it says its not archived, dansa..

http://web.archive.org/we...headlines/

:O

We have become "The Ø Family" because Prince has disallowed use of his symbol in the logo of any unauthorized publication or website. Ø is a sign for "forbidden" (think of a "no smoking" sign, a circle with a picture of a cigarette crossed out diagonally). Ø is not meant to be any distortion of the Prince symbol and can be created on your keyboard: Shift+Option+O


Friendly Fire


Prince Attacks His "Friends" on the Web

Over the weekend of June 20, we've had several notifications that Prince's attorney, Londell McMillan, is once again sending threatening e-mails to fansites, but the screenname on the mail is now "Llmpc2000@aol.com" and there is no phone number given for a reply to his New York office. Also the mails are very specific as to the alleged infractions on the fansite. Because of these differences, it is unclear whether these mails are actually from L. McMillan, directly from Prince or from someone else. For a history of these threats, read below:

A Message From Our Friend - March 20, 1998

From: Llmpc@aol.com

To: PrinceFam@aol.com et al

Dear Sir/Madam:

Please be advised that I am legal counsel to NPG Records, Paisley Park Enterprises, the Artist formerly known as Prince (the "Artist") and the related companies of the Artist (all collectively referred herein as "Paisley Park"). Please be advised that Paisley Park retains proprietary rights in the names, images and likenesses and performances of the Artist.

It has recently come to our attention that you have been proliferating material through the Internet and otherwise that contains copyrighted material owned by the Artist including, but not limited to, the Artist's name, likeness or recordings (the "Unauthorized Material"") without any authorization from Paisley Park to do so. You are hereby put on notice that the dissemination of any such Unauthorized Material without the prior express authorization from Paisley Park may cause immediate and irreparable harm to Paisley Park's reputation and to the Artist's valuable proprietary right in his name, image and likeness and would also constitute a willful violation of both federal and state unfair competition laws.

Accordingly, we hereby demand the following of you and any person or entity with which you are affiliated: (1) that you immediately cease and desist from the dissemination, copying, or commercial exploitation of the Unauthorized Material; (2) deliver to us all such copies, including the packaging therefor which are in your possession and control; (3) that you deliver to us all such copies of Unauthorized Material which come into your possession and control; (4) that you secure the return of all such copies from any person or entities; (5) that you remove all Unauthorized Material from you web pages or web sites. We further demand that you advise us, immediately of what steps you will take to prevent the dissemination or further distribution or exploitation of the Unauthorized Materials by you, any affiliates or related entities.

You are hereby placed on notice that the possession and dissemination, or other exploitation of the Unauthorized Material at issue is unlawful and a serious violation of Paisley Park's legal and equitable rights for which they will hold you and any person or entity acting in concert with you, fully accountable. This letter is without prejudice to Paisley Park's legal and equitable rights, all of which are expressly reserved.

I look forward to hearing from you immediately but in no event later than the close of business on March 25, 1998. I or my associate, Gizelle Galang, can be reached at (212) 271-4412 or (212) 307-5500.

Sincerely,

L. Londell McMillan

cc: Paisley Park Enterprises

March 30, 1998

Subject: an open letter from Londell McMillan

From: ShoTheLove@aol.com

Date: Mon, Mar 30, 1998 11:17 AM

Message-id:

Friends of O}+>:

A week ago, cease and desist letters were forwared to certain website operators who were reported to be in violation of Paisley Park Enterprises' copyrights and trademarks on the Internet. As we continue our investigation, I would like to thank the friends of O}+> for showing support and understanding regarding this effort to protect O}+>'s valuable properties and rights. As many of you may know, O}+> has been an active participant and enthusiast of interactive and modern technology. Recently, O}+> has taken bold and unprecedented steps to connect with his friends by selling records and other merchandise through the Internet. Unlawful and unabated theft on the Internet will undermine the many benefits and advancements of Internet technology.

Many of you have expressed concern and/or disagreement with our taking action by providing legal notice; others have requested guidelines as to what uses are acceptable. Unfortunately, we can not respond to all legal matters.

