I don't really understand the Org's decision to continue with this policy of no bootlegs and no YouTube videos. I always accepted it in the past because I understood it was complying with Prince's wishes and it gave this site some legitimacy as the world's number one Prince fansite - but what now?

Prince was right about many things but I personally think he was wrong about restricting his work on YouTube. Since his death we've seen a purple tsunami of Prince videos wash over YouTube and the floodgates are open. In effect the people have spoken, and there's no going back now. Sure, some of the copyright cops are scrambling to take down the content but new stuff is literally being posted by the hour. I hope it never stops.

I met a 26 year old woman from Montreal the other week and we were talking music, she loves music and listens to a wide variety or genres and eras, and I brought up how sad I was that Prince had passed. She looked a little surprised and admitted almost sheepishly "I don't really know his music that well"... then I played her some of the most obvious hits from my phone, "surely you know this?" and cued 'When Doves Cry', 'Raspberry Beret', 'Little Red Corvette', and 'Purple Rain' ...she knew none of them, AT ALL!! I couldn't believe it. That my friends is the legacy of Prince's decision to stonewall his music in the digital age, several generations have no idea who he is at all. An artist of his talent and with his breadth of creative work deserves to be discovered, deserves to be heard!

Then halfway through listening to 'Purple Rain' my Montreal friend was like "Oh check this out, do you know Sister Rosetta Tharpe? ...my friend just sent me this on Facebook" and she proceeded to play me a YouTube video of the great blues gospel singer belting out a live performance of 'Didn't It Rain' in the 1950s - and I thought to myself isn't it strange that she can know and sing songs by Sister Rosetta Tharpe but not even know a single Prince song. It's a damn shame.

My best friend also has two teenage sons aged 17 and 14, and Prince to them means nothing - because they know absolutely nothing about Prince. It was hard for me to convey to them the importance of his loss because I was basically discussing a stranger. I felt depressed about it later as I'd been their age when I discovered Prince in the pre-internet era of the late 80s.

I hope in future the Org is somewhere we can share Prince bootlegs and videos.

It's all about sharing the love and passing the mantle to newer fans, this is how art survives!

[Edited 5/10/16 9:11am]

I don't think it's a moral stance. It's a practical stance to not get the site shut down by Prince's lawyers or whoever takes over his estate, etc.

Junglehop said:

I don't really understand the Org's decision to continue with this policy of no bootlegs and no YouTube videos. I always accepted it in the past because I understood it was complying with Prince's wishes and it gave this site some legitimacy as the world's number one Prince fansite - but what now?

Prince was right about many things but I personally think he was wrong about restricting his work on YouTube. Since his death we've seen a purple tsunami of Prince videos wash over YouTube and the floodgates are open. In effect the people have spoken, and there's no going back now. Sure, some of the copyright cops are scrambling to take down the content but new stuff is literally being posted by the hour. I hope it never stops.

I met a 26 year old woman from Montreal the other week and we were talking music, she loves music and listens to a wide variety or genres and eras, and I brought up how sad I was that Prince had passed. She looked a little surprised and admitted almost sheepishly "I don't really know his music that well"... then I played her some of the most obvious hits from my phone, "surely you know this?" and cued 'When Doves Cry', 'Raspberry Beret', 'Little Red Corvette', and 'Purple Rain' ...she knew none of them, AT ALL!! I couldn't believe it. That my friends is the legacy of Prince's decision to stonewall his music in the digital age, several generations have no idea who he is at all. An artist of his talent and with his breadth of creative work deserves to be discovered, deserves to be heard!

Then halfway through listening to 'Purple Rain' my Montreal friend was like "Oh check this out, do you know Sister Rosetta Tharpe? ...my friend just sent me this on Facebook" and she proceeded to play me a YouTube video of the great blues gospel singer belting out a live performance of 'Didn't It Rain' in the 1950s - and I thought to myself isn't it strange that she can know and sing songs by Sister Rosetta Tharpe but not even know a single Prince song. It's a damn shame.

