[Fmpro] Copyright & pay

[Mark Northam]

On 12/6/07 1:18 AM, "Pete" <musical411 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> --- Mark Northam wrote:
>> We're discussing PRO royalties here...
> 
> Actually the discussion you started was about the
> difference between Jammie Thomas's right to give away
> our music with a file sharing program compared to your
> allegations that, "TV broadcasters use tens of
> thousands of tracks of commercial music that
> generate millions in profits, (while) the writers and
> publishers never get paid for those usages".
> 
> I'm pretty good at staying on topic!!!
> 
You seemed about to veer of into the world of excusing the PRO's shameful
tracking and lousy payment rates for CPA music by making some judgment about
the sync fees for CPA gigs.

> You painted Jammie Thomas as a victim when you said,
> "Jammie Thomas for personal use enjoys 24 tunes
> without paying the writer and publisher and gets hit
> with a fine of $222,000."

No, I compared the end result of her transgressions with the end result of
the PROs' when they deliberately withhold technology that could result in
vastly improved tracking and payment for CPA music and. The results of the
two scenarios are exactly the same. Music is used/distributed/downloaded/etc
and the writers and publishers are not paid for those usages. Jammie Thomas
becomes the villain and gets fined upwards of a quarter million dollars, and
the PROs become (your) heroes.

There are lots of versions of "free music" out there - and I find it hard to
understand while you're ready to take such a dim view of her actions while
apparently supporting the PROs actions which have cost composers millions.

> 
> You never acknowledged the fact that she was never
> fined because she just "enjoys 24 tunes." In fact she
> was warned many times not to give OUR music away on
> her file sharing program. But, she refused! So, she
> lost her day in court.
> 

Again, I'm not defending her actions. I'm showing a comparison between the
results of her "free music" and the results of the PRO's enabling and legal
protection of "free music". Vastly different treatment, when from the writer
and publisher's view the to situations have exactly the same result: no
payment.

> Damn, I wish we were on the same team!!!!!

So do I... If you weren't so busy defending the PROs and minimizing and
excusing their deplorable treatment of music other than songs, you might
realize how much damage they've done to the value of instrumental music and
copyrights over the years.

Best,

Mark N.



---------------------------------
Mark Northam, CEO
Global Media Development Group

http://www.FilmMusic.net - Film & TV Music Job Listings

1-800-774-3700 ext. 702 / 310-645-9000 ext. 702
http://www.gmdgroup.com
Yahoo/Skype: marknortham  /  AIM: mnortham