By requesting that unauthorized material be removed from certain websites, we are not necessarily seeking to close them all down. Weappreciate and support legitimate sites that offer a forum for sharing ideas and information. However, the Internet should not be used as an "inter-theft" highway. Unauthorized use of P's creative material and property deprives him of the benefits of his creations even if the user does not financially benefit from the use of these materials. Website operators should completely avoid using any of O}+>'s legally protected material. Certainly, the unauthorized sale of sound recordings and music compositions by O}+> (ie. bootlegging) is unlawful. Also, the symbol "O}+>" and his name, image and likeness should not be used in a manner that may be construed as an endorsment by O}+> of its use.*** Website operators should also refrain from selling illegal merchandise or allowing others to advertise the sale of illegal merchandise on their website. Those who choose to disregard the law and ignore the truth shall be held accountable.

Again, the recent letters were sent as part of an effort to protect O}+>. Legal notification is the appropriate first step. We appreciate your support and cooperation.

Sincerely,

L. Londell McMillan

Counsel to O}+>

Wall of Sound - article on McMillan's open letter 3/30/98

* The same day this message was posted, more cease and desist threatening e-mails were sent to fans who maintain websites devoted to Prince

***We agree that it might be harmful to Prince's reputation if the use of his symbol or name caused fans to believe that he endorsed the Ø family web site, newsletter and phone line, and we won't use his symbol or names for some of these reasons:


Top 10 Reasons


We Wouldn't Want Anyone to Think Prince Endorsed the Ø family

1. Prince has a reputation for charging for publications he does not deliver, specifically the six issues of the NPG Magazinefans subscribed to

This reputation could be ruined if anyone thought Prince was endorsing the policy of the Ø family, which is to deliver every issue a subscriber orders.

2. Prince has a reputation for delivering late, specifically to many fans who ordered Crystal Ball

This reputation could be ruined if anyone thought Prince was endorsing the Ø family, which has delivered newsletters, every other week for six years, without being one day late (with the exception of the "Dinner With Delores" cassette giveaway issue, which was mailed one day late as we awaited arrival of the cassettes).

3. Prince has a reputation for misspelling words in his messages.

This reputation could be ruined if anyone thought Prince was endorsing the Ø family, which at least makes an effort to use the spell checker on its computer.

4. Prince has a reputation for inserting ellipses. . . in the darndest places. . .

This reputation could be ruined if anyone thought Prince was endorsing the Ø family, which attempts to use ellipses rarely. . . and only when appropriate.

5. Prince has a reputation for failing to credit others with work they may have done. This reputation may or may not be deserved in the case of André Cymone or Morris Day, but we do know who wrote "Where Are They Now" for The Dawn web site and never got any credit.

This reputation could be ruined if anyone thought Prince was endorsing the Ø family, which attempts to thank everyone who contributes to our efforts.

6. Prince has a reputation for throwing away his fan mail (why do you think he didn't have a mailing list?) and not answering his friends' e-mail.

This reputation could be ruined if anyone thought that Prince endorsed the Ø family, which at least attempts to answer all questions promptly.

7. Prince has a reputation for making up excuses when things don't quite go his way, specifically the famous "#1 at the bank" quote concerning the success of Emancipation.

This reputation could be ruined if anyone thought that Prince endorsed the Ø family, whose policy is "the buck stops here."

8. Prince has a reputation for "double speak," in which "positivity" means "no one has a right to an opinion but me," "emancipation" means "I'm free but you're not" and "love for one another" creates a hateful division in the community of fans (Divide and Conquer).

This reputation could be ruined if anyone thought that Prince endorsed the Ø family, whose policy is straight talk: "we call 'em as we see 'em."

9. Prince has a reputation for not wanting "fans," which he says is short for "fanatics," but "friends," another example of "double speak" since only fanatics would believe that a rock star is an infallible deity.

This reputation could be ruined if anyone thought that Prince endorsed the Ø family, where most of our "customers" really have become our friends.

