This thread has stretched to gargantuan proportions and no doubt my feeble two-pennies worth will get drowned out by the din, but nevertheless I wanted to offer my take on it...

I have loved Prince's music for as long as I can remember.

Like many of you, I have spent hundreds of pounds of my savings/years of my time on CDs, DVDs, tickets, merchandise - you name it. That said, I consider my life to be enriched by those experiences. Prince "owes" me nothing purely and simply because I got what I paid for. I got a CD's worth of songs each time I bought an album, I got a night's worth of entertainment every time I bought a ticket to a show. When I gave £30 over at a merch stall, I went home with a new T-shirt.

I have never really felt personally slighted by the actions of Prince/his camp over the years as I've always understood my role in the scheme of things. I am a consumer, a concert-goer, a collector, part of an Audience.

I did not put Prince "where he is today" (or any such thing), and to make any similar claim would be well above my station. Sure, I have contributed in my own tiny, iddy-biddy way to sales numbers/figures. But aside from that, I personally have had minuscule-to-the-point-of-non-existent impact on Prince's life and career. Hence, my lack of feeling at all robbed/hard done by, up until this point.

I support any artist/creator/originator of "content" in allowing them to defend their legal rights to protect their work and fully appreciate why videos and bootlegged material should be removed. I also understand that whilst "freedom of speech" is something to be championed, there is (arguably) material on "fansites" that could very well be deemed libellous and that too should be legally challenged, if deemed necessary.

However, the same protection goes for "our" legal rights, too. Surely it is unlawful and immoral to persecute those that publish images and information that adheres to the Fair Use doctrine?

It is here that I start to feel disappointed. If we cannot even share and celebrate in our shared interests (in this ever-divided world) even when we are in full compliance with the law, then what on Earth is Prince's camp trying to say?

I hope that once the dust settles, motivations will be made plain, as I think it would be a great shame for such a large, varied and beautiful community to start to unravel over matters that are (to most of us) very unclear. [After all, only a minority of us are privy to the nature of the actual requests and Cease and Desist Orders etc.]
[Edited 11/6/07 8:15am]

Prince really should now just follow the path of artists like Stephanie Mills, and just focus his music and lifestyle on solely winning souls over to God, since he calls himself a Christian after all. If these lawsuits are about "image misrepresentation" and Prince being screwed over for his hard earned $$$, then he should just live his life as a regular JW, people will lose interest, and he will have his heart's desire of his image never being "misused" again. The people of his fansites can rename themselves, and still communicate without his image, and we can all forget about him, and then he can forget our money, and he will get everything he wanted.

What do you really want Prince? God or money? Which do you serve?

paintedlady said:

I half think that Ben SHOULD just rename this place totallyoverit.org, and forget about Prince.

But then it comes back to Anxy's point, which is that we have every right to be here, and to talk about him, and to post images that he doesn't hold rights to.

Dammit.

Negs said:

i wonder if it isnt more Universal Entertainment that is the one makeing these demands rather than Prince himself.

FarrahMoan said:

Sho ya right!

HereToRockYourWorld said:

That's the problem with Prince is that he can't copywrite the word "prince"..
so Ben really shouldn't have to rename this site. If Prince wants us to CEASE AND DESIST then we can do just that and halt support, in his case every sale does count. What will he do if he doesn't sell out his shows like he's used to?
He won't have the power to make music the way he wants if there isn't a demand for it....these sites allow for interest to stay steady. We keep him afloat.

Prince.org - a place where people can come and insult his name his music his belief's his wishes, They can call him all the most foul and degrading names that come into their mind. Welcome to Prince.org.

I feel very sad

Your better off with God, on yer own mate.

darrenj said:

Yes, we can. And I'm glad. Free to do most anything, any time.


There will never be a shortage of irony in the world as long as Prince is walking it, I'll give him that.

darrenj said:

you know what? no.

i deleted almost a dozen threads since yesterday afternoon with titles like "prince is a prick" and "f*ck prince". nobody's saying anything new or productive with this stuff, and with all the media attention PFU is getting, we don't need that kind of naked hostility representing the org.

so yeah, i'm going to have to disagree with your summary of the org. i'm sorry *you* feel that way, however.

horatio said:

Oh my god! How cute is that?! Can you hear my ovaries clacking?!!

darrenj said:

Oh, STOP with that.

This place, moreso than any other, was probably the KINDEST to Prince out of any other. With that said, Prince has made himself a public figure by choosing to take money from US in exchange for performing all of these years.

So if some people choose to criticize some of his moves, some of his choices, some of his music, THAT'S THEIR RIGHT.

I've said it before, and i'll say it again.

IF it bothers him THAT much, then STOP PLAYING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
MOVE TO TIBET, and be the baddest guitar playin, piano working MONK that ever lived.
[Edited 11/6/07 8:35am]

darrenj said:

Mani's shoes need filling. Maybe you should apply.

