Lyric widgets shut down by record companies!

[XNine]

Seriously, this guy only meant to help music lovers, and it's not like he asked for money for something that found actual copywritten material. It was freem just as the lyrics are. WTF? Legally, I see no way that they have any right to send him this threat.

This is what the punks in the 70's and 80's wanted to avoid. This is why their shows are 10 bucks for 8 bands and 6 bucks for a record. They believed in their music, not the money.

 

[pseudobrit]

I like how the company didn't respond to his correspondence. They do this of course because they have no case and don't want to show their hand.

I would have written them a letter citing a copyright case or two involving similar issues and saying something like "if I don't hear back from you, I'll be forced to assume that you accept my argument" and send it certified mail.

That would get the ball rolling. Better than rolling over.

 

[mrzeve]

Are you a dev of another lyric widget?

Sort of, http://www.staylazy.net/canto

Although Im still in high school Im stilling willing to put up a fight. I work for a law firm and am close with everyone so it would be very easy for me to have atleast 4 lawyers on my case. Also, there are other lawyers in the building who I am sure would be interested in this, its good publicity

That is ofcourse assuming they bother me.

But its really a joke. If they shut down pearlyrics and any other thing similar, then Google, Yahoo, MSN, all have to be shut down or disallowed from searching for lyrics. All blogs and MySpaces that post lyrics should be removed. AIM and AOL must also forbid anyone from posting lyrics in their profiles, and screen names and email address' may not include song titles or phrases/choruses from such songs.

I can go on and on.

 

[kainjow]

I too create a lyrics app for the iPod. If they come after me, I will do my best to fight.

This is utterly ridiculous.

 

[mrzeve]

I too create a lyrics app for the iPod. If they come after me, I will do my best to fight.

This is utterly ridiculous.

Glad to know there will be someone else. We should go public with this if it happens. Very very public. Somewhat of a single campaign to put across lyric sites.

 

[AP_piano295]

YO HO YO HO A PIRATES LIFE FOR ME. only in america

 

[tag]

Wow this is getting ridiculous. This is the most insane thing I've read all week I think. How could having the lyrics of a song infringe on anything at all? I mean, next thing you know, we won't be allowed to copy songs from the radio onto aging cassettes for our own listening. This fear/bullying intimidation crap has to stop from the music industry. At least pearLyrics still works if you already have a copy. Circulate people, circulate.

 

[Diatribe]

The only problem is that pearLyrics really was the best out there in terms of finding lyrics. It almost got them all and copied them to iTunes perfectly. All the others I have tried just don't come close... I wish someone would use the same lyric sites as pearlyrics and continue to offer their app.

 

[Diatribe]

Does anyone still have the full app version 0.6? I only have the widget and version 0.4 of the full app.

 

[iMeowbot]

Whats up with this? I mean there are billions of websites online that offer lyrics, why arent those shut down. The only thing that the widget does is offer the lyrics from the sites. It seems that these record companies just want to make our lives harder.

There was a big raid in 1999 or so when lyrics.ch and some others had their equipment seized. The lyrics sites around today either have worked out arrangements with Harry Fox Agency to do it legally, only have a handful of stuff and fall under the radar, do their hosting in countries with lax enforcement, or get around it by linking to other smaller sites.

(The lyrics stuff comes from the publishing businesses, not the recording companies. Warner is in both businesses.)

Yeah, that's my biggest peeve as well. I don't see the point of having laws at all unless some harm was being done. I didn't ever think that lyric sites were illegal. Are they?

Yes, if they didn't secure the publishing permission. The business being hurt is sheet music and songbook publishers.

 

[Loge]

Yes, if they didn't secure the publishing permission. The business being hurt is sheet music and songbook publishers.

Pearlyrics is not providing sheet music. And realistically how many of those downloading lyrics would have gone out and purchased songbooks?

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

Pearlyrics is not providing sheet music. And realistically how many of those downloading lyrics would have gone out and purchased songbooks?

Actually, it is providing it in the sense that it can search for it and let you view the chords on your computer.

 

[Loge]

Actually, it is providing it in the sense that it can search for it and let you view the chords on your computer.

Yes OK, I hadn't seen that. Though they appear to be someone's attempt at transcription. It's not exactly what you get if you purchase the songbook/sheet music.

 

[dejo]

Seriously, this guy only meant to help music lovers, and it's not like he asked for money for something that found actual copywritten material. It was freem just as the lyrics are. WTF? Legally, I see no way that they have any right to send him this threat.

Yeah, I don't like to see these strong-arm tactics being used, especially when so many lyrics sites exits on the 'net. But, technically, lyrics are not free of copyright. The company that owns the publishing to those songs owns the copyright for the lyrics. Google is having a similar problem with its attempt to bring books online.

 

[2nyRiggz]

these companies suck big time. there just trying to get back at us for not giving a crap about them.


Bless

 

[Peterkro]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4508158.stm

This is getting stupid,MPA wants jail time for people behind lyric sites.Ho hum the fight goes on.

 

[Loge]

I'd be more sympathetic if they provided a legal, reasonable alternative, but they don't.

 

[Counterfit]

Actually, it is providing it in the sense that it can search for it and let you view the chords on your computer.

Except that chord progressions can't be copyrighted.

 

[maestro55]

Oh no! I have lyrics to "Route 66" posted on my blog. I may end up with one of these letters. I am with others, I don't like the way the record companies bullies people. It just gets on my nerves, these record companies have SOOOO much money (some which perhaps they could donate to charity? Maybe Disney could give copies of childrens movie to the hospital wards in the United States?) and all they care about is making more and more money.

 

[tag]

Does anyone still have the full app version 0.6? I only have the widget and version 0.4 of the full app.

If you didn't find it yet, there were a number of links posted in this thread >>> https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/165922/

 

[iMeowbot]

I'd be more sympathetic if they provided a legal, reasonable alternative, but they don't.

There are some.

At Warner-Chappell full lyrics for many (definitely not all) songs are available (full lyric link is at the bottom of the song entry).

The search at EMI Music includes many lyrics also.

 

[Diatribe]

If you didn't find it yet, there were a number of links posted in this thread >>> https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/165922/

Yeah I already got it, but thanks a bunch anyway.

 

[Loge]

There are some.

At Warner-Chappell full lyrics for many (definitely not all) songs are available (full lyric link is at the bottom of the song entry).

The search at EMI Music includes many lyrics also.

Yes, indeed there are some, and there are some bands like Steely Dan who provide all their lyrics on their official site.

 

[maya]

Whats up with this? I mean there are billions of websites online that offer lyrics, why arent those shut down. The only thing that the widget does is offer the lyrics from the sites. It seems that these record companies just want to make our lives harder.

Seems the RIAA has nothing better to do other than shut down companies like used in example for a service as such. They seem to be really sweating that they require all the income they can muster they greedy hands on.


However there is another argument, if you can obtain the lyrics for the songs then there is one less feature to buy the Album as usually many of the Albums have lyrics included.

Its one of those 50/50 things.

 

[cgratti]

I am sooo tired of these record companies..

I am so mad right now I think I'm going to go and download an album, and not pay for it.

Screw you, you greedy sons-of-b*tch*s.