10. We did have a #10, but we were afraid of being sued if we used it.




DIVIDE AND CONQUER

Digital Underground - Vibe (October 1998) by Harry Allen

. . .Traditionally, the record business has amassed its wealth through marketing, distribution, and publishing of music. But in a future where one can do all three -- plus make records -- with a desktop computer, who needs Warner Bros.?

Not the Artist Formerly Known as Prince, who chewed himself free of that label two years ago. "The Artist has taken bold and unprecedented steps to connect with his friends by selling records and other merchandise through the Internet," says his attorney, L. Londell McMillan. Indeed, the Artist's recent four-CD release, Crystal Ball, is currently available through his Web site. . .

But the 'Net hasn't been all good for the Artist. His company, Paisley Park, has had to send roughly 40 cease-and-desist letters to a variety of MP3 sites. "The Artist has been one of the most bootlegged artists of the century," says McMillan. "There were certain MP3 sites where you would find up to twenty-five to fifty of his songs." So the attorney wrote an open letter to Web users, warning: "The Internet should not be used as an "intertheft" highway. . . . Those who choose to disregard the law and ignore the truth shall be held accountable."

Home

Webnoize - article on legal threats to Prince fan web sites - 5/98

Yahoo! Internet Life article on legal threats to Prince fan web sites - 8/98

Wall of Sound article on legal threats to Prince fan web sites

Addicted to Noise article on legal threats to Prince fan web sites

St. Paul Pioneer Press - article interviews The Fam about legal threats to Prince fan web sites

WCCO Radio in Minneapolis - article on legal threats to Prince fan web sites

Live! Magazine - article on legal threats to Prince fan web sites

New Music Express - article on legal threats to Prince fan web sites

E! Online - article on legal threats to Prince fan web sites

Sevenmag Online - editorial comment on legal threats to Prince fan web sites

Algemeen Dagblad - article from Holland about legal threats to Prince fan web sites

De Volkskrant - article from Holland about legal threats to Prince fan web sites

CNET news - Article on threats to fan web sites in which Londell McMillan states that he's looking for a "bigger, illegal conspiracy" against Prince - 4/02/98

Minneapolis Star Tribune - Jon Bream gives Wall of Sound a "Bravo" for their Druid April Fool's story and Prince a "Boo" for his legal threats to fan web sites

Return to home page



De Volkskranyt - 4-02-98 (The Netherlands)

Prince wants to rule fans on the Internet

From our staff editor Gert van Veen, Amsterdam (Tranlated by Rogiers Coopmans)

The Artist Formerly Known As Prince has brought the anger of a large group of fans on him. 20th March last, the American singer-guitarplayer and composer send an email via his lawyers to Prince-sites, summoning them to immediately cease and desist the unauthorised use of his name, likeness and music. This caused a storm of protest from both site-owners and fans, from the appearance of the bitter tone of discussions now being held in newsgroups like news://alt.music.prince where hundreds of people express their indignation. One website is now bringing into action a Prince boycott. Prince is not the first artist taking action against the unauthorised use of material on websites. In 1997 a similar thing was done by Oasis.

The 17-year old Rogier Coopmans from Baarlo is one of the disappointed fans. "It´s not correct. I can understand that he may want to take action when previously unreleased material can be listened to on the net. But most sites only provide free promotion." According to Coopmans, Prince had already wound his fans up with the disorderly way he sold his new cd-set Crystal Ball. This album which would contain 3 cds, as well as the instrumental ballet Kamasutra and the acoustic cd The Truth, were supposed to be sold exclusively through Prince´s own site 1-800-Prince. But later is turned out the set was also available at Best Buy, a record store chain. And for only 30$, half the price people paid ordering from 1-800-New-Funk. [But without Kamasutra . - ed] This suggests that sales did not go very well. Prince apperently got stuck with a warehouse full of unsold cd´s which he then sold to regular outlets for much less.

