[rumori] What to do about deconstructing beck?

Boster, Bob [rumori] What to do about deconstructing beck?
Tue, 12 May 1998 14:55:25 -0700 (00895038925, c=US%a=_%p=HIII%l=MAIN_SERVER-980512215525Z-18422ATserver2.orban.com)


What does the legal presence of the assembled dissenters have to say
(either of N'land/RTMark or on rumori)? Where technically do we stand?
Is there any room for this to make any headway in court? Obviously it'd
be worth fighting if we thought this could go far enough to be worth the
effort.

What about finding an agent of somewhere to distribute from outside of
copyright law? It does up the shipping costs issues, but may be worth
thinking about as an option (a datahaven, to borrow from Gibson).

What about just continuing? Does illegal art protect everyone involved
legally?

Has anyone tried to directly contact Beck? Is he in better control of
his own creative life than U2 was?

Obviously once it goes back underground it'll play out it's own life
there, but it'd be interesting if we could make some more headway
between then and now...

Bob/Mr. M


>Subject: BECK / UNAUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTION OF SOUND RECORDINGS
>
>May 8, 1998
>
>Illegal Art
>RTMark
>
>RE: BECK / UNAUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTION OF SOUND RECORDINGS
>
>To Whom It May Concern:
>
>Geffen Records, Inc. ("Geffen") is party to an exclusive recording
>agreement with the recording artist professionally known as Beck
>("Artist"), and accordingly Geffen is the copyright owner of, with
>exclusive rights to, the performances of Artist recorded during the term
>of such agreement and the exclusive owner of the right to use the
>Artist's name and likeness for record purposes in connection with such
>recordings.
>
>It has come to Geffen's attention that you intend to distribute, and
>have distributed, without Geffen's authorization, an album entitled
>Deconstructing Beck containing master recordings embodying Artist's
>performances and using Artist's name and likeness (the "Record"). As
>Geffen has not granted permission for the use of the foregoing master
>recordings or name and likeness, or the distribution of the Record, such
>use and distribution of the Record violates the U.S. copyright laws and
>the law of the State of California, and may subject you to other
>actionable claims under relevant state and federal laws.
>
>Geffen hereby demands that you immediately cease and desist from any
>further distribution or other use of the Record, that you cause any and
>all third parties to whom you have entered into any agreement with
>respect to the Record or to whom you have distributed the Record to
>immediately cease and desist from exploiting or distributing same, and
>that you furnish us with an affidavit in which you represent that you
>have complied with the foregoing demand.
>
>In the event Geffen has not received the affidavit requested within
>seven (7) days from the date hereof, Geffen will pursue appropriate
>legal redress against you and any other infringing parties, including,
>without limitation, the immediate commencement of proceedings seeking
>profits as well as actual and/or statutory damages, and injunctive
>relief.
>
>Nothing contained herein shall be deemed an admission of any fact or a
>waiver of any of Geffen's rights or remedies in connection with this
>matter, whether at law or in equity, all of which rights and remedies
>are hereby expressly reserved.
>
>
>Sincerely,
>
>
>Susan Hilderley
>
>________________________
>http://detritus.net
>
________________________
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