[rumori] What to do about deconstructing beck?

Steev [rumori] What to do about deconstructing beck?
Tue, 12 May 1998 14:42:31 -0700 (PDT) (00895038151, Pine.LNX.3.95.980512143246.15659B-100000ATflotsam.detritus.net)

Last week Geffen sent out the attached scary letter to
Illegal Art, Rtmark, and their internet providers (detritus and parnoia),
to try to stop the sale of the Deconstructing Beck CD.

I thought it would be interesting to discuss on this list possible courses
of action in response to this. There's been some conversation between
myself, philo, rtmark, and negativland already, but it would be great to
get some other input from y'all.

Any opinions or ideas are welcome.

thanx,

smh

Steev Hise, Technical Thug
steevAThise.org http://www.cyborganic.com/people/steev new recycled art site: http://www.detritus.net -----------------------------------------------------------------
"I declare a permanent state of happiness" -Grafitti, Paris 1968
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 8 May 1998 16:46:42 -0700
From: "Hilderley, Susan" To: "'rtmarkATparanoia.com'" <rtmarkATparanoia.com>, "'illegalartATdetritus.net'" <illegalartATdetritus.net>, "'steevATCYBORGANIC.NET'" <steevATCYBORGANIC.NET>, "'net-czarATparanoia.com'" <net-czarATparanoia.com> Subject: BECK / UNAUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTION OF SOUND RECORDINGS

May 8, 1998

Illegal Art
RTMark

RE: BECK / UNAUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTION OF SOUND RECORDINGS

To Whom It May Concern:

Geffen Records, Inc. ("Geffen") is party to an exclusive recording agreement with the recording artist professionally known as Beck
("Artist"), and accordingly Geffen is the copyright owner of, with exclusive rights to, the performances of Artist recorded during the term
of such agreement and the exclusive owner of the right to use the
Artist's name and likeness for record purposes in connection with such
recordings.

It has come to Geffen's attention that you intend to distribute, and
have distributed, without Geffen's authorization, an album entitled
Deconstructing Beck containing master recordings embodying Artist's
performances and using Artist's name and likeness (the "Record"). As Geffen has not granted permission for the use of the foregoing master
recordings or name and likeness, or the distribution of the Record, such
use and distribution of the Record violates the U.S. copyright laws and
the law of the State of California, and may subject you to other
actionable claims under relevant state and federal laws.

Geffen hereby demands that you immediately cease and desist from any
further distribution or other use of the Record, that you cause any and
all third parties to whom you have entered into any agreement with
respect to the Record or to whom you have distributed the Record to
immediately cease and desist from exploiting or distributing same, and
that you furnish us with an affidavit in which you represent that you
have complied with the foregoing demand.

In the event Geffen has not received the affidavit requested within
seven (7) days from the date hereof, Geffen will pursue appropriate
legal redress against you and any other infringing parties, including,
without limitation, the immediate commencement of proceedings seeking
profits as well as actual and/or statutory damages, and injunctive
relief.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed an admission of any fact or a
waiver of any of Geffen's rights or remedies in connection with this
matter, whether at law or in equity, all of which rights and remedies
are hereby expressly reserved.


Sincerely,


Susan Hilderley

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http://detritus.net