tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38495605.post4524458739528462351..comments2023-09-07T04:13:08.133-04:00Comments on johndegen.com: what's behind door number three?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38495605.post-8003418910288364952010-12-01T01:44:26.109-05:002010-12-01T01:44:26.109-05:00John, I must admit that I do not have your level o...John, I must admit that I do not have your level of experience with professional artist organizations. But I do think I have a fairly good grasp on the consumer's side. I understand that you too are a consumer of media but you must admit that probably you are not of the same world view as the average Canadian in that regard.<br /><br />It really is ugly out there. Yes, artists have a real beef with 'pirates', and rightly so, it's unfair and hurtful how some people behave. The response from the industry though has been a shock and awe campaign that has turned many of the 'civilians' against you.<br /><br />Now I may not be a lawyer, or an executive director, but I think I have a pulse of the public. The best tactic IMO for the media industry is to build roads instead of dropping bombs.<br /><br />The insane continuing lawsuits (by lawyers now charged with fraud). The victim mentality pleas, when all most people see are the mansions and yachts (not realistic for the majority of artists, but that's what the industry portrays as it's stars). The unrealistic restrictions on activities that people already participate in and expect (I am not including file sharing in that).<br /><br />John the industry has a massive PR problem and they are handling it badly. Do artists have grievances with the public, yes they do. Do the public have grievances with artists (or at least their reps), yes they do.<br /><br />The thing is it's the artists who are trying to sell a product to the public so it is in their best interest to build those bridges. That's not happening, and needs to change, for their sake.<br /><br />I really do care about the well being of the artistic community John. I hope you can at least accept some of what I am saying as sincere and consider it.<br /><br />Take care.Crockettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38495605.post-30239387025493518152010-12-01T00:53:06.794-05:002010-12-01T00:53:06.794-05:00Yes John, AC is doing just a bang up job of aliena...Yes John, AC is doing just a bang up job of alienating it's customers. I wonder how many writers are pleased with that performance? And, before you say it's all Geist's fault consider AC's initial overreach and then the attempt to disenfranchise objectors.<br /><br />And the RIAA is, of course, a much adored organization. I know scores of people who will not touch a product with their logo on it.<br /><br />How many people rip (or worse pirate) their MPAA DVDs just to get rid of all the forced advertising before the movie starts?<br /><br />It really is time for fresh thinking and possibly new players without the taint of the old. I do not say this just to be negative, but to be realistic. There really is not much love out there for the 'old guard'. <br /><br />If they can really reinvent themselves and better serve their clients, then great! If not then step aside. Think of the Artists!Crockettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38495605.post-6128885713983549582010-11-30T21:43:37.988-05:002010-11-30T21:43:37.988-05:00Crockett,
Why do you assume creators are not alre...Crockett,<br /><br />Why do you assume creators are not already deeply involved in improving compensation? What do you think Sandy does all day every day? He's the Executive Director of the Professional Writers Association of Canada, which negotiates, advocates and helps to litigate for better compensation, when it's not providing professional development so that members can "adjust and work toward equitable solutions."<br /><br />Seriously, you need to stop lecturing artists on what they should do and pay attention to what they are doing. <br /><br />It's really sadly naive to assume the worst about traditional distribution contracts and professional associations. When you talk about ditching the old guard you seem to have no concept of the complexity of such relationships, and the proven and unchallenged advantages to real, professional artists.<br /><br />I'd as soon discard a traditional publisher as ditch my traditional doctor for a faith healer.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04803855978550653817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38495605.post-24070907630348122572010-11-30T19:18:38.909-05:002010-11-30T19:18:38.909-05:00Hi Sandy,
