Today's Links

More on the Intellectual Property Enforcement Act...

"Senate Passes Intellectual Property Bill"

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And the streaming royalty debate...

"Net Radio Bill Passes House"

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And other countries that are blowing past the US in broadband availability...

"EU Calls for Universal Broadband"

Presidential Debate # 1 9/26/08, Oxford, MS

In case you guys are like me, preferring to watch baseball knowing the debate will be up on YouTube, here are the YouTube clips. They are an 11 part series starting in order...

Bush Administration Opposes Copyright Bill

"Bush Administration Opposes RIAA-based Copyright Bill"

It seems President Bush is not interested in the RIAA imposing on his powers.

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For more on the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Act visit:

"Legislation Continues to Fight to Protect Intellectual Property"

"New Law Would Authorize DoJ to Sue File-Sharers"

"Senate Panel Approves RIAA-backed Copyright Bill"

"DoJ Agrees: IP Enforcement Bill is a Bad Idea"

Google Phone: Comes With AmazonMp3

There have been reports of the upcoming Google Phone for weeks. The official announcement happened last week. More details have confirmed the participation of AmazonMp3 to handle the audiomobileretail duties:

"Confirmed: AmazonMP3 Powering Android Music Store"

An Independent Retail Hero Departs

"Don Van Cleave to Exit CIMS"

Don is definitely a hero in the independent retail world. Over the past year alone, he was instrumental in helping many independent stores stay in business, fight fires, and generally stay relevant in today's digital world. He will be greatly missed. I should also point out that he has been the chief compiler/editor of the CIMS music chart that is sent to my Inbox every week. However, I am sure Don would not leave CIMS without a firm assurance that they could get along without him. It seems Don is ready to get involved in the creative side now, and he may even have more fun, though I doubt a lack of fun was his motivator. Good luck Don, though I am sure, with your knowledge and skill, you won't need it.

PlayNow Plus, Streaming Rate Proposition

Here are some of today's healines on Sony Ericsson new service, PlayNow Plus. This looks substantially similar to Nokia's Comes With Music.

"The Package Arrives: Sony Ericsson Confirms PlayNow Plus"

"The PlayNow Plus Proposition: More Details"

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"Music Groups Reach Accord on Royalties"

and for an explanation of why this doesn't apply to Pandora...

"Lost In Licensing? Royalty 101 Now In Session..."

New Music Format

"SanDisk, Record Companies Plan New Music Format"
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122204010273861109.html

SanDisk is definitely thinking mobile here. Will it make an impact?
We will see.

Haircut

Ok well....

Let's just get this out in the open...I got a haircut. Probably not the greatest haircut ever but I got to give the barber at Majestic Barbershop full credit. They cut well over 8 inches off and did a pretty good job. Full credit. Well, I'm sure you are all wondering what I look like without long hair. And no mom, I didn't shave the beard. Here I am...


PS No that is not just a shirt with a hole in it. It is a rare vintage Pink Floyd "Wish You Were Here" album cover, IN WHITE!!! RIP Richard Wright. And, yes, I could probably use a shower.

MySpace Music

"MySpace Music"
http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2008/09/17/myspace-music/

Does Lefsetz get any better than this? The Palin comment sent me over
the edge. Hilarious!!

Napster/Best Buy

Check out this great, though brief, analysis of yesterday's sale of Napster to Best Buy.

"Resnikoff's Parting Shot: Why Napster Suddenly Makes Sense"

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/091608parting

RIP Richard Wright

Well, it has been quite an active day for this blog and, sadly, this post may be the bearer of bad news for some of you out there. Richard Wright, keyboardist for Pink Floyd, passed away today from a short battle with cancer. He was only 65. Why does it feel like our rock gods are fading fast? Where are the new heroes that inspire young players to pick up a guitar? For me it was Jimmy Page, David Gilmour was out of my league. But I got there. And despite what many will say, I think The Division Bell was one of Floyd's better albums (though not the best by any means). And Rolling Stone magazine will forever have zero credibility in my book for the denial that Pink Floyd is a band of legend warranting only the most hallowed praise.

Anyway I have already spent way to much time on this blog today to warrant the amount of work I have neglected. So I will call it a night. Out.

Retraction

Correction: You can access the article online. This must be thankful
change in the WSJ's policies. Though I am not aware how long the
article may be accessed.

ab

Making Access Easier

This excerpt was taken from the BNA's Internet Law News - 9/15/08 published by BNA Legal and Business Publishing. The entire excerpt is included because you cannot access the Wall Street Journal online (due to debatably unsound business practices).

GROUP TO EASE DIGITAL-MOVIE ACCESS

A consortium of studios and consumer-electronics companies is trying to kick start the market for digital movies and other content by making it more convenient for consumers to use. The initiative, tentatively called the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem, will allow consumers to use their online entertainment files much like e-mail, by buying it once and accessing it anywhere. The goal is to also ensure that digital-entertainment files play on any device. 

YouTube and the 1st Amendment

"YouTube Bans Terrorism Training Videos"
http://www.siliconvalley.com/news/ci_10451247?nclick_check=1

Sarah Palin

Well, it has been quite awhile since I weighed in on some of today's more generic issues. But after watching the Sarah Palin interview yesterday I just couldn't resist.

Is this woman out of her mind? I have seen politicians dodging questions and giving half-answers before, but this is something new to me. For anyone that has watched the interview, can you give me one straight-ahead, not beating around the bush because my policies are not well thought out, answer. Good grief. Think about this for a minute. If McCain/Palin are elected, and McCain (who is already pushing the average-life-expectancy) dies, this idiot will be running the country!!! 

The sad part about all this is that I didn't really dislike John McCain before this, but now, I'm actually thinking about getting involved in the election....and for those of you that know me...this is a serious problem. 

The answer to Gibson's question about stem-cell research was the best. Did that answer even address the question WHATSOEVER!! My God, what is our world coming to? OK, enough ranting...

And on a lighter note...

More Copyright Police?

"RIAA, MPAA resume lobbying push to expand copyright law"
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10039238-38.html