) and instead of seeing my own songs, there was some rappers music on my page. My pic, my bio and write up, and some rapper's music with the names of my songs on them. I was totally confused. Then I got an email from him blasting me! He was accusing me of stealing his songs. "I said you must be kidding!" "Do I look like someone who would steal rap music? Don't flatter yourself!" It was just so ridiculous that I was stunned. Apparently it was a computer glich. So we ended it with a good laugh.
I hope it all works out for you. Deb
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Andy Broad
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9/29/2008 7:08:27 PM
Hi Auset,
Again sorry to hear of your problems at last.fm. I can't believe someone would be that blatant!
I'm suprised by the last.fm response be in part "tech support don't work weekends". On a siyte that huge you'd think they had 24 hour support!
Hope it get's sorted for you soon.
Andy
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Auset
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9/30/2008 10:44:11 AM
Again, my heartfelt thanks to everyone for even caring. ANDY especially, THANK YOU for your assistance at last.fm. Your explanation of their operation, your comments and your most recent help in adjusting the wiki post.
I can't tell you all how frustrating this has been. You know, copyright and proof of recording, etc is immediately provable. But the reprehensible actions of the abuser hurts ALL OF US.
What hurts most in all of this, is the complete LACK of assistance or concern that LAST.FM has shown. They state how firm their policy with regards to copyright law, yet they still have NOT deleted the abuser's account or the abusing band account.
Here is a small piece of my letter to the abuser:
"The world is a mess, government taking rights and livelihood from people everywhere. No healthcare, No money... war EVERYWHERE... just stripping the people and the planet. People like you have nothing better to aspire to... just another criminal on the planet.
If you had any conscience at all... you would have begged for forgiveness for such reprehensible actions, you would have IMMEDIATELY DELETED BOTH ACCOUNTS (your personal account AND Vivid Rain) and walked away with your head in shame.
This is NOT a game. It is life-sucking behavior. If you have any integrity at all, you will close your accounts here. Then maybe you'll go deep within yourself and meditate on the true meaning of music and what it brings to your soul. If you can wake up and find real understanding in the pain of your actions... then start over fresh... a new account, new page, new band... with NOBODY ELSE'S MUSIC posted."
Little by little the grass grows up through the concrete. So, I'm still riding them until they follow their own policies and delete the offending accounts.
Again, thank you for your support! It really means a lot.
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the kozy king
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9/30/2008 4:42:43 PM
You are right to follow through and hold the site managers responsible. Some of the greatest evils in the world are beyond our control but a lot of the petty stuff occurs simply because people give up the fight too quickly. (I learned that from my dad who really embarrassed us on some occasion, but on other occasions he made us truly proud.)
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The CODE
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9/30/2008 5:27:53 PM
Auset - what a bloody nightmare this is! (Sue the F*&^%ers)
We all need to keep our eyes and ears on this scenario!
If I heard some of our tracks under the guise of some one
else, first I would laugh, then I would be looking to buy
dynamite, if you know what I mean!
I hope this works out OK for you, I get approached by at least
2 new sites a month asking to promote our music, and I have
to say I get more sceptical after every new invite!
Our tracks are exclusive to IAC, we have a particular track up on
a few different sites, as a teaser, but IAC has the bulk deal!
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Auset
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9/30/2008 7:22:21 PM
Thanks for the fire Kozy King... will indeed keep on keeping on. If you don't stand up for something, you'll fall for anything, eh?
And guys at The Code... dig it... smart business! makes total sense. The internet is a 50/50 world. Good and wicked both traveling by the touch of a finger. Our music gets to more ears, but is also vulnerable to more thieves.
p e a c e -
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Jo Ellen
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10/1/2008 5:35:59 AM
I'm sorry you have to go through all of this. I can appreciate that you feel violated as an artist and song-writer. Music is as personal to my identity as my soul. Hopefully all will be restored to you. Jo Ellen
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Auset
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10/1/2008 7:31:05 AM
Thanks for the kind words Jo Ellen. Its been a tough couple of days breaking through this mess. I truly appreciate the concern.
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