purplecam said:

Prince goes from being an asshole to being the man in a heartbeat in Prince net world. Some of the most negative soundbites about him in the press come from his very own fansites. We are not allowed to flame each other but we can call Prince a cunt, an asshole, a midget, say he doesn't give a fuck about his fans, etc., and we expect that he doesn't care about this. To say all this falls under an umbrella of him being a public figure is BS. Ther are no rules written that pa erson gives up their private life for fame. God forbid any of our private lives were plastered on the internet for people to dissect.

From NPG's perspective:

They are completely within their rights to request that material that they own the copyright to is withdrawn from a web site. The law is on their side.


From a Site Owner's perspective:

The web site should request that all copyrighted material HOSTED on their site be identified, and proof of ownership be given. Once they receive that, the content should be removed immediately, and an apology given. Any copyrighted content LINKED to is also illegal. BEFORE you open your website where you allow others to add content, you have to understand that you're taking on the responsibility of protecting your site from being used to infringe on copyright, privacy, or any other aspect that can be illegaly infringed upon.


From a marketing perspective:

Honestly, Prince should have control over all his marketing. That's his perogative. I do believe that he could get a lot of support if he offers the ability for a site to use images of him ONLY IF they agree to put a large banner right to the "Official" Prince site, be it NPG, 3121, Paisley Park, etc. Kind of like how the James Brown banner is floating above on this site. Something, ANYTHING. That way HE doesn't have to host and serve all the images, etc. It would save him money, send people to his site, etc.

Stymie said:

You damn right. You watch how this site and all the other sites are going to be come Superbowl Sunday and the day after. All the bitching and moaning will be nothing but praise but come later that week, it'll be back to the bitching. Can't win for trying. He's truely damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. Everyone talks about freedom of expression and it's necessary but don't think that it doesn't have it's consequences. And that's for both sides.
[Edited 12/30/06 20:05pm]

I agree with those that feel that there is more to the story that is not being told. I mean, if the whole Redheaded Stepchild spoof story is true, I can definitely understand why Prince would be pissed. It would not be a good look for those involved to broadcast a spoof of an unreleased song on youtube for the world to see. Again, I don't know if the spoof story is true, but I would like to know the whole story before I pass judgement on this most recent cease and desist letter from Prince's camp..
[Edited 12/30/06 20:08pm]

PurpleCharm said:

That's just it. We need to wait and see what's behind this before we go convicting Prince for being a dick to his fans with this issue. Besides, in the last couple of years, nothing has really happened to the sites that get these letters and I expect nothing but the same. But if the opposite happens, then oh well.

Prince continues to lose his small fanbase on pulling stunts like this.

Yeah! Let's show solidarity!

Cause Prince fansites are SO much more respectful to their users and have SO much more to offer!

I've gotten to the stage where this kind of thing doesn't really bother me anymore.

I mean, it's nothing new. Prince has been doing this kind of thing for a long time now - even way back in the pre-internet days he was trying to sue fan magazines and what not for using the symbol . I've just come to accept that that's the way he is, and nothing we say or do is gonna change it.

I'm a fan of the music first and foremost. All the other stuff (fandom, websites, pics etc.) is just icing on the cake.

So without sticking-up for Prince, let's just be thankfull for the good times and not try and get too hung up on the ugly side of things.

2the9s said:

toejam said:

Exactly

What an idiot.

He should be glad there are still fans feverishly devoted to him.

Dauphin said:

I just don't know where to begin...site owner, copyrighted material...proof of ownership....blah blah blah...

Daughin...xpln to me how Prince on his dysfunctional site could take $$ up to the milisecond the place CLOSED with no offer of restitution, no apology, all the "lifetime membership privileges" which no longer existed poufed into air.. Small print and all....somehow I don't think THAT was legal. EVEN WHEN THE SITE WAS CLOSING DOWN it still took $$ not compensated. Scam is the word that comes to mind.

There's an expectation that Prince related web sites stay within copyrighted laws. Fine. I fully expect Prince to be just as responsible and give a refund to every person who subscribed to his now closed site who requests a refund.