Negs said:

Every small sale made by the many DOES accumulate and every sale no matter how small does add up. All those purchases made Prince what he is today...an artist IN DEMAND....there are so many great recording artists that have nothing because a demand has not been generated, and the general public will never know who they are no matter how much talent they may posses. So essentially you DID help make Prince what he is....and he should sue people that try to make money illegally off of him.....BUT THIS SITE AND OTHERS LIKE IT DO NOT SUPPORT BOOTLEGGING and these sites actually help boost his sales in music and everything else. So why do you agree with these actions that will only result in loss on his part in the long run?

ButterscotchPimp said:

If it bothers him that much, have prince.org closed down.

And continue to perform to nearly 1/2 a million people on future legs

around the world.

You lot are just the tip of an ice burg.

He dos'nt need your whiny arse's any more.

darrenj said:

We'll see.
The Org will survive. You wanna know why?
The Org may have started because of Prince?
But it doesn't need to EXIST because of Prince anymore.
It's grown beyond that, and i think that it's this action by the purple nazi that has shown everyone here that.

The people that frequent this place, may all have bonded over their appreciation for Prince, but it's bigger than that now. Some people in here have started friendships and relationships as a result of being here. People in here have discovered NEW artists that they love and appreciate from being in here.

So where it may or may not be Prince.org anymore, this place, these people will remain. And end up in the long run being stronger for it.

And mark my words, you may think and the purple midget may think that he doesn't need "us" anymore? I'm telling you "us" just got a WHOLE LOT BIGGER. This may not blow over. This may not just go away. And if people that feel as I do, really do send a message and stop buying tickets and cd's, and he doesn't have as much money to buy custom made high heel boots anymore, then we'll really see who needs who.

darrenj said:

Yeah right, and as we saw in London, all the casual concert-goers went to hear 1-2 songs maximum and spent the rest of the shows walking up and down the aisles to purchase more alcohol and end the night fighting. Hardly a desirable crowd. If he raised the ticket prices then that bunch of people wouldn't be there, but then the venues would be small and that "tip of the iceberg" would matter. Quite a lot actually.
[Edited 11/6/07 8:54am]

HereToRockYourWorld said:

HereToRockYourWorld said:

THAT'S RIGHT!!! He really shouldn't want that, we generate interest in him, which equals to more $$$ in his bank accounts. Can't his lawyers see that?!! Who the hell is advising this dude?

Do you think we will ever get an explanation? even a bs one?

Someone brought a good point on here about all the money Prince has made in the last couple years, i.e., Vegas, London, LA Roosevelt. I wonder if this is the "GOODBYE" to us. If it is goodbye, this is a f'cked up way of saying it. He dont need us. He got wanted he wanted from us and dont want us anymore. I cant believe after all these years that Im saying goodbye to him forever. Im very hurt and depressed. His music was my inspiration and my life. It's gooten me thru the bad times and the good times. I cant believe it's over!!

Ellie said:

Thats because Englands full of Godless alcoholic Wankers.

Europeans will be much more appreciative and respectfull

As will the Japs, Ozzies, and Tibetans.

Whan are you off Prince?

Dear Prince,

It appears that the controlling half of your Gemini twins is in control right now. That twin doesn't appear to be resonating with the faithful.

There are times when the communicative twin appears to be in control. That twin didn't appear to resonate with the record labels who wanted you to put less music out there.

I don't know a thing about your finances, but it appears you occasionaly let the wrong twin take the control. Perhaps you can let the controlling twin man the machine while you're in the studio and as you prepare for a tour or show, and then let the other twin take over when you're on stage, or enjoying the fruits of your labor.

Just a thought.

Oh, and hello everyone!

paintedlady said:

I think you'll find that I said:



In short, I agree with ANYONE defending their legal rights WITHIN the law. By all means he should be able exercise his rights regarding copyright/libel etc. Again, my concern is that the Fair Use doctrine seems to be being overlooked.

Why do you consider my view to be so objectionable/questionable?
[Edited 11/6/07 9:07am]
[Edited 11/6/07 9:09am]

Lord have mercy !
but i hear ya..

Raze said:

ButterscotchPimp said:

Darrenj doesn't realize that these fansites are Prince's strongest voice, we generate the interest that has kept Prince in demand as an artist and allowed for a generation of new fans to develop en masse. The mainstream media see Prince as irrelevant, and he gets zero airplay, (in their eyes he'san 80's hasbeen). Prince needs our continued support if he wants to remain relevant.....Can anyone say Rick James?
[Edited 11/6/07 9:12am]

Negs said:

That's a pretty hefty concern. And that could be why your comments are seen as questionable by many on this thread. Though I do applaud your respectful tone in presenting your point of view.

darrenj said:

call yourself a "religious man" and yet you point the finger at people? and become judgmental? people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones i dont care who you are or what your stance is on this, but do not point fingers at people by calling them "Godless" how dare you bring someone's personal beliefs into it. i dont care if you worship cow shit you're missing the point.