I'm not sure what you mean when you...Hi Sandy,<br /><br />I'm not sure what you mean when you say distinguishing between those who succeed and fail in the marketplace. If the extra percentage is added at the time of sale then that the amount the artist receives is linear to the sales, as it should be.<br /><br />As for artists improving their compensation levels, you are certainly preaching to the choir there! The main thrust of my blogging over the past years has been to try and convince artists that they are generally being taken to the cleaners by their distribution contracts and the 'professional' organizations who disenfranchise customers through draconian tactics designed to maintain their control. <br /><br />Artists would be much better to leverage new technology, say so long to the old guard & go their own way.<br /><br />Both creators and consumers would get along much better if they just both bury the hatchet and give a little. The 'war' manufactured by big media is mainly a distraction to keep the soldiers in line. Change in media use and expectations is already here. The sooner all parties adjust and work towards equitable solutions the better off we will all be.Crockettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38495605.post-17944185827244018092010-11-29T12:13:26.839-05:002010-11-29T12:13:26.839-05:00@Crockett,
Nice idea if there were a way to disti...@Crockett,<br /><br />Nice idea if there were a way to distinguish between the works that succeed or fail in the marketplace. It seems as if you think that future markets in the digital realm should work exactly as the traditional one in physical objects. But creators are looking to IMPROVE compensation levels since they don't have to underwrite production costs in the digital context. I'm sure you know that the traditional model favours manufacturing and distribution over creation.Sandy Crawleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38495605.post-86233636874896159492010-11-28T01:43:32.051-05:002010-11-28T01:43:32.051-05:00Behind door #4 ...
I still wonder why we need lev...Behind door #4 ...<br /><br />I still wonder why we need levies at all, why not just include the extra few percentage that a levy would generate in the initial purchase price instead, then allow fair user rights such as backup and shifting. Then there is no need for TPM, litigation costs, PR campaigns at all.<br /><br />I would think the distributors might even be able to absorb this cost and not have to pass it onto the creator. I would think the return in greater sales/less infringement would offset the costs.<br /><br />The creator would get his correct share as it would be passed on directly from the initial sale. No need for collective overhead costs or complex share formulas.<br /><br />Still make infringement for non fair uses illegal and liable. TPM is not a real world impediment to pirates anyways so relying on them for that purpose is ineffective & unreasonable.<br /><br />What do you think John, is this a workable solution?Crockettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38495605.post-66251565235371083212010-11-26T21:39:08.072-05:002010-11-26T21:39:08.072-05:00Thanks for your writing on this, john. For the rec...Thanks for your writing on this, john. For the record, here's a point I made in a private exchange with Geist today:<br /><br />"I wonder whether, instead of the extension of fair dealing to<br />education, whether you would have accepted an increase in grants for<br />educational institutions to offset the costs of paying something to<br />artists for ancillary uses? If it's good enough for artists, why<br />shouldn't it be good enough for the educational community? I'm sure<br />there's a very good reason why you think that wouldn't work."<br /><br />Haven't heard another word.DMchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15105351826851407562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38495605.post-70987267246699952152010-11-26T19:13:01.917-05:002010-11-26T19:13:01.917-05:00I'd rather expand the levy, however I'd ta...I'd rather expand the levy, however I'd take it away from the current collection societies.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18354974465136846413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38495605.post-76104412208035747732010-11-26T15:04:47.113-05:002010-11-26T15:04:47.113-05:00It's hard to imagine the levy ever becoming pa...It's hard to imagine the levy ever becoming part of this bill. <br />James Moore seems to have dug his heels in on this one, although Clement seems to be more open and reasonable.<br />But Moore seems to be in the driver seat on this.<br />Personally I'm not in favor of a Levy.<br />I use very little of my storage devices for media other than my own. Actually as a photographer I would end up paying other artists to do my own work. I have a hard time reconciling that.<br />On top of which the music I downloaded from Itunes and paid for I now have to pay for again with a levy on my Ipod.<br />Given that there is little in this bill that helps the music industry something more needs to be done.<br />But there has to be a better way.<br />This whole bill seems to be about replacing copyright with tpm's which leaves the music industry out in the cold... unfortunately.Gruesomehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13993466573477002853noreply@blogger.com