The search engine doesn't work so I'm not sure if this has been reported (I haven't seen it), but there is an article in today's Pioneer Press detailing how Prince is suing Matthew Lankford (who operates freemyheart.com) for putting up the songs from Xenophobia on his site.

http://www.twincities.com...158882.htm


Posted on Fri, Sep. 27, 2002

COURTS: Prince alleging copyright violation
BY HANNAH ALLAM
Pioneer Press

Prince is generally described as a free-spirited, free-thinking, free-loving kind of guy.

But one thing about the Minnesota superstar isn't free: his music.

Prince, through his Chanhassen-based Paisley Park Enterprises, is suing the operator of an Internet site that allegedly offered pirated recordings of live performances from "Xenophobia," the artist's June concert series, according to a federal copyright-infringement lawsuit filed Wednesday in Minneapolis. Prince, an artists' rights advocate long before Napster became a household name, filed at least three similar lawsuits in 1999.

Prince, 44, names Mathew Lankford of Seattle as the operator of Freemy heart.com — a now-disabled Web site where people who didn't shell out $100 a day for the Paisley Park events could still hear "Housequake" or "1+1+1 Is 3." Lankford could not be reached for comment.

The claim alleges Lankford broke federal copyright laws by allowing Web users to download Prince songs that included "specific information describing which day the unauthorized recording of the Xenophobia concert took place." Jerry Blackwell, the Minneapolis attorney representing Paisley Park, did not return calls seeking comment.

There were hints in online chat groups that the lawsuit was coming. On Prince's official site, love4oneanother.com, an Aug. 16 posting touts a new seven-CD box set that includes Xenophobia recordings.

"But wait … u already bought this set from a bootlegger. How do u feel?" the posting asks.

In an August posting on another Internet site, a man who identified himself as Lankford wrote to other fans about a letter he received from Paisley Park that ordered him to stop distributing Prince's music. The writer explained that he simply wanted to offer samples of some of his favorite music — not to turn a profit as a bootlegger.

"Nearly every performance of Prince's from the past 20 years has been taped and shared by admirers of his," he wrote. "Why? Because unlike his 'Free the Music'… message of 1995, he's as guilty as the bootleggers for taking his loyal fan base for all that he can get."

David Wolf, a Minneapolis DJ, spins Prince records while the musician's movies play overhead every Wednesday at The Front in Northeast Minneapolis. Wolf understands that many performers own the rights to their music, but said Prince's attitude is costing the artist fans.

"It seems like he's just making music for himself," Wolf said. "I wish he would just make the music we all used to love."

I wonder if this will cost him as many fans as it did in 1998-99 when he went after the fansites?

Now it's official.

I am gonna wear a FREE MY (L) teeshirt to the concert...

Here is my favorite line from the article:

"But one thing about the Minnesota superstar isn't free: his music."

Amen, everyone who is a member of the NPGMC knows this.



Maybe everyone who downloaded the songs will be called to court to testify






.
[This message was edited Fri Sep 27 7:28:12 PDT 2002 by lovemachine]

Prince has got every right to sue. Its his music and for reasons known to him alone, has not released it.

At the end of the day, imagine if you were, say, writing a book and someone hacked into your PC and stole it, then published it on the internet. Youd be mightily fucked off no doubt! Whether that hacker was profitting from it or not.

There is always the argument that whether you have a boot copy of something or not, you would still go and buy the official release. Perhaps that is true. But, like your metaphorical book, it will have been 'read' already and the buzz surrounding the official release would be somewhat tamed.

Look what happened to the Black album. The excitement of a new release was disipated by the fact that most of us had heard it already. Even though most of us bought it, it just never had that 'BANG! New release' feel that would normally follow.

Bootlegs are illigal. And objectively speaking, dont do any good to the artist, even if sales aint greatly effected when they are eventually released.

And yes, I have many bootlegs, so I aint exactly being saintly myself. Just objective.

I agree that Prince is in a hard spot here tyring to keep the bootlegging in check while keeping his fans happy.

But all I know is that suing your fanbase is never a good idea.

The Black Album is a bad example because Prince wanted this to get booted and even played some of the songs live on the Lovesexy tour.

lovemachine said:

Not such a bad example. This Xenophobia boot has ALL been played live!

this is what i dont get...the guy got the site to stop distributing the music...what more does he want?


prince is addressing the boot issue like our goverment addresses drug use...go after the user rather then the supplier...makes no sense...


why doesnt he go after sabotage? or the other famous boot companies? the guy is a major dork!!!

ohh...and while prince is sue happy clubbing his fans over their heads with his symbol cane...radiohead i using their online fans (and booters) to create a buzz for their upcomming album...


which group will rate higher on billboard? thus proving that prince *aint* loosing money because of freemyheart.com?

SkletonKee said:

Um, he's going after the website distributing the illegal recordings...what more do you want?

u know what? p could be learnin a lesson from all the folks/bootleggers and such...

...as well as the art of cover thy own behind. if ol' boy were a bit more strict on this sorta thing, and were 2 actually give folks the music like he's preached on so many occasions, he wouldn't have this problem. sheesh...

just my ...

free my heart.

i'm suin this edit message....
[This message was edited Fri Sep 27 8:26:07 PDT 2002 by PlastikLuvAffair]

if he released some got damn songs already,
this wouldnt be an issue!

Hey, I was about to sue them myself for spamming the org too much.

I wonder if Prince will show up @ the court?

The lawsuit is overreacting. Theres no reason to slam someone that bad for simply sharing some music. If FreeMyHeart became a huge operation that was costing Prince a chunk of his sales, I could see his wanting to sue. But this is ridiculous.

What's next, is year 3 of NPGMC going to include clauses in the agreement that state we cannot listen to any of the music in our cars unless the windows are rolled up? We cant listen to the music in our homes unless our walls are soundproofed? You know, because someone else might be able to hear his copyrighted material without paying for it, and thats shamefully illegal!

When Prince looses the rest of his dwindling fan base down to a handul of people who can no longer support his sorry ass, then maybe he will get the point.

Maybe he should change his name again to hypocrite.

CherrieMoonKisses said:

No, he'll just send text messages to the judge.

Tom said:

I wonder...

gooeythehamster said:

ALLLRIGHT !!!

If I was Prince...

I'd sue anyone trying to make money out of selling my music. But just fans distributing MP3s of live recording? Give the fans a break!

PlastikLuvAffair said:

Co-sign

ian said:

Exactly.

violett said:

co-sign.

(sickeningly sweet sarcastik voice) but, this is our princey...

ian said:

or give them some songs yo

Prince really is a butt plug sometimes,good luck Mathew.

Much love Pochacco

Prince has a point
but he has to understand that there is a certain fustration inherent in paying $100 in advance and getting last years songs. now im sorry but this is a friggin sticking point for me, im pissed

I am so split on this. I loved that site, but once Prince asked Matt to take the songs down and Matt responded with "not until I receive a judge's decision that says "No," I knew it was just a matter of time. He basically dared Prince to sue him. Not a good idea. A lawsuit was guaranteed at that point.

So sad Why can't we just dance?

yes dance yes


to some NEW SONGS!

Universaluv said:

eeexactly...some of these guys want to praise matt like he's some sort of fucking hero, when he's really a dumbass...HE caused this, not Prince...sorry, but I'm with Prince on this issue...

we are all spoiled

yall know that right