SuperSoulFighter said:

Seems like you guys keep forgetting one thing: Prince makes the music and he, and no one else, decides what to do with it. It's not like there's a United Nations declaration that says that fans of an artist, any artist, have an inalienable right to everything artist records. If Prince decides tokeep his music locked up, he has every right to do that. And yes, I own a lot of bootlegs too.And that's my choice. I don't always have to agree with Prince, but at the end of the day, he has the law on his side.

You're missing the issue here. The website he shut down wasn't distributing bootlegs, it was just discussing them. You are discussing bootlegs in your post here (and you admit to owning them). Should Prince be able to censor your post?

electricberet said:

HonestMan13 said:

Did anyone on here actually watch Purple Rain? He was a complete asshole in that movie! For all of his behavior he neveer uttered a single apology throughout the entire film. He was forgiven solely for playing a killer set of 3 songs! Acting like this is breaking news to you now is ridiculous. It was told to you in 1984 and now after you've consumed everything and indulged his behavior for close to 3 decades you've had enough?!?

Good point. I didn't realize that Prince's films were nonfiction. Please send my condolences to Mary Sharon on the death of Christopher Tracy.

Way to miss the point there.

HonestMan13 said:

Well considering how most orgers swear by how crappy he was/is to Wendy & Lisa and how he's treated band members and associates how far of a leap is it that that was a slice of reality in the film? Did it make for interesting backstory in the film? Yeah. Doesn't make it complete fiction.

Your sig is epic, I must say.

NeonCraxx said:

electricberet said:

Good point. I didn't realize that Prince's films were nonfiction. Please send my condolences to Mary Sharon on the death of Christopher Tracy.

Way to miss the point there.

I got HonestMan's point. I"m not sure that he got the point of Purple Rain. Prince was forgiven in the script because he listened to the girls' song, added lyrics and played it with them on stage. In other words, he did something nice for a change. The movie script is fiction. But the real Prince also does nice, unexpected things from time to time (like stopping by Wendy and Lisa's studio, to take just one example). With regard to this particular issue of censoring websites, I thought we were past that: there are certain rules and if you follow them he lets it go. Now a website that was following the rules has been shut down. So he's reverted back to his position in 2007. Do you think that's cool?

Mofo stole my $77.00

Graycap23 said:

Mofo stole my $77.00

Nobody stole shit. You signed up for the website that contained all three albums, a t-shirt (if you got one), and videos. Next time, don't pay $77 for a website if you let alone think people should pay for concert tickets.

But go ahead, linger on about the $77 that YOU spent.

NeonCraxx said:

Graycap23 said:

Mofo stole my $77.00

Nobody stole shit. You signed up for the website that contained all three albums, a t-shirt (if you got one), and videos. Next time, don't pay $77 for a website if you let alone think people should pay for concert tickets.

But go ahead, linger on about the $77 that YOU spent.

Mofo stole my $77.00

electricberet said:

NeonCraxx said:

Way to miss the point there.

I got HonestMan's point. I"m not sure that he got the point of Purple Rain. Prince was forgiven in the script because he listened to the girls' song, added lyrics and played it with them on stage. In other words, he did something nice for a change. The movie script is fiction. But the real Prince also does nice, unexpected things from time to time (like stopping by Wendy and Lisa's studio, to take just one example). With regard to this particular issue of censoring websites, I thought we were past that: there are certain rules and if you follow them he lets it go. Now a website that was following the rules has been shut down. So he's reverted back to his position in 2007. Do you think that's cool?

Do I think it's cool? No. Have I moved on? Yes.

A website shutting down isn't going to stop be from buying a concert ticket. That's ridiculous.

Graycap23 said:

NeonCraxx said:

Nobody stole shit. You signed up for the website that contained all three albums, a t-shirt (if you got one), and videos. Next time, don't pay $77 for a website if you let alone think people should pay for concert tickets.

But go ahead, linger on about the $77 that YOU spent.

