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Too Much Free Time

by Mike Masnick

Fri, Dec 8th 2006 7:48pm





Dead Musicians Write No Songs... But They Sure Can Sign Petitions Protecting Copyright Extension

from the funny-how-that-works dept

Remember yesterday when we were talking about the petition a bunch of musicians and record industry types supposedly signed in the UK in favor of extending copyrights on recordings beyond 50 years? Larry Lessig has noticed that at least a few of the "signatures" happen to come from musicians who are quite dead already, which might make you question the legitimacy of the other signatures as well. As Lessig notes, however, perhaps he was wrong in pointing out that extending copyright after the music has been made has no incentive on songs created 50 years ago. After all, if dead men can sign petitions from the grave, perhaps they can write new 50-year-old songs.

31 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    Again?

    identicon
    SimplyGimp, Dec 8th, 2006 @ 8:27pm

    Doesn't this happen with just about every petition? At least here in the states it seems to. Hell, we have whole towns of dead people who still vote in elections, why not let them write music and sign petitions as well?

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    Heh. that's nothin'...

    identicon
    hooya, Dec 8th, 2006 @ 8:52pm

    you should check out cook county (Chicago, IL) elections. *All* the deceased rise to the occasion. pun intended.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    The Simpsons

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 2:01am

    Anybody else remember an episode of The Simpsons with something like this happening - and Lisa's dead cat's name was on the petition, and she went psycho?

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    The British Phonographic Industry

    identicon
    Barry Ritholtz, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 3:30am

    I am aghast at this.

    Next thing, you will be telling us is the RIAA are a bunch of liars also . .

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 5:44am

    fuck the riaa

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  

    Tales from the Crypt

    identicon
    CoolCliftop, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 6:55am

    We need to give this story some credence after all dead writers have their issues too. It seems that after you die, the entrance to heaven for writers and musicians is based solely on sales and copyright extensions.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  

    Tales from the Crypt

    identicon
    CoolCliftop, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 6:55am

    We need to give this story some credence after all dead writers have their issues too. It seems that after you die, the entrance to heaven for writers and musicians is based solely on sales and copyright extensions.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  

    Tales from the Crypt

    identicon
    CoolCliftop, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 6:55am

    We need to give this story some credence after all dead writers have their issues too. It seems that after you die, the entrance to heaven for writers and musicians is based solely on sales and copyright extensions.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  

    Tales from the Crypt

    identicon
    CoolCliftop, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 6:56am

    We need to give this story some credence after all dead writers have their issues too. It seems that after you die, the entrance to heaven for writers and musicians is based solely on sales and copyright extensions.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  

    Tales from the Crypt

    identicon
    CoolCliftop, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 6:56am

    We need to give this story some credence after all dead writers have their issues too. It seems that after you die, the entrance to heaven for writers and musicians is based solely on sales and copyright extensions.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  11.  

    Tales from the Crypt

    identicon
    CoolCliftop, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 6:56am

    We need to give this story some credence after all dead writers have their issues too. It seems that after you die, the entrance to heaven for writers and musicians is based solely on sales and copyright extensions.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  12.  

    Erasing old songs...

    identicon
    dt king, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 10:26am

    Maybe they're decomposing music?

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  13.  

    not dead yet

    identicon
    Ned, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 12:24pm

    maybe they are not quite dead yet. They might be nearly dead or mostly dead, but not fully dead.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  14.  

    Dead Signatures

    identicon
    August West, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 3:02pm

    Did Elvis sign it? Last I heard he was at the Burger King in Decatur Georgia, but that was almost 20 years ago. He might be in the U.K. by now, you never know.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  15.  

    How can you say that dead musicians write no songs

    identicon
    Roger, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 3:12pm

    Look at Tupac...he has released much more music in his death then he ever did while he was alive. Clearly you all are mistaken.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  16.  

