Copyrights and Wrongs

By now you've heard that the Walt Disney Co. has allowed a video featuring five gay guys on Fire Island lipsyncing a Miley Cyrus song to remain all over the Internet, despite its flagrant violation of its copyright. While I would never be so stupid to argue that copyright law isn't straightforward (I'm laughing looking at you, Professor Nesson), I have to say that Disney's "having it both ways" approach -- allowing an illegal viral video that COMPLETELY benefits them to stay up while, say, removing a clip of a couple who videotaped themselves dancing to a song at their wedding) is completely infuriating and, if nothing else, will go a long way toward making bitter music fans feel more justified in exploiting the Internet for their own musical gains.

That Disney is allowing this to go on, while at the same time the video of the semi-obscure Canadian new wave classic song "This Beat Goes On/Switchin' to Glide" by the Kings -- that the BAND MADE THEMSELVES, at their own expense -- was yanked by their own label, Warner Music Group, for copyright violation, is teetering on absurd, and exemplifies how all-over-the-map the industry is right now. (And that there's another audio-only clip of the same song still on YouTube makes the whole thing even more galling.)

Note to music industry executives: I know you're struggling to figure out how to remain profitable in the post-Internet world. But videos -- by definition -- are promotional material. Why half the labels removed every clip by all their artists while the other half didn't is as confusing as it is idiotic. (Remember how great YouTube was when you could find EVERY video ever made???) You used to provide MTV with videos -- for free -- for fans to watch and learn about your acts. Why on earth would you want to stop giving your artists free publicity now that the outlet has moved to YouTube?

I'm guessing this isn't the last we've heard of idiotic scenarios like this one.