Mofo stole my $77.00

edit: my shit will get snipped anyway so fuck it.

[Edited 9/1/12 8:03am]

NeonCraxx said:

electricberet said:

I got HonestMan's point. I"m not sure that he got the point of Purple Rain. Prince was forgiven in the script because he listened to the girls' song, added lyrics and played it with them on stage. In other words, he did something nice for a change. The movie script is fiction. But the real Prince also does nice, unexpected things from time to time (like stopping by Wendy and Lisa's studio, to take just one example). With regard to this particular issue of censoring websites, I thought we were past that: there are certain rules and if you follow them he lets it go. Now a website that was following the rules has been shut down. So he's reverted back to his position in 2007. Do you think that's cool?

Do I think it's cool? No. Have I moved on? Yes.

A website shutting down isn't going to stop be from buying a concert ticket. That's ridiculous.

It's not just buying a concert ticket. Since I don't live in Chicago, it's buying a plane ticket, booking a hotel, and taking at least two days off from work. I did that for the Revolution reunion in Minneapolis. I don't feel like doing that for Prince right now when he's in fan-attack mode. So, unless he lifts the ban on TDG by tonight (which I know is extremely unlikely), I'll wait for him to come to Dallas or someplace close by, and even then I'm not going to change my plans to be there for him.

Does Prince care about my opinion? No. Would he care if all his fans took the same attitude? I think so. Not only does he want to play to a sellout crowd, he gets frustrated when the audience doesn't know the words. If the true fans stay home, he's going to get people at the concert who vaguely remember Purple Rain and that's about it. So my idea is ridiculous only because nobody else is joining the movement.

electricberet said:

Timmy84 said:

To be honest, this is basically knee jerking. Why should we be surprised at this point? I thought we were past this back in 2007 lol

Him shutting down The Digital Garden was a surprise to me. I thought that the terms of the 2007 ceasefire were clear: we can discuss bootlegs but not solicit them or say where to get them. I never saw that rule violated on TDG. If TDG can be shut down, any fansite that discusses bootlegs is potentially in trouble.

The thing is, if they could afford and had the will to fight it, he couldn't shut them down. Not for discussing or reviewing bootlegs. He only wins because he has the time, the money and the will to sue, not because he is legally right.

It is not illegal in any way to discuss or review bootlegs. It never has been, and as long as we're still free, it won't be. It's just too expensive and time consuming to prove that in court.

Where's a pro-bono lawyer when we need one?

djThunderfunk said:

electricberet said:

Him shutting down The Digital Garden was a surprise to me. I thought that the terms of the 2007 ceasefire were clear: we can discuss bootlegs but not solicit them or say where to get them. I never saw that rule violated on TDG. If TDG can be shut down, any fansite that discusses bootlegs is potentially in trouble.

The thing is, if they could afford and had the will to fight it, he couldn't shut them down. Not for discussing or reviewing bootlegs. He only wins because he has the time, the money and the will to sue, not because he is legally right.

It is not illegal in any way to discuss or review bootlegs. It never has been, and as long as we're still free, it won't be. It's just too expensive and time consuming to prove that in court.

Where's a pro-bono lawyer when we need one?

They should call the lawyer who successfully represented the perfume company in that dispute.

SuperSoulFighter said:

Uhhh... What's the problem here? Prince is an asshole because he doesn't want his work to be bootlegged and tries to stop it?

Digital Garden did not make, sell or link to bootlegs. They REVIEWED them. This is NOT illegal. This isn't stopping his work from being bootlegged. It's stopping fans from reviewing bootlegs that have ALREADY leaked. That's freedom of speech. Suing someone who cannot afford the legal fight is bullying, plain and simple.

Another interesting question is, did the lawyers tell the hosting website that they would sue unless they took down the TDG website?

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...terference

electricberet said:

NeonCraxx said:

Do I think it's cool? No. Have I moved on? Yes.

A website shutting down isn't going to stop be from buying a concert ticket. That's ridiculous.

