b.cognosco

Robert Plant Apparently Did License Cadillac

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:37:39 GMT

This is old news by now and my source is not impeccable, but I asked the question a few days ago, "Who sold the rights for commercial use of Led Zeppelin's music to Cadillac?"

Apparently, Robert Plant and Led Zeppelin did. Scroll down this Led Zep tribute site and you'll see news photos of Plant at Cadillac's 100th Anniversary celebration.

I'm shocked. Shocked, I say.

Guess all that money from the '70s ran out. But it says something interesting that they still control their music, unlike the Beatles and lots of other musicians. Good for them.

"If there's a bustle in your hedgerow ...

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:19:26 GMT

Don't be alarmed now.
It's just a spring clean for the May Queen."

Just what the hell does that mean? I've wondered for more than 30 years.

But my real questions is, if Zep really still owns the rights to their music who sold Cadillac the rights to use it in their commercials?

From Rock Gods to Ringtones

Posted by Alan Wexelblat

As you've no doubt seen by now, the remaining members of Led Zeppelin have finally agreed to release their complete collection on iTunes, along with a special purchase item that bundles all 141 tunes. Verizon Wireless will also be offering Zep ringtones.

The band has famously refused most prior commercial uses of their music, with one amusing exception: Jack Black begged them for the rights to use "Immigrant Song".

Need Creative Commons Counsel

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 05:00:00 GMT

My friend Matt Mower is doing some interesting stuff with digital identity over at PAOGA. The company's mission is to give us - you, me, the 'consumer', the real person - control of our data. Data that is now spread across, on average, nearly 1,000 different computer systems around the world. It's a big challenge. A revolutionary idea. An idea that needs to be championed and pushed and grown.

PAOGA is almost ready to beta test an early version of their PAOGAPerson persona management system. They'd like to work with Creative Commons to develop appropriate licensing for this application. It seems clear that there is a need for licensing. After all, the whole purpose of controlling our own data is to control the how and where of its use.

But so far Matt's inquires to the CC organization in London have gone nowhere. Can anyone offer assistance or a good CC contact?

RIAA President Cary Sherman on Sony/BMG DRM-Spyware

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 22:43:03 GMT

RIAA President Cary Sherman during an online chat with college newspaper reporters:

There is nothing unusual about technology being used to protect intellectual property. You can't simply make an extra copy of a Microsoft operating system, or virtually any other commercially-released software program for that matter. Same with videogames. Movies, too, are protected. Why should CDs be any different?

The problem with the SonyBMG situation is that the technology they used contained a security vulnerability of which they were unaware. They have apologized for their mistake, ceased manufacture of CDs with that technology,and pulled CDs with that technology from store shelves. Seems very responsible to me. How many times that software applications created the same problem? Lots. I wonder whether they've taken as aggressive steps as SonyBMG has when those vulnerabilities were discovered, or did they just post a patch on the Internet?

One other thing to point out: The music industry has been more permissive about copying of its copyrighted product than virtually any other industry. How many burns are you allowed of a movie? None. How many of a videogame? None. You get the idea. Even the CDs with content protection allow consumers to burn 3 copies or so for personal use. The idea is not to inhibit personal use, but to allow personal use but discourage (not prevent, you can never prevent) copying well beyond personal use.

Mr. Sherman, Microsoft doesn't give Windows away over the air, for free, to anyone who cares to listen. Microsoft doesn't infect customers' computers with software expressly designed to be invisible, undetectable, and non-removeable. Microsoft doesn't (yet) rampantly ignore the intellectual property rights of its customers in the drive to protect its own.

That's what spyware companies do, and SonyBMG infected millions of computers with DRM-spyware. That you are either too stupid to grasp this, or too disengenuous to admit it, confirms again that you and your industry simply cannot be trusted to define personal use, or set the rules for any sort of intellectual property law in this country.

Repeat after me: DRM-spyware. DRM-spyware. DRM-spyware. DRM-spyware. DRM-spyware. DRM-spyware...

Complete List of Sony/BMG Rootkit CDs

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 16:33:53 GMT

Here's the complete list of all 52 CDs designed to infect your windoze computer with a "rootkit" - a hidden, backdoor program that opens your computer to nefarious communications, viruses, and other exploits. These CDs, manufactured and marketed by Sony/BMG for the sole purpose of infecting your personal computer to protect their intellectual property, may soon be recalled by Sony. If you own one of these CDs please do not play it on your personal computer. Unsubstantiated estimates are that more than 500,000 computers have already been infected. You don't want to be number 500,001.