My best friend also has two teenage sons aged 17 and 14, and Prince to them means nothing - because they know absolutely nothing about Prince. It was hard for me to convey to them the importance of his loss because I was basically discussing a stranger. I felt depressed about it later as I'd been their age when I discovered Prince in the pre-internet era of the late 80s.

I hope in future the Org is somewhere we can share Prince bootlegs and videos.

It's all about sharing the love and passing the mantle to newer fans, this is how art survives!

[Edited 5/10/16 9:11am]

The org's rules weren't a matter of complying with Prince's wishes: the site -alongside other fansites- has been harrassed and threatened by Prince's lawyers on numerous occasions and its founder wanted to avoid legal troubles.

As long as Prince's estate is not established and as long as the Org doesn't have the guarantee that they will leave fansites alone, don't expect a change in the rules.

If you are looking for bootlegs........ the org is NOT the site for that. Discussion about bootlegs is fine, no sharing or posting links or how to/where to get, hinting, or any other form of asking/getting.

The org rules are in place for a reason. Moderators did not make the rules..... the org founder did.

The org does not need a legal smackdown.............. can you afford the hefty legal bills should legal action be taken against the org???

luv4u said:

If you are looking for bootlegs........ the org is NOT the site for that. Discussion about bootlegs is fine, no sharing or posting links or how to/where to get, hinting, or any other form of asking/getting.

The org rules are in place for a reason. Moderators did not make the rules..... the org founder did.

The org does not need a legal smackdown.............. can you afford the hefty legal bills should legal action be taken against the org???

I'm not looking for bootlegs, I know where to find those! I just think the Org needs to loosen it's copyright stance a little - at least concerning YouTube videos. This should be the sort of place where someone can post a video link to a Prince interview, or rare footage from a live show. It's about sharing! and learning! I doubt very much the Org would be given a legal smackdown - if the copyright cops want to go after somebody they'll go after the person who posted the video to YouTube, and even then the first step is just to remove the content anyways - no 'legal' repercussions at all.

Junglehop said:

luv4u said:

If you are looking for bootlegs........ the org is NOT the site for that. Discussion about bootlegs is fine, no sharing or posting links or how to/where to get, hinting, or any other form of asking/getting.

The org rules are in place for a reason. Moderators did not make the rules..... the org founder did.

The org does not need a legal smackdown.............. can you afford the hefty legal bills should legal action be taken against the org???

I'm not looking for bootlegs, I know where to find those! I just think the Org needs to loosen it's copyright stance a little - at least concerning YouTube videos. This should be the sort of place where someone can post a video link to a Prince interview, or rare footage from a live show. It's about sharing! and learning! I doubt very much the Org would be given a legal smackdown - if the copyright cops want to go after somebody they'll go after the person who posted the video to YouTube, and even then the first step is just to remove the content anyways - no 'legal' repercussions at all.

I believe a message went out that they allowed a period of 'mourning' but they are going to be cracking down on this stuff again per Prince's wishes

OldFriends4Sale said:

Junglehop said:

I'm not looking for bootlegs, I know where to find those! I just think the Org needs to loosen it's copyright stance a little - at least concerning YouTube videos. This should be the sort of place where someone can post a video link to a Prince interview, or rare footage from a live show. It's about sharing! and learning! I doubt very much the Org would be given a legal smackdown - if the copyright cops want to go after somebody they'll go after the person who posted the video to YouTube, and even then the first step is just to remove the content anyways - no 'legal' repercussions at all.

I believe a message went out that they allowed a period of 'mourning' but they are going to be cracking down on this stuff again per Prince's wishes

Yes, I have heard whispers they are prowling Facebook, youtube and even here

There isnt really any need to post a YT link. We are allowed to discuss a song or vid and we can mention it is on YT somewhere. Its not difficult for anyone to find it after that.

I'm still not aware of any legal reason for a site having to ban Youtube links, so that rule specifically seems a personal one by org founder.

Eileen said:

I'm still not aware of any legal reason for a site having to ban Youtube links, so that rule specifically seems a personal one by org founder.

It was never nor is it personal by the org founder.

Blame it on web sheriff with their cease and desists of any videos with Prince in it .............. and yeah, they hit on youtube and other sites too