It's not just buying a concert ticket. Since I don't live in Chicago, it's buying a plane ticket, booking a hotel, and taking at least two days off from work. I did that for the Revolution reunion in Minneapolis. I don't feel like doing that for Prince right now when he's in fan-attack mode. So, unless he lifts the ban on TDG by tonight (which I know is extremely unlikely), I'll wait for him to come to Dallas or someplace close by, and even then I'm not going to change my plans to be there for him.

Does Prince care about my opinion? No. Would he care if all his fans took the same attitude? I think so. Not only does he want to play to a sellout crowd, he gets frustrated when the audience doesn't know the words. If the true fans stay home, he's going to get people at the concert who vaguely remember Purple Rain and that's about it. So my idea is ridiculous only because nobody else is joining the movement.

"Movement"

Yeah I'll just leave you with that. There's a reason nobody is joining.

No one gives a fuck, nor should they.

And I found out about The Digital Garden website just a few seconds ago, so that explains why I should care or know the situation.

I don't feel attacked as fan. Period.

All it would take is for someone to actually have the funds to go head to head with Prince's lawyer, and they might actually win if the website wasn't providing links to purchase bootlegs.

Prince shouldn't have copyright claim over photos taken of him unless he bought the rights to a particular photo.

And he certainly doesn't have any control over free speech or content of artwork. Litigation is based on the idea of profits being stolen, business being re-routed.

All the good info sites will have to go underground now, kind of like "speakeasies" in the time of Prohibition. That leaves behind new fans and fans that not within those exclusive circles.

And yes, many of the most hard core fans from the late 80's and 90's have gotten cold to Prince, and don't buy anything, see anything, or discuss anything. These were main collectors and people that started fan clubs and websites. They either got pissed off, or their tastes changed and it wasn't fun anymore.

Eventually the fanbase will be reduced to only a mindless generic fanbase if it goes on and on alienating the more creative and thoughtful fans.

You know people who don't really know much about Prince, and love only the greatest hits concerts.

NeonCraxx said:

And I found out about The Digital Garden website just a few seconds ago, so that explains why I should care or know the situation.

I don't feel attacked as fan. Period.

If his lawyers send their next cease-and-desist letter to prince.org, I think you will notice (though whether you will care, I don't know). TDG was threatened because they were using Prince's images and "encouraging" people to seek out bootlegs. The same thing goes on here every day, and prince.org gets a lot more views.

electricberet said:

From what I hear, a lot of celebrities are assholes. But most of them at least pretend to like their fans, especially when they want our money for something. Did Prince tell his lawyers to shut down TDG the same day he announced his Chicago residency, or was it just a coincidence?

typo

[Edited 9/1/12 9:42am]

ufoclub said:

All it would take is for someone to actually have the funds to go head to head with Prince's lawyer, and they might actually win if the website wasn't providing links to purchase bootlegs.

Prince shouldn't have copyright claim over photos taken of him unless he bought the rights to a particular photo.

And he certainly doesn't have any control over free speech or content of artwork. Litigation is based on the idea of profits being stolen, business being re-routed.

All the good info sites will have to go underground now, kind of like "speakeasies" in the time of Prohibition. That leaves behind new fans and fans that not within those exclusive circles.

And yes, many of the most hard core fans from the late 80's and 90's have gotten cold to Prince, and don't buy anything, see anything, or discuss anything. These were main collectors and people that started fan clubs and websites. They either got pissed off, or their tastes changed and it wasn't fun anymore.

Eventually the fanbase will be reduced to only a mindless generic fanbase if it goes on and on alienating the more creative and thoughtful fans.

You know people who don't really know much about Prince, and love only the greatest hits concerts.

