|
|
|
| This letter is to send
to ISPs AOL MSN Prodigy att.net GeoCities Anglefire etc. |
Hi there,
Isn't it wonderful how informal the Internet is?
ie: "Hi there" instead of Dear Sir or Madam.
As a member of this Internet Community, I am
concerned about a cancer that is growing on the
Web; the lawsuits involving music files that are
being shared by hobby webmasters. I am, one of a
large group, trying to amend the copyright act
to address the unique character of "no profit
personal web pages" and would like your support.
We believe they should be included in the "fair
use" section of the copyright act.
Most personal web pages are made by people with
little or no experience with copyright laws and
are fair game for those who would use this for
their own gain. (example: Steven Kern aka TRYCHO
Music International, who sues, with no warning,
for $150,000. per MIDI file) There has also been
one graphic artist who has followed Kern's
example except he does not use the court. He
just emails people with threats, demanding
$18,000.
Free web sites, encourage the first time
webmaster to make these pages, then must leave
them to the wolves because of the DMCA.
Webmasters have no resources to be able to fight
so the plaintiff never has to proved his
charges. They just walk away with the money,
then go on to their next victim.
These webmasters use background music that is
offered free at collection sites not realizing
that the MIDIs belong to someone else, not the
collection site owner. Even if they learn how to
check for the copyright information, it is
usually gone. After 15 years of people trading
and reworking the MIDIs, no one knows for sure
who originated these MIDI. The same goes for
graphic files.
In addition to the MIDIs and graphics are the
poems and stories that proliferate through out
email. The author's name is seldom included.
This is going to be serious problem for ISP's
and Servers. As the word gets around, that
people cannot use the MIDI, graphics and poems
safely, the pages will come down and you will be
losing a great deal of business. The web will be
nothing more than a large university and
marketplace with more than just a sprinkling of
porn and hate sites.
We feel that we have an excellent chance of
accomplishing our goal because: 1. The personal
web site has not been addressed in the copyright
act. 2. Most no profit websites have the purpose
of only enhancing a joy of living, or giving
help to the sick and weary. 3. The effect on the
potential of monetary harm to the market or to
the owner is nill, as these pages would be taken
down if fees were required to keep them up.
We are in contact with a number of Senators and
Representatives and would appreciate your
support in this effort!
Sincerely,
For more information see:
Music Relief Association
If you have ideas, please submit them to:
David M. McLean
MRA
Director |
|
|
|
| Free The Midis |
|
This is a living site that will
change and grow constantly.
Be sure to save and come back
often.
|
|
|
This site is protected by the "Fair
Use"
section of the Copyright Law.
ie: Educational |
|
|
|
|
|
|