Congressman Westmoreland Explains Broadcast Flag

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 03:42:55 GMT

A couple of weeks ago I sent e-mail regarding the Broadcast Flag to all three of my elected representatives in Washington. A staff member from the office of Senator Saxby Chambliss called me a couple of days later with an encouraging response. Today I received this weak and non-committal response from Congressman Lynn Westmoreland. This answer demonstrates that Congressmen are beginning to figure out what the Flag is, but gives absolutely no indication whether Westmoreland is in the pockets of the copyright cartel. Even if we don't know where he stands, he does seem to be grasping that knee-jerk acceptance of copyright hegemony is an increasingly risky position for a public servant to hold.

Dear Terry,

Thank you for contacting me regarding possible "broadcast flag" legislation. I appreciate having your views on this issue.

As you may know, the "broadcast flag" is a combination of technical specifications and federal regulations designed to combat unauthorized redistribution of content broadcast through digital television (DTV) signals. Its adoption was prompted largely by the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) determination that broadcast transmissions be digital by December 31, 2006. The FCC imposed a transition to DTV in part to capitalize on the sharper images, CD-quality sound and wider screen angles that are available from advanced digital technologies.

But in addition to technological advances, the FCC has also been motivated by the knowledge that broadcasters, upon receiving digital spectrum allotments, must relinquish their analog spectrum allotments to the FCC. The analog spectrum will in turn be auctioned for other commercial and public interests. Content providers, fearing widespread piracy that would endanger aftermarket sales (such as cable re-broadcast, and DVD sales), urged the FCC to provide for a means to protect their assets. Meanwhile, consumer electronics and information technologists, as well as consumer rights groups, came together in an effort to minimize the possible negative outcome that a wide-scale regulation might have imposed.

While the broadcast flag is intended to prevent the redistribution of digital broadcast content over the Internet or through similar means, the goal of the flag was not to impede a consumer's ability to copy or use content lawfully in the home. However, current technological limitations have the potential to hinder some activities which might normally be considered "fair use" under existing copyright law. For example, a consumer who wished to record a program to watch at a later time, or at a different location, might be prevented when otherwise approved technologies do not allow for such activities, or do not integrate well with one another, or with older, "legacy" devices.

This issue is one of both great complexity and importance. Should legislation regarding it come to the floor, please know that it will receive all due consideration. Hearing the views of all Georgians gives me the opportunity to better understand how important issues could impact the people of Georgia and the future interests of the nation. In that regard your views are most helpful.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me. For additional information regarding current legislation and my representation of the Eighth District, I invite you to visit my website at http://www.house.gov/westmoreland

Sincerely,
Lynn A Westmoreland
Member of Congress

Copy This! The Story of Kinko's

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 01:29:24 GMT

Copy This! Lessons from a Hyperactive Dyslexic Who Turned a Bright Idea Into One of America's Best Companies
by Paul Orfalea, Ann Marsh
Workman Publishing Company 2005
0761137777

This weekend I've been reading the autobiography of Kinko's founder Paul Orfalea. Probably because of my background in printing and my work with Kinko's as a customer, vendor, and consultant over the years my expectations for the book are different from the casual reader, but even so I've been pleasantly surprised. Orfalea offers a practical, pragmatic approach to business, backed by the frenetic and entertaining story of his life. It's refreshing to see such a down-to-earth blend of customer focus, respect for employees, and sharing the wealth. Throughout the book, Orfalea's focus is people, people, people - how to support them and how to give them power over their destiny. His theme is really "You can do this. It's just not that hard."

Orfalea, who has both dyslexia and ADHD, built a multi-billion dollar company using voice mail as his primary form of communication because he never learned to read effectively. (Tip for Skype Journal: Want to talk about a Skype Strategy? Pick up a copy and read Chapter 5 where he describes his innovative use of voice messaging to stay in touch, spread ideas, and even introduce co-workers to each other.)

Among other interesting tidbits I realized while reading (these are not explicit in the text):

Kinko's was the first major volley in the personal publishing revolution - in the 1970s they were the first significant business to open the printing press, via the photocopier, to the masses.
Kinko's was the first major casualty of the copyright wars - their loss, to eight textbook publishers, in a $3.5 million lawsuit in the early '90s set the tone for numerous limitations on fair use that were to follow.

I haven't finished the book yet, but it's definitely one I will give to some struggling young people I know. Orfalea's message - that while traditional education is good and valuable, if it doesn't work for you there are other ways to success - is powerful and needed by those who are increasingly left behind by our failing education system.