Wheels sent me an email an hour ago taking me from the world of advertising back to the world of, not music, blogging. Six of the most popular music blogs were taken down by google without warning but with what might be provocation. All six sites gave away free mp3s. Google claim without copywrite permission, the bloggers claim with permission.
One thing is sure… the bloggers in question have lost in a heartbeat years of hard work and for why? It is simple, I don’t think any of us at Rock NYC think it is anything but theft to swap files of music owned by other people -by rock groups trying to make a living. I spend hundreds of dollars a week to keep up with the music scene and while I’ll get some mp3s for free mostly not. But when the new Titus leaked I didn’t steal it. I took the ones offered for free and ignored the rest.
Theft is theft.
But Google better be absolutely positive these bloggers – I Rock Cleveland, It’s a Rap, Living Ears, To Die By Your Side, Masala and Pop Tarts, are guilty of something and in my dealings with Google I have found them very cavalier to the point of arrogance. They once took one of my clients off the air because they got them mixed up with another company.
It all makes blogging very brave new worldly -I have no idea what I would do if for some obscure reason they chose to delete all of mine and Helens, Mikes, everybody at Rock NYC’s hard work because it is easier than doing the research. Google replied: ““When we receive multiple DMCA complaints about the same blog, and have no indication that the offending content is being used in an authorized manner, we will remove the blog.” Doesn’t sound right at all to me…. Does it to you?
Rock NYC had its own run in with the “Internet Sherrif” after we posted links to a legal Van Morrison youtube video. The Sherrif said good and we better be careful we don’t do it wrong or else.
We got threatened for doing nothing wrong.
Sometimes I joke that all property is theft but I don’t believe that. All theft is theft. But there is something very chilling in the thought that we could lose all our hard work just like that…. Without warning.
Some folks at Rock NYC have other thoughts. You’ll be hearing from them soon…
Oh, and I know I’ve been quiet today -just swamped with stuff… We try for 130 posts a week. I apologize if you came on line and didn’t find so many today.