Can blogging be riskier than we think, or is truly an issue of understanding the limits? For one man, house arrest was the consequence of his blogging habits.
Kevin Cogill, a Los Angeles area blogger, was sentenced to two months on house arrests after leaking a Guns N' Roses album online. Cogill, a big fan of their music had commonly posted songs and shared music with those who read his blog. Cogill took it a step too far with the unreleased album, breaking federal copyright laws.
The conflict began in late June, as Cogill posted several tracks from the unreleased album Chinesse Democracy. These tracks were not due out for another five months. These tracks were the first recordings of the band in seventeen years, and highly anticipated by fans. The news of the postings spread like wild fire, and soon Axl Rose, the band leader, had to interfere.
Rose demanded that the tracks be removed. Cogill quickly followed his intrusctions, but it was already too late. He was quickly arrested and charged for the incident. Cogill's stance was clearly stated: "I never meant to hurt the artist. I intended to promote the artist because I'm a fan."
Many people fight this case, but those in the music industry believe that what these people are doing is piracy. For the past two days, "Lil Wayne No Cieling" has been one of the top ten searches. People are hungry to find the unoffical mixtape, searchign madly. These people are super fans, but is what they are doing illegal? If posting this music is illegal, should listening to it also be considered against the law?
Kevin Cogill, a Los Angeles area blogger, was sentenced to two months on house arrests after leaking a Guns N' Roses album online. Cogill, a big fan of their music had commonly posted songs and shared music with those who read his blog. Cogill took it a step too far with the unreleased album, breaking federal copyright laws.
The conflict began in late June, as Cogill posted several tracks from the unreleased album Chinesse Democracy. These tracks were not due out for another five months. These tracks were the first recordings of the band in seventeen years, and highly anticipated by fans. The news of the postings spread like wild fire, and soon Axl Rose, the band leader, had to interfere.
Rose demanded that the tracks be removed. Cogill quickly followed his intrusctions, but it was already too late. He was quickly arrested and charged for the incident. Cogill's stance was clearly stated: "I never meant to hurt the artist. I intended to promote the artist because I'm a fan."
Many people fight this case, but those in the music industry believe that what these people are doing is piracy. For the past two days, "Lil Wayne No Cieling" has been one of the top ten searches. People are hungry to find the unoffical mixtape, searchign madly. These people are super fans, but is what they are doing illegal? If posting this music is illegal, should listening to it also be considered against the law?
(photo credit: user ctrl84 on flickr.com)
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I understand that this man was a fan but i think he definitely took it a step too far. Blogging is about sharing your beliefs, opinions, and interests with people on the internet who want to read what you say. I understand that Kevin Cogill would want to share his love of Guns N Roses, but he should know where to draw the line. Hopefully, he has learned now, though.
ReplyDeleteYou have a point there. I think listening to the music should also be against the law if posting it is. Is it no different from LimeWire, which is also illegal? It is against the law to share music this way. I don't see the difference between LimeWire and blogs posting music.
Just wondering, how would this Kevin Cogill have even gotten the album to begin with...?
I'll be the first one to admit that sometimes, bootlegs are a great find. A concert might have been incredible, and it's awesome to find audial documentation of these days/nights, but eventually it is stealing. But I think that if I was an artist, the amount of revenue they are loosing by people downloading these songs is infinitesimal in comparison to the amount they are making by having loyal fans that buy albums and concert tickets.
ReplyDeleteyeah, blogging can be dangerous. but it can also make you a lot of money. you just have t know how to balance it.
ReplyDelete