[starman]

Way to go, dumbass.

Techdirt: Prince Sues Musicians For Making A Tribute Album For His Birthday

[Dakar the Fourth]

Yeah, the Radiohead thing was a headscratcher. I'd like a press-release explaining WTF his problem is with the tribute album is, in his own words.

[osiris]

That's the definition of a dick right there people.

If this is true, that is. wow.

[TETENAL]

So as a birthday present they stole his work. They thought they didn't have to pay royalties for covering his songs. Yeah, right.

I would have sued as well.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Uh, they weren't selling the album, though.

[mattyb]

Originally Posted by osiris 

That's the definition of a dick right there people.

Dicks are useful. Prince isn't.

Well, maybe as bait.

[starman]

Originally Posted by TETENAL 

So as a birthday present they stole his work. They thought they didn't have to pay royalties for covering his songs. Yeah, right.

I would have sued as well.

Remind me to never buy anything you make. God forbid someone puts up a web site or a forum for it and you sue them.

[rickey939]

Wow.

[cjrivera]

It's just a "Sign 'O' the Times".
Oh crap... I hope he doesn't sue me for that.

[wallinbl]

I'm not sure why anyone would pay tribute to him in the first place.

[turtle777]

Seems like they will pay tribute again ---




--- in the form of royalties.

*rimshot*

-t

[analogika]

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth 

Uh, they weren't selling the album, though.

How exactly does that make a difference to unauthorized use of copyrighted material?

He needs to go after copyright violations, because if he doesn't, future lawsuits could hold those copyright unenforcable, since he didn't see it fit to enforce them in past infringement cases.

IOW, not enforcing copyrights can cause you to lose them.

It would have been a completely different situation if the label had contacted him PRIOR to release (as they are required to, by any copyright law I've heard of). This was simply inexcusable and unbelievable stupidity on the part of the label/producer.

[Kerrigan]

I've got to agree with Tetenal and analogika on this.

The link in the OP left out a bit of information. The artists who stole his work made their way to no. 8 on the Norweigan charts, and they have sold/distributed five thousand copies of the album. They owe prince 10 cents per song but they have not paid him anything on the basis that they claim to not be making any money from the endeavor.

You cannot take someone's work without permission and use it to propel your career without following the requisite procedures governing use of other people's copyrighted material.

Why didn't the label contact Prince in advance and let him know about their plans in order to work out an arrangement? Like analogika said, it is unbelievably stupid on their part.