I feel bad. I just bought a new outfit today in anticipation of getting to a Prince Vegas show this month. I don't even want to go. Have frequent flier miles. See a play in NYC, go fishing in Mexico.....The world is a big place.
[Edited 12/30/06 22:31pm]

I will start off by saying that most people won't like what I have to say but that's ok. I'm goning to tell it like it is.


If a request was submitted by Prince's attorneys to either credit photos and or videos or for them to taken off of the website and they ignored the request then I can see why this would escalate. I'm certain that his attorneys would only make such requests if they investigated the situation and found the site to be at fault. You know that Prince's legal dept will contact the "offender" first and ask, yes I said ask for it to stop. When asking doesn't work they will demand it to stop and send a cease and desist.

So far Prince.org has obviously abided by the legal aspects of running this website and Ben and all the people involved in running it are doing a great job or it would have been closed long ago. It certainly doesn't hurt that Ben has a wealth of legal knowledge under his belt!

I did something twenty years ago that wasn't legally right when it came to Prince and I was personally contacted and asked to stop. Did I know I was doing something wrong back then when I was 22 yrs old,no not at first. I learned quickly after that and I complied and that was that. I certainly didn't stop listening to Prince's music, or going to his concerts or even purchasing every piece of memorabilia. Yes, I was a little upset when it happened but got over that fairly quickly. I'm still here all these years later and I still love Prince's music and support him. The last thing that I have to say about this is that Prince has worked hard to accomplish everything he has today and to keep his work secure he has to sometimes take extra measures. Prince doesn't let people walk all over him,why should he.

PurpleCharm said:

I've heard that the Star Trek folks, especially when Roddenberry was alive, but even since then, are pretty aggressive. Also, that Lucas has taken a long time to realize all those Star Wars fansites are actually good for him, and to try to help them and control them somewhat, instead of sending C&D letters to them

7kisses4U said:

Thanks for the props, and I have learned a lot, but in reality it's our staff member Matt with 99% of the legal knowledge. "I Am Not A Lawyer"... but he IS! We really do try to stay within both the spirit, and the letter, of the law on prince.org. I think we largely do this, and it's somewhat due to a lot of "extra work" I put into building the site to allow attributions, protect linking rights, etc., but more importantly, due to the hard work of all the moderators, without which, there would like not BE a prince.org anymore!

xplnyrslf said:

From what I understand the lifetime membership was valid only when the website is active, and they did stop taking membership money weeks before it closed (someone correct me if I'm wrong). I am quite sure Prince's legal department look at the obligation to those who paid the $25, so I don't think he's required to issue a refund. Again, someone with a legal background can correct me.

As far as your second paragraph, I respect people who take the stand and literally be done with Prince. I never understood why folks continue to support him when they despise him. That's just my opinion. No matter how good the music is, I would never support a musician who I feel treats fans like shit. (I don't believe that at all, I'm just repeating what I've read in the past few days). I don't understand why people just can't leave Prince world totally and go and devote time to other artists who do things the way they think they should, rather than devote time daily talking about a man one no longer respects. That's just me.
[Edited 12/30/06 23:07pm]

wonder505,I agree with u 100%.

toejam said:

It's never bothered me in the first place because I never knew about this neverending saga until 3 years ago. For 22 years I purchased all his music and movies plus a few magazines and posters and occasionally visited his various websites.

I don't see any reason to get myself all hot and bothered because generally speaking the pattern seems to be that when Prince does something to anger people they call him everything but a child of God for about a week or until the next album drops or the next tour starts then it's all good. You know this, I know this and so does Prince.

Since 04 I've educated myself on the topic and I'm still not bothered. I don't really see a progressive attitude coming from either side. On the one hand If I were in Prince's position many of the things he sees as cause for concern probably wouldn't faze me as much. On the other hand If I were a site owner and I was sure I wasn't doing anything illegal he'd have to haul me all the way to the supreme court even if I didn't have a dime to my name.