    Without copy protection,

    identicon
    dorpus, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 4:05pm

    You can enjoy SQNY's non-exploding batteries, and drink Caca Cala.

    http://img.epochtimes.com/i6/612060821481459.jpg

    http://img.epochtimes.com/i6/6120608215 01459.jpg

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  17.  

    dead musicians signing copyright petition

    identicon
    shel israel, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 4:37pm

    Were any of these dead musicians from Chicago? That would explain it. Dead guys vote all the time over there, even twice.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  18.  

    The Final Ripoff!

    identicon
    Monty Python, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 5:44pm

    ...the decomposing composers,
    there's less of them every year,
    you can still hear Beethoven,
    but there's not much of him left to hear...

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  19.  
    identicon
    Daniel, Dec 9th, 2006 @ 7:39pm

    LOL, you good folks crack me up! Took me a minute CoolCliftop!

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  20.  
    identicon
    brwyatt, Dec 10th, 2006 @ 5:52am

    Suing dead people, suing people without computers (or internet), now dead people signing petition in favor of those jerks... I wouldn't mind all this bull if they weren't jerks about it... I partly understand why they are mad at downloading music and copyright laws... but the way they are handling it is really bad... instead of trying to think about how they can either use this to their advantage and work with the fans, they decided to use it to get as much money as they can from everyone. Not only that, but the record companies take most of the money from CDs and sale of online downloads and the artist gets very little, however the artists real money comes from tours anyway... the RIAA is upset at THEIR OWN profits, any complaint about artist's profits is somewhat BS...

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  21.  

    Oh my gosh!

    identicon
    Rico J. Halo, Dec 10th, 2006 @ 8:37am

    You dont mean that possibly anyone in the RIAA would lie and cheat for more money do you? Im shocked....

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  22.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Dec 10th, 2006 @ 3:47pm

    "i Wrote this song a long time ago , way back in 94"
    -dave chappelle

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  23.  

    This just rights the wrongs

    identicon
    Elvis, Dec 10th, 2006 @ 3:58pm

    The current copyright just isn't long enough. It needs to be longer so i can continue to remain retired in .

    EP

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  24.  

    spelling error

    identicon
    AZ, Dec 10th, 2006 @ 8:33pm

    You made a spelling error.

    "After all, if dead mean" Dead man.
    Hope you see this and correct it.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  25.  

    Re: spelling error

    identicon
    Gus, Dec 10th, 2006 @ 10:40pm

    You made a life error in correcting someone's spelling online. I hope you see that and correct your life (aka, end it). Thanks.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  26.  

    Re: Re: spelling error

    identicon
    Wyndle, Dec 11th, 2006 @ 7:12am

    You made an ethics error in correcting someone's life error online. I hope you see that and correct your ethics (aka, be more subtle for better humor). Thanks.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  27.  

    Elvis is not dead

    identicon
    BrianK, Dec 11th, 2006 @ 8:47am

    According to Men in Black Elvis isn't dead, he just went home...

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  28.  

    Dead Musicians signing on

    identicon
    mitch mcguire, Dec 11th, 2006 @ 7:59pm

    Er...perhaps you have heard of Estates? One of the biggest earners is Elvis and he be dead. So whomever runs the estate of said musicians is legally allowed to sign that musicians name to an add, if he/she feels it is justified and will help the estate.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  29.  

    DVD soft

    identicon
    fred, May 10th, 2008 @ 5:43am

    I have seen this information and lots more at http://loadingvault.com
    they have some programms for design and some videos! very useful!

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  30.  
    identicon
    Popular, Nov 20th, 2008 @ 6:53am

    Hi I want to recommend you very useful rapidshare search http://4rapidsearch.com You can find there a lot of new movies, games and music. Enjoy it!

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  31.  
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    Valus, Nov 20th, 2008 @ 6:54am

    Hi I want to recommend you very useful download files search http://suche-project.eu You can find there a lot of new movies, games and music. Enjoy it!

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