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DRM for 1'3" of Silence

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the wierd-forms-of-protest dept.

jc42 writes "In the latest entry in the battle over Digital Rights Management, a fellow has blatantly ripped off a "tune" from the iTunes Store. "Tune" is 1 minute 3 seconds of silence. To compound his crime, he has posted the tune on his web site for anyone to download. I downloaded it to iTunes, and it played just fine (but now I suppose I'm a criminal, too). I wonder what John Cage and Mike Batt would have to say about this? Will lawyers for Apple or Ciccone Youth send a C&D letter? If I were to make my own MP3 silent tune of exactly the same length and put it online, would I be infringing their copyright?"

25 of 637 comments (clear)

  1. Well by Realistic_Dragon · · Score: 5, Funny

    At least that's one song who's lyrics won't offend the FCC.

    Or do you think they mught just be committing quiet obscenities? Better ban it anyway just in case.

    --
    Beep beep.
    1. Re:Well by EngMedic · · Score: 5, Funny

      and Frank Zappa's instrumental album, Jazz from Hell, got a "parental warning: explicit lyrics" tag, too. I'm still trying to figure that one out.

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      filter: +3. Hey, look! all the trolls went away!
  2. John Cage by suso · · Score: 5, Funny

    Actually, if it was John Cage, you would hear the performer turning the page.

    1. Re:John Cage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, if it was John Cage he would shadow-kick your ass.

    2. Re:John Cage by Chundra · · Score: 5, Funny



    3. Re:John Cage by DigitalHammer · · Score: 4, Funny

      No, he'd do the splits and shadow-punch you in the crotch.

    4. Re:John Cage by rwise2112 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hmmmm..

      Is that 4'33" of silence, your own creative work, or a picture of an invisible galaxy?

      --

      "For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert"
  3. You're Under Arrest! by serutan · · Score: 5, Funny

    You have the right to remain silent.

    1. Re:You're Under Arrest! by rookworm · · Score: 5, Funny
      You have the right to remain silent.

      But you must pay royalties to the copyright holder(s).

      --
      The toad can't burp - and for some reason can't fart either, so it swells up and eventually explodes. --Anonymous Coward
  4. Infringing on the copyright? by Corporate+Drone · · Score: 4, Funny
    If I were to make my own MP3 silent tune of exactly the same length and put it online, would I be infringing their copyright?

    Well... you could always claim that your MP3 was a collection of 5 seconds snippets of the "tune", and plead Fair Use...

    --
    mmm... yeah... You see, we're putting the cover sheets on all TPS reports now before they go out...
  5. I looked into the RIAA's stance on this. by bobdotorg · · Score: 5, Funny

    But only got the message,

    "Nothing to hear here. Move along."

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    __ Someday, but not this morning, I'll finally learn to use the preview button.
  6. |_ by GillBates0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    --
    An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
    1. Re:|_ by Meumeu · · Score: 4, Funny

      Do you realize you are infringing their copyright by writing the lyrics here?

  7. thoughtcrime by sum.zero · · Score: 5, Funny

    it doesn't matter if they vocalize the words, we all know they are THINKING them.

    sum.zero

    1. Re:thoughtcrime by TheViffer · · Score: 4, Funny

      Thoughtcrime? Dont think so.

      This is clearly a copyright matter. You just can't take Ashlee Simpson's works and post them freely on the internet. She needs to eat too.

      --
      -- Knowing too much can get you killed, but knowing who knows too much can make you rich.
  8. Copyright by ojthecat · · Score: 4, Funny

    The only problem with this is that Microsoft has just been issued a patent for a method of producing no sound via a mp3 data stream.

  9. Huh? by el_gordo101 · · Score: 4, Funny

    One foot three inches of music?

    --
    TODO: Insert witty sig
  10. RIAA's new tactic. by bobdotorg · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm offering this very file for download here on my website. So go ahead, download it (1.1 MB) and break the law with me.

    Letter to plasticbugs.com from the RIAA:

    Dear PlasticBugs,

    It has come to our attention that you are hosting copyrighted material on your website. In the past we have dispatched goons. Unfortunately this takes up to a week.

    In order to more effectively destroy your ability to distribute copyrighted material, we have decided to destroy your server by providing a link to its content to a very popular website's front page.

    We wish your server well in its next life.

    Sincerely,

    JC42

    --
    __ Someday, but not this morning, I'll finally learn to use the preview button.
  11. i should add... by sum.zero · · Score: 5, Funny

    that any ashlee simpson song consisting of silence would be a vast improvement over those with noise.

    sum.zero

    1. Re:i should add... by Ravenrage · · Score: 5, Funny

      A moment of silence for his web server

  12. Re:Still dumb, but I'll answer, anyway. by darkpixel2k · · Score: 5, Funny

    I guess we should all observe about a minute of silence then...

    --
    There's no place like ::1 (I've completed my transition to IPv6)
  13. It's not the same tune at all! by raygundan · · Score: 4, Funny

    This version is an old-school hip-hop track, consisting solely of short, reordered samples from the original, with the addition of turntable scratching with the mixer volume turned all the way down.

  14. Re:This is just dumb. by bani · · Score: 4, Funny

    depends. what's the key, b-flat?

  15. I guess the track could be worth a listen by GMFTatsujin · · Score: 4, Funny

    But on the other hand, I'm kind of getting sick of cover versions...

  16. Re:I want a silent MP3! by brianosaurus · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ha!

    Use it as your ringtone. Piss off everyone who tries to call you when you never, ever answer.

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    blog