Now when his fan base is shrinking, Prince should appreciate all the support he gets from his fans, says Coopmans: "But with the threatening of a lawsuit the cup is full. Is it still about the music or just about the money?"

Algemeen Dagblad - 4/01/98 (The Netherlands)

Prince threatens Internet-fans

By Tjalling van Dijk (translated by Rogier Coopmans)

Rotterdam - The Artist, formerly Prince, threatens everyone using his name, which is trademarked, on the Internet. Only those who have gotten permission to use the trademark Prince, are free from legal prosecution according to L. Londell McMillan lawyer from Paisley Park Enterprises, Prince´s company. Paisley Park demands immediate cease and desist from dissemination, multiplication and commercial exploitation of Prince´s name, appearances and music as long as there´s no permission given for that. Fansites on the Internet call for a general boycott of Prince. They find that Prince is taking "draconian measures against the wrong people". If fans can´t even use the name of their idol, the whole point is lost. Prince should, at a time when record sales are falling, be thankful toward his fans. "Never ever have I seen a musician go to so much trouble to estrange his fans who already are reduced to a minimum" says an ex-fan on the Prince: The Artist Currently Known As Asshole-site. The Boycott the artist-site calls fans to not buy any cd, picture of other commercial material from Prince.

"It´s the people who´ve been the most loyal that now are summoned" says Rogier Coopmans (17) who almost daily visits Prince-newssites and who maintains contact with many threathened sites. "Now, the only thing he accomplishes is an increase in boycott and hate-sites on the Internet. The fansites think that Prince hasn´t got a much chance with his legal internet-offensive. "The sites make no profit using Prince´s symbol, they also do not use slander," reports the Boycott the Artist-site. That´s not punishable, they claim. Last year some fansites from the British group Oasis and the French-Belgium singer Jaques Brel were closed down because of copyright infringement.

Prince is known for being a pioneer when it comes to the Internet. Last year he decided as one of the first artists in the world to sell his new cd Crystal Ball solely via the Internet. "Many fans ordered that cd via the Internet", says says Rogier Coopmans. "Many paid, didn´t receive anything and found out that cd was released in the shops after all." Betrayal, the fans think. They supported Prince when he wanted to leave his record company, Warner Bros., because he felt the contractual obligations made him a slave. Now, according to Coopmans, the fans themselves feel like slaves of Prince. They are now dependent on the caprices of their idol.

Dagblad De Limburger - 4/01/98 (The Netherlands)

http://www.limburger.nl

translated by Rogier Coopmans

Action angry Prince-fans on the Internet

By Frans Pasma

Angry Prince-fans protest on the Internet against their money-hungry hero. More than fivehundred fans have digitally signed a petition with complaints to be found at http://www.las.es/TheArtist/petition. The direct motive is an email send 20th March in which Prince's lawyers summoned owners of unofficial Prince-sites to remove all the unauthorized material within a few days.

Another reason for complaining is the way things have gone with Crystal Ball. The cd-set, announced in November 1996, was supposed to be exclusively sold through1-800-NEW-FUNK, Prince´s mail order company. For $60 only 100.000 people would receive it. By now it has turned out that the set is also available via other outlets for considerably less money. Also the annouced extra gift for early pre-orderers was missing. [This statement is an error. - ed.]

The Fans also complain about bad service, high prices and indistinct communication with 1800-NEW- FUNK. Also the call, put on the official Prince-site (http://www.love4oneanother.com), to donate money to unspecified charities has gone down the wrong way for many fans. In The Netherlands Crystal Ball is only available as an import-CD.

here's my report:

Second Report of TRC Listening Party
submitted 2001-10-20 10:33:53 by NewBreedChild80 (newbreedchild80@hotmail.com)

:::trc listening party::: [...]on another note: they FINALLY fixed the lock on the first stall in the ladies' bathroom, ya'll!!! yay!!!

on that note, that's the way it wuz...4 me, ennyway. *lol*

4 those of u who are from out of the state/country, hope ya'll had fun & made it home safe and i'll see ya'll the next time around...whenever that'll be...

--The Dancerholic