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PrintableSWANG said: As far as the Pepe Willie thing is concerned...
The reason Prince called Pepe regarding the use of his name to promote the 94 East releases rather than send a cease and desist like with the websites is because Prince knows he has no case. Pepe is completely free to use Prince's name without obtaining some licence and without paying some fee. Prince obviously thought he could make a personal call and appeal to Pepe's sense of "civility" and convince him to yield to Prince's wishes. When that didn't work, he threatned legal action...which didn't work either. Ethically, I don't really see much of anything wrong with what Prince did...or tried to do. He made an attempt to put a hault to a project he didn't feel comfortable endorsing; including his name on a "product" (for lack of better) is a form of endorsement. There is no legal way to stop Pepe, but if I were Pepe and wanted to maintain "social harmony" with Prince (who could possibly return the favor in some way down the line), I would have simply said, "Well, Prince, I certainly am free to use it, but I understand your point of view. Is there some way we could work it out so that we both benefit equally?" and go from there. Pepe didn't do that, and he didn't have to, but it would have been a nicer way to settle the dispute. After all, Prince's stock may have gone down, but he has a hell of a lot more clout than Pepe, so having a guy like Prince in your corner ain't such a bad thing if your Pepe Willie. I wonder how many of these phone calls Prince made to Warner's when the released The Very Best of Prince. I seem to recall that they had a contract with Prince way back when just like Pepe did. 
As far as sicking lawyers on fans is concerned... Let me relay some advice my father gave me when I was 22: "Sometimes the best idea is also the most impractical one." Ya dig?...I knew that you could... 
-SWANGshutsupfornow Yeh, I defenietly dig. ~KiKi | |
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And just for the record how many fans actually bought this cd and like it? Just so Pepe Willie knows. I never bought it. | |
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Sure he has the right to go after people for copywright violations. No question about it.
I just think that it's probably not in his best interest to go after fans who aren't actually making a profit off of their illegal activities, but who are merely promoting Prince as the remarkable artist he is. The people who are actually producing/selling bootlegs? Lynch 'em. But once the stuff has trickled out into the filsharing realm, don't go after the people who are just loving the music. A waste of funds and energy, IMHO. Doves, Mel!ssa | |
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I bought the original years ago, but I have repurchased it.
In the wrecka stow this weekend they had a few of the "New" Pepe Willie CDs out with a giant picture of Prince on the cover. Now, I don't think that's fair, especially since most of the material is very old. Let bygones be bygones and stop the re-re-re-releases. **************************************************
If the wind blew every petal from your precious red rose 
Would U be afraid of what U'd find inside? 
Prince - Dreamin' About U | |
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i agree with FACE! | |
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Isn't it amusing how whenever Prince seeks legal action, people go by the letter of the law and proclaim he has every right in the book to do what he's doing.
But when it comes time for fans to take legal routes or file complaints as a consumer, we get the "how dare you! you're supposed to be a fan!" crap. Despite the fact that legally, we have every right in the world to do what we're doing. Prince rides peoples ass about ripping him off, right down to someone even using even a likeness of him on their web sites a few years ago. But the moment someone argues that NPG Retail has screwed up their order quite a few times, or that NPGMC wasn't quite what they thought they were getting for their money, now these people are just ungrateful, negative naysayers. Double standards anyone? | |
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Prince has thr Right to protect what is his, and use the laws available to him. Saying he doesn't have the right to do this is simular to saying you don't have the right to press chanrges against someone who attacks you.
The symbol thing...It is my understanding that that was his legal name @ one time. So miss using it would be kinda like Slander I would imagine??? Now it is a trademark symbol..so I think Trademark laws apply. The Fan thing...hmmm...I dunno about that one anytime someone becomes fanatical about someone else I think they are on the road to disappointment. You just can't please everyone all the time I guess. Well there is my 2 cents. C-ya all "I do not solicit! I merely state the facts and thus give opportunity to all to cooperate as much or as little as they desire" | |
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Prince has every right to protect himself and his music...I believe that he should just let NPGMC go and just sell his music over the internet like everyone else. The merchandise that the members receive is worth more that the $100 membership. So why have a club when the people who really love his music will buy it anyway? I do appreciate being able to hang out at Paisley Park...but if the truth be told, if there wasn't a NPGMC and Prince was allowing music enthusiasts to attend a celebration, why worry about having a club? I think that homeboy should forget about NPGMC and just do what he does best...music.
I have received excellent "perks" from NPGMC, however, when you read about someone not receiving their merchandise, I just know that has to be frustrating to Prince when all he may want to do is make his music. I realize that he is a business man, but the same demands are not placed on others so why expect Prince to go beyond what wouldn't be expected of someone else? Now, I do believe that musicians should wake up and make good music and be responsible. Now, Prince and Paisley Park aren't paying me for my comments, but, I kinda think that Prince got "jacked" by giving away some of the music that he provided as a "download". But give Prince his due, at least he tried to do something unique as far as getting his music to people who really enjoy it via the internet...I really don't believe that he signed up for all of the drama that he has been receiving regarding NPGMC..the most recent download of "X-pectation" is excellent and creative...hey, maybe I'm the fool but I would have pay regular price just to hear it because it was coming from Prince and because it is original music...nuff said...  | |
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Prince needs smacked with a lawsuit of his own for mail fraud. | |
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NPGMCsucks said: Double standards anyone?
Double standards all the way in the Prince community, unfortunately. You are not my "friend" because you threaten my security. | |
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