I see a problem with this idea. I'd be one of those "left behind" you speak of. I've been a fan for 30 years, an active member of sites like this one and Housequake for at least 15 years, and yet, I don't know anyone that would let me know how to be included in this "secret group". I wouldn't know who to ask or how to get a hold of someone to ask. And I can't think of anyone who would go out of their way to contact me with an invitation. So, how would that work exactly? Would it be down to the "special" few who have those uncirculated outtakes they won't share? If so, guess I'll be shit out of luck. Long live the Org!!

[Edited 9/1/12 9:43am]

There is another point that Prince might want to consider. Right now, all of the albums that he recorded during the symbol era are out of print. You can't find them on iTunes, and his minions are doing their best to scrub them from YouTube. You can easily buy them used but someone who hasn't heard them (or heard anyone praise them) would have no reason to do that. On the other hand, you can easily download "The Very Best of Prince," which he explicilty told fans not to buy, from iTunes. Unless Prince starts a new official website, the only way new fans will find out about The Gold Experience, Emancipation, Exodus, etc. is through fan websites like this one, and the only way you can listen before buying is to download them illegally.

If he keeps attacking fan websites for sharing information, and does not provide an official alternative, the consequence will be that he will be remembered exclusively for his work when he was a "slave" to Warner Brothers. What an irony.

electricberet said:

NeonCraxx said:

And I found out about The Digital Garden website just a few seconds ago, so that explains why I should care or know the situation.

I don't feel attacked as fan. Period.

If his lawyers send their next cease-and-desist letter to prince.org, I think you will notice (though whether you will care, I don't know). TDG was threatened because they were using Prince's images and "encouraging" people to seek out bootlegs. The same thing goes on here every day, and prince.org gets a lot more views.

According to ufoclub they were doing more than encouraging they were "providing links to purchase bootlegs."!

Astasheiks said:

electricberet said:

If his lawyers send their next cease-and-desist letter to prince.org, I think you will notice (though whether you will care, I don't know). TDG was threatened because they were using Prince's images and "encouraging" people to seek out bootlegs. The same thing goes on here every day, and prince.org gets a lot more views.

According to ufoclub they were doing more than encouraging they were "providing links to purchase bootlegs."!

That's a bizarre claim. TDG was the opposite of that. If the were promoting anything, it was free fan releases: the same free releases people talk about on prince.org. Unless the site was taken over by aliens in the past few days, none of that was going on.

electricberet said:

Astasheiks said:

According to ufoclub they were doing more than encouraging they were "providing links to purchase bootlegs."!

That's a bizarre claim. TDG was the opposite of that. If the were promoting anything, it was free fan releases: the same free releases people talk about on prince.org. Unless the site was taken over by aliens in the past few days, none of that was going on.

No links. None. Zero.

Reviews of content only.

They should remove all the cover scans and return as a text only site. Problem solved.

djThunderfunk said:

electricberet said:

That's a bizarre claim. TDG was the opposite of that. If the were promoting anything, it was free fan releases: the same free releases people talk about on prince.org. Unless the site was taken over by aliens in the past few days, none of that was going on.

No links. None. Zero.

Reviews of content only.

They should remove all the cover scans and return as a text only site. Problem solved.

Yes, and next time hire a lawyer. I might donate the money I'm probably going to save by not flying to Prince's concert in Chicago. That should buy at least three hours of an IP lawyer's time.

Astasheiks said:

electricberet said:

If his lawyers send their next cease-and-desist letter to prince.org, I think you will notice (though whether you will care, I don't know). TDG was threatened because they were using Prince's images and "encouraging" people to seek out bootlegs. The same thing goes on here every day, and prince.org gets a lot more views.

According to ufoclub they were doing more than encouraging they were "providing links to purchase bootlegs."!

I didn't say that! I said the sites weren't providing links to find and buy bootlegs.

Again like I said, Prince was always a control freak. Always has been, always will be. So this thread is pretty much proving what was already proven once people decided to be a fan of the guy's music.

Paris9748430 said:

I swear, Prince fans are the most whiney, neurotic, self-absorbed, obsessive, spoiled, fanbase in music!

They take after the man himself.