As far as unreleased/unauthorized stuff goes, he can keep it. Big deal.

I've gone for long periods of time not knowing what Prince was doing at all. If he decided to close his website, burn down his vault and never perform, record, or take another picture in his life I'd be sad for awhile but I'm sure I'd survive. I admire him and I love his work but I don't consider it one of life's necessities.

still waiting for my toast. it's 1997 all over again.

ben said:

remember that it was when he was starting a new internet endeavor (and fanzine for that matter) that all of this went down the first time. he doesn't like the competition. especially when it does the job infinitely better than any of his fly-by-night operations have ever done it. or he's delusional (well, more delusional than we thought) that we're all going to meld into one Prince-sanctioned fan community under his corporate umbrella (again).

I think that we need to know all the facts behind this descision of Prince's. It seems pretty obvious that he is not just going to make this kind of decision on a whim of some sort, but seems everyone is jumping the band wagon to say he is being unfair to us fans. We all know about copy writing, probably a very big line got crossed, if he were so bad at business after all he would not have stayed in business this many years, think and know all the facts before accusing someone of being a jerk. In the end we will probably find out more facts that built up to this, and more than likely it will make sense when we do.

lillybleu said:

but it's all happened before, you see. brace yourself. that sucking feeling you feel is "The Collective" trying to vacuum you up into itself.

wonder505 said:

Stand corrected...the site took $$ days before it closed.
Lifetime membership; unless it closes... that's an oxymoron.
The same attorneys protecting Prince's copyrights are the same who put the fine print in the website. No responsibility for anything.

I'm usually in GD. Responding to the forum to support the site. Not here to argue with the cheerleaders.

I Think There must be more to the story

Lovesexytegan said:

here's a bit of their perspective:

http://www.princefams.com...hp?id=7938

or

http://www.princefams.com...hp?id=7936
[Edited 12/31/06 1:32am]

Lilith said:

Maybe this is a bit of KARMA then ... ?

Or as Jesus said: 'You reap what you sow'.

LOVE to you always Lilith.

ben said:

Actually the Star Trek people has change in the years and now the have a guide line on how to do a Site (optional) and free graphics and stuff for the site, even a database of all the fan sites available.

As for Lucas and Star Wars, He gives even awards to fan movies annually. And are featured in the Star Wars site, even Kevin Smith (Dogma, Clerks) has hosted tv specials with this movies.

Now. something that i haven't read about this "dispute" Prince own his image (likeness, how he looks and stuff) as a Trademark, he can request to a C&D letter in that matter. As for copyright photographers, publishers are the owner of certain pict, but it can rule as a TM instead of a copyright.

SammiJ said:

***** it doesnt matter, if here some of these ppl, they know who they r....

NewMr7 said:

***** As u told me in the past: GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE

They r just reaping what they did sow. I like Prince related sites, but nobody has the right 2 get involved in other ones life.

After I left one boyfriend (he isnt the impotent one!) of mine from Pfams I was treated in a very rude way and mocked by the moderators. Had this any relation with Prince? I dont think so...

Love 2 u 2 Mr 7
[Edited 12/31/06 3:03am]

so Prince has nothing left to prove, eh?
his royal badass strikes again
"Love""??

Is that Ben? Posting on the org? Will wonders never cease!!!

Ben, thanks for the org, and for your comments!

anon said:

Intriguing idea, as I don't think we'll ever see the music industry back at the level it once was. It will be interesting to see how it goes. Hmm, isn't the upcoming Superbowl halftime show sponsored by Pepsi?


BTW, I agree with several people who replied here: there is a net benefit from allowing fans to have their fun on the internet. Yes, this entails a lot of copyright infringement. But as it goes on the Prince fan sites these days (relatively low-Q videos, scans of pics), it's not taking any money out of his pocket. And in many or most cases, he doesn't hold the copyright anyway.

Maybe just look at it as free advertising, eh? As pointed out, other big names have realized this: some merely tolerate the situation, while others actively exploit it.

JMHO.