Alex Curtis 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: Is The Backing Track To Beyonce's Rendition Of The Star Spangled Banner In The Public Domain?

    Alex Curtis ( profile ), 22 Jan, 2013 @ 01:11pm

    it was prerecorded and lipsync'd

    according to the NYTimes and The Marine Band, it was pre-recorded (at the Marine's studio) and lipsync'd:

    http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/22/marine-band-confirms-beyonce-inauguration-performance-was-pre-recorded/

  • On the post: IFPI Claims That Three Strikes Can Surgically Remove One Family Member From The Internet, But Not The Rest

    Alex Curtis ( profile ), 28 Jan, 2010 @ 12:42pm

    More to the story

    Shira had a lot to say and so did the UK MP. What was interesting was that this panel discussion was for US policy makers and neither the MPAA nor the RIAA (the American movie and recording label associations) participated. The panel organizers were stuck with international representatives. As it turns out, though, the international people said everything the MPAA and RIAA wouldn't have said (publicly), which is why the panel was so useful.

    Here what they had to say:

    http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/2874

  • On the post: But Do We Still Need Gov't Intervention To Open Mobile Networks?

    Alex Curtis ( profile ), 04 Dec, 2007 @ 11:43am

    Re: Re: Opening the Walled Garden

    The only reason the Block C conditions exist at all is because of Google's efforts.

    Yes, C Block is the way it is because Google, Frontline, Skype, a number of public interest groups, etc. pressured the FCC to make it so (or gave it cover to do so, whichever you prefer). But how is that not government action?

    But for those auction rules, Verizon would not feel any openness pressure. Google's Android is a way to disrupt the mobile OS market, not simply a way to promote openness.

    I have no problem being cynical about what comes out of DC, however, rules that promote openness (like the 700Mhz auction rules), and rules that break down walls (like number portability) have their place and push the large market players to react. Hopefully we will see some promise out of Verizon Wireless' announcement, but don't fool yourself that it was happening on its own, or solely in reaction to Google's hopes for openness.

  • On the post: SoundExchange Caught Lobbying, Despite Strict Rules Against Using Its Money For Lobbying

    Alex Curtis ( profile ), 09 Aug, 2007 @ 02:32pm

    Re: MusicFIRST home page

    That's because the majority of those 80 years, the "performance right" didn't exist under copyright law for the labels or their indentured artists. The broadcasters got grandfathered-in when Congress created the performance right and it's the following distributions mechanisms--like webcasting and satellite radio--that have had to pay the labels.

    In the end, there are two big questions that legislators haven't answered: 1. are the artists getting paid and would they if RIAA / SoundExchange got their way?; 2. how would this impact consumers?