RSS
Is Using A Single Lyric From A Musician You're A Fan Of 'Theft' Or 'An Homage'?
from the i'd-go-with-the-latter dept
A few different folks have submitted variations on this story of singer Taylor Swift copying a single lyric from a singer for whom she'd long expressed admiration. That singer, Matt Nathanson, responded the way any normal person would: by being happy about the homage and recognizing how it might draw more attention... I'm sorry, what was I saying? I meant that he called one of his biggest fans, who just happens to be a hugely popular singer with a ridiculously loyal following, a thief.
In case you were wondering:
Either way, welcome to the latest edition of "ownership society" in which even an homage is attacked as "theft."
Here’s the Taylor Swift line:Considering that Swift has admitted that Nathanson is a personal favorite, and that she sometimes scribbles his lyrics on her arm before performing (?!?!?), it's unlikely to be a case that both of them came up with the lyric independently, though it's not exactly the most original lyric.
“And I forget about you long enough to forget why I needed to”
Here’s Matt Nathanson’s:
“And I’ll forget about you long enough to forget why I need to”
Either way, welcome to the latest edition of "ownership society" in which even an homage is attacked as "theft."
I have a business...
Why and How Developers Use Mobile Payments: Infographic
Why 50,000 Monthly Active Users Weren't Enough To Stop This Company From Pivoting, With Spun Co-Founder Scott Lindenbaum
I have an idea...
75 Questions To Help You Write An RFP For Website Design
App Developer Conversations: Successful Fundraising Techniques
I’m looking for policy...
Application Developers Alliance Applauds Schumer Plan To Introduce Patent Legislation
Policy Resources: Data Privacy & Security
Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
2 Singers enter, 1 Singer leaves!
Whoever wins can keep all the lyrics.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Wow
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: 2 Singers enter, 1 Singer leaves!
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
Not much of a limb to go out on, since I've never heard of this dude.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: 2 Singers enter, 1 Singer leaves!
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Wait. Who is Matt Nathanson?
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Well maybe she is a thief
But seriously, that's some good advice Matt should follow - he should forget about her long enough to forget he I needed to.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Must...refrain...
Is this normal? Maybe this only happens with prolonged Techdirt reading? Perhaps I need to lay off it for a while or something? And how did my CD collection end up in shattered pieces on the floor?!
Oh well, back to The Bay.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Dum dum dum
Morons.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Publicity
I bet Swift is never, ever, ever going to listen to his songs again...
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Say who?
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Everyone will have to come up with their own words now.....
Let's see how that works;
"Fo muvh eadvofj. R04fj2dadOIHfq24 IEUrwq03 OIF- q3w89re roif3r oar30hf oyawer."
Anyone understand me?
If yes;
You owe me royalties for thinking my patent pending language.
(I'll waive them on the condition that you don't turn me in for using someone else's idea ;)
If no;
What exactly is the point of that?!?@#!?
Words, language, only works if we use shared utterances. Otherwise no one else can understand what you're saying.
Since by definition every word you use has to be known by someone else first (how else did _you_ learn it?) we either have to give up the silly notion that we can own words and phrases or just stop communicating. Admittedly for some people that sounds like a good idea.
If Taylor Swift reused a phrase from Matt Nathanson, who cares? Songs are written about other songs, about poems, about books.
"Wuthering Heights" the book by Emily Brontė lead to a songs by Kate Bush. She was inspired by the 1970 film of the movie. Some of the lyrics are quotes of the book. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuthering_Heights_%28song%29 ) I guess the Brontė estate should get to suing. Perhaps people just weren't that silly in the late 70's (clothing not withstanding).
The sooner we get over the collective delusion that we can _own_ words or ideas the better off we as a species will be.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Dum dum dum
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Google Books
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Interesting logic there...
Tweet stole words from many many decades ago...
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re:
He's one of those romantic singer-songwriter with a guitar weenie types. Like that guy who learned to play guitar to pick up girls in college, except with a record contract, and an apparent distaste for Taylor Swift.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Money
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Hmm. Let's compare the performers.
Matt Nathanson: [crickets]
The whole thing sounds more like a publicity grab by a small-time performer attacking one of the giants for some cheap attention.
I think I'll go have a listen to Ms. Swift.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Assigned
Taylor Swift fans now have a job to do. Nothing these days is ever unique so study Matt Nathanson's music and find out what he copied and from whom.
Showing he is a hypocrite is the best form of revenge.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Well, he's fucked now. Now he'll have to suffer the ignominy of Taylor Swift writing a song for him like she did for Whathisname Jonas and Kanye West...
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Copyrighting all words
Oh! Oh! I call dibs on Chinese!
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
That will work out well.
Everyone get some more screenshots, you've now seen another career suicide note sent via twitter.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Be an ass, get nothing from me!
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Dum dum dum
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Copyrighted English Dictionary
I would advice you to file a lawsuit, but to do so you would have to use MY language and as such would be in effect violating the law by submitting the filing and since the govt can't enable you to do so you can't sue me.
I'll sit here & wait for your settlement offer. have a nice day.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Publicity
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Britney Spears: "If I said I want your body now, would you hold it against me?"
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Add Your Comment