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EZTree Shuts Down
John3 writes "Easytree.org, a popular Bittorrent tracking site also known as EZT, shut down today after their ISP received threatening letters from attorneys. Unlike sites like Lokitorrent that have been shut down in the past, torrents on EasyTree were usually unreleased live musical performances rather than commercial product. Is a site that shares old Stevie Nicks, Frank Sinatra, and Ian Hunter live shows really that much of a threat to the music industry?"
To be fair, this site also hosted torrents concerning live shows from a wide variety of artists. From the submitter's offhand comment, this site is portrayed as only hosting older live sets and this is far from the truth. For example, NIN's latest shows (from the currently on going with teeth tour) were bootlegged and releasted on this site.
With that being said, I'm sad to see this site close as its user base was very dedicated to providing high quality live sets from a variety of bands.
check out www.archive.org for a large selection of legal live music downloads.
Yes, it does make a difference whether or not the materials are Copyrighted- and a live performance carries a Performance Copyright (i.e. The performer largely owns the rights to that if not all the way...). RIAA's involvement typically involves the recording company's interests, which is to say a Recording Copyright.
It's contorted, but simply put, because of contracts, the artists typically can't record without the permission of the label they're signed with, and the label owns the rights to that version/instance. Now, unless the label's done a recording of the live performance, you're only in violation of the Performance Rights- at which point, it'd be up to the artist(s) to defend their rights.
I'd love to know who actually sent the notice- if it was RIAA, they'd better have standing for dealing with that sort of infringement (i.e. They and their legal counsel can't be threating lawsuits unless they own an agreed upon recording of the concert.). I would dearly love to have someone hand them their kiesters over their overzealous "protection" of the labels' rights.
I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a Citizen of the State of Texas
No, they don't. You're confusing copyright and trademark law. Trademarks must actively be protected. Copyrights do not.
--You will rephrase your request for me to go to hell. Goto statements are not acceptable programming constructs
Here ya go
etree.org is like EZtree, except that etree is completely legal. Unfortunately because of this, you won't find very many artists, but there are a few big names. Specifically Phish, the Grateful Dead, Primus, Ben Folds, 311, the Spin Doctors, Jack Johnson, and others.
Etiquette is etiquette. He kills his mother but he can't wear grey trousers.
Not true. I have used EZTree a lot, and almost all the downloads are from bands who freely allow and encourage taping/trading of their shows.
Lots of live music bittorrent sites around, check out http://www.digitalboots.net - lossless live links
This article should also include a reference to the decision by a federal judge last september that "struck-down" the anti-boot leg law.
i -bootleg-law-struck-down.php
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2004/09/ant
Yes yes, mod this post way up. The content according to september's ruling may be actually legal.
Ian Hunter is the weird guy from Jethro Tull right?
That would be Ian Anderson, who is quite alive and still cranking out rock and roll (and sadly, trolling the liberals).
Ian Hunter is the even wierder guy from Mott the Hoople, last seen touring with Ringo's All-Stars
And you, madam, are very ugly. In the morning, I shall be sober.
Of course they are a threat, but not in the way most of the posts here talk about. The party line on Slashdot seems to be that it's all about greed and that's bad.
Fist of all, it isn't. Greed is what builds and maintains economies. It's what allows you to afford the high speed connection to take the music you don't want to pay for (in itself a greedy act.) But ultimately, it's not about greed, it's about precedent.
Copyright & Trademark law require the vigorous defence of your property. It's a use it or loose it scenario. They have to go after everybody or nobody. IF they're selective about some claims and not others it opens it up to challenge in court for the stuff that does matter to the holder. It has happened where a judge has basically said 'Too little, too late' regarding companies who let their IP slip.
If you don't fight for it all, then the courts assume that you don't care for it all. And if you don't care for it all, the courts get to decide what you care for. That is bad precedent. That is what this is about.
- The Google Toolbar has a spell checker button AND it works, consider that before hitting submit next time k?
Shameless plugs to follow... check out:
Phish, Dead, String Cheese Incident and others
Live Music Archive @ Archive.org
These are amazing sites to get that show/song you are looking for, from bands who lived and survived by allowing their fans to tape and trade their shows.
I forgot what I wanted to say, but honestly, it was important.
Have you read it? Or understood it?
I could ask the same of you.
Orwell was afraid of, and loathed Communism - which seems to be the goal of the FOSS information wants to be free set.
Orwell was afraid of, and loathed, Soviet Communism, also known as Stalinism. Orwell was a socialist himself. I think he would like the FOSS ideas.
Orwell would think the average slashdotter is a douchebag with his head up his ass, and he'd be right to think so.
Well, this may be true, but even in that case, I have three words for you. Pot, kettle, black.
Please, for the good of Humanity, vote Obama.
If you like previous poster's link to etree, give archive.org's live music database a shot. I download gigs of good music a week on there. Completely legal, like Etree.
Archive.org's live music section
--Dave
When you shut the alternatives people have no choice but to buy music from RIAA members.
BZZT, wrong. Funny enough that are the same mistakes(!) the RIAA makes.
1. Not all music sold is controlled by the RIAA. To (US) americans it might seem like it, but there are actually big countries, even continents outside the United States. Yes, I know this will probably get this post stamped as flamebait, but it's the simple truth, live with it.
2. There is always the alternative to simply not buy. I find it increasingly funny that this case is always forgotten by so-called economists.
What I'd like to see is for more musicians to realize that this whole P2P business is a win-win situation for them - they can give the fans what they want for little to no cost, and they get non-fans to buy their records (what other businesses call try-before-you-buy). The only losing part here is the record company (and even that can be argued), and that is why the RIAA tries to shut down everybody else.
Oh, and of course the old "because we can".
Firstly "pirates" are guys with missing body parts and parrots on their shoulders, and secondly, copyright infringement is not criminal unless it's done for profit.
If the band say it's ok, the copyright is owned by the taper. Ok, maybe not the taper, but the record label has no jurisdiction over a completely amateur recording of a live concert. At least, luckily for me all the bands I tape are totally cool with it, and I've never gotten harassed by a label for spreading my shows around.
If it'd be easier for you, there's also link on the main Live Music Archive page that filters the browse for items that have lossy versions.
Any sound recording before 1973 is not copyrighted under United States law and legal to distribute under federal law.
There are state laws in effect to cover recordings before 1973, but those laws don't exist in all states, and in many states, it only applies to for profit redistribution, which means file sharing for recordings before 1973, including records, are legal.
I've yet to see a slashdot post on this. You can look up the information online at the copyright office, and the justice department has a list of state laws to do with IP you can go through.