This is old but what a bunch of crap.
So I guess now we are going to have to rename songs like
Nervona: Come Azuare
The sheet music/tabs I have found are peoples own interpretations of music they hear. I'm curious if these lawsuits have been settled yet?

News


March 10, 2006 - A Statement from the MPA Regarding Websites Distributing Unauthorized Sheet Music and Tablature

The Music Publishers' Association of the United States, Inc. (MPA) is the oldest music trade organization in the United States. The MPA is a non-profit association. Many MPA members are music publishers who specialize in producing printed sheet music products for educational, concert and recreational purposes. Accordingly, the MPA is particularly concerned with legal and business issues affecting the printed sheet music industry.

The members of our Board have received numerous e-mails in response to media reports that the MPA is embarking on a campaign to shut down web sites that make sheet music and/or guitar tablature of songs available to the public. We greatly appreciate hearing from those members of the music community who have taken the time to write to us or to our Board members. Although we regret that we may not be able to reply to each inquiry individually, all inquiries are read. Most of these e-mails express similar concerns and those issues have been discussed by the members of the MPA Board. We ask that you take the time to read our explanation of our position that follows, and thank you for your interest and consideration.
In December, the MPA Board decided to take action against web sites that post unauthorized sheet music and tablature versions of our members' copyrighted works. We are doing this to protect the interests of the creators and publishers of music so that, the profession of songwriting remains viable and that new and exciting music will be continued to be created and enjoyed for generations to come.
As with any event that has been reported in the press and discussed among the public, a certain amount of inaccurate information has been circulated. To be clear, neither the MPA nor its member publishers will take any action to shut down any legitimate web-based business that is authorized to distribute our members' music. Rather, MPA is concerned with those web sites that offer music without the permission of the creators and owners of that music.
Our members are in the business of creating printed sheet music and tablature products and making them available for sale in music stores and on line. Our members pay substantial sums to the creators and owners of the music we represent for the right and privilege to bring this music to the public in authorized sheet music products. Our members also put tremendous effort and incur significant expense in arranging, engraving, editing, marketing and distributing those products. Our members work closely with the creators and their musical representatives, to ensure that the finished products accurately represent the music as the creators wrote it.
Our members take great pride in the products they create and sell, and in their relationships with the creators and owners of the music they publish. Moreover, the creation and distribution of legitimate sheet music and tablature products is how our members and their employees feed their families, and it is also how music retailers and, of course, the creators of the music earn a living.
Many of those who have written to us have expressed frustration at the possibility of losing access to "free" guitar tab files that have been posted on various web sites. While it is true that tablature for some of the songs on these sites have not yet been produced legally by a music publisher, it is the presence of the unauthorized free product that is largely to blame for that situation. Accurate and complete notating of songs, whether in traditional sheet music format or in tablature, is a time-consuming and expensive activity. It is very difficult for a music publisher to make the investment needed to produce and sell an accurate, high-quality tablature version of a song when an unauthorized competing tablature version can be downloaded for free on numerous illegal web sites, even if the illegal tablature often is not accurate.
Moreover, it is simply wrong and unjust that many illegal web sites are able to make money, whether from selling advertising, other products or by other means, by giving away music that does not belong to them. Remember, unlike legitimate music publishers, these unauthorized web sites do not pay the creators of the music. It is like a store giving away stolen merchandise to attract customers to buy other things in that store.
Many of those who wrote to us seem to be under the impression that the guitar tabs (or lead sheets or other similar works) posted by individual players are the personal interpretations of the songs by the person who made them and therefore are not subject to copyright. Nothing can be further from the truth. The U.S. Copyright Law specifically provides that the right to make and distribute an arrangement, adaptation, abridgement, or transcription of a copyrighted work such as a song belongs to the copyright owner of that work. Virtually all of the songs on the tab and other music web sites are protected by copyright. Thus, any player, whether an amateur or a top professional, needs the permission of the copyright owner of a song to make an arrangement or a tab version of that song and to post it on the Internet. Otherwise, the arranger and the web site are infringing that copyright.
We have also heard that it would be too expensive to purchase legitimate tablature or sheet music for all of the songs that a player may want to learn. We are sure that these same individuals would not feel entitled to steal a sheet music book or a guitar from a music store simply because they want it but cannot afford it. Yet, anyone who patronizes these illegal web sites is stealing just as if he or she walked out of the music store with sheet music or a guitar. And by doing so, those people are taking money from the creators of the music they say they love.
The MPA is taking action to protect the rights of the creators and owners of music against people who would take the value of their music for their own commercial purposes without compensation. Our members are ready and willing to work with any web site owner who wants to build a legitimate on-line business to make music available to amateurs and professionals while providing compensation to the people who create and own that music. We look forward to developing new ways of distributing our products through the Internet for the benefit of everyone in the music community.
We hope that your reading of this message has left you with a better understanding of our position and that we have been able to clarify some of the myths and misinformation regarding the distribution of copyrighted music on the Internet and our members' position. We are always interested in hearing the views of the music community, and would welcome your comments at admin@mpa.org.
(Mr.) Lauren Keiser
President
Music Publishers� Association

Another example of how the MPA will hurt itself and its members by fighting evolution instead of embracing it and finding a way to take advantage of the opportunity technology provides.

Way ta go MPA!

Not completely related but it was brought to my attention back when I was like 14 or 15 on a day when I was emailed by a representative for Lars of Metallica.
When Napster was in use before it's legal problems general record sales had an unexplained jump that year by 30 something percent, it than sparked the online market for purchasing single songs rather than eating 9 crap songs on a coaster to get the few you like on an album and rip them to your MP3 player or customized CD.

Napster: Downloading music for free is legal - CNET News

Got this from http://tech.cybernetnews.com/2006/07...-some-trouble/
I haven’t been able to find information on the largest lawsuit in history but I’m sure this one is right up at the top. The RIAA (yes, I was just as shocked as you ) is suing the website AllofMP3.com on behalf of EMI, Sony BMG, Universal Music, and Warner Music in the amount of $150,000 for each of the 11 million songs that were downloaded from June to October of 2006. That comes to a lawsuit totaling $1.65 trillion!
For those of you who have been hibernating for the last few months I’ll give you a quick run down on the excitement that AllofMP3.com has had. They are a Russian music website that operates legally in Russia but it is deemed illegal in other countries, such as the United States, because they don’t pay royalties to the artists. The RIAA continues to do everything in their power to shutdown the site but their attempts fail one after another. The United States even went as far as blocking Russia’s entrance into the World Trade Organization (WTO) until they shutdown the site.
I find this whole situation to be pretty amusing and love hearing about all of the new threats that continue to evolve. Oh yeah, and if you haven’t joined AllofMP3.com or you need to add more money to your account they’ll give you a 20% bonus (until January 14, 2007). So there has never been a better time to get your music from a Russian site!


Check this site out for the whole scoop
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061221-8473.html

Taking a further look at the RIAA/ALLofMP3 battle I found something slightly disturbing.
Due to the US Trade Representative Susan Schwab strong arming with an ultimatum Russia has agreed to rid all businesses who don't coincide with US regulation regarding Piracy Laws. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061005-7915.html

Here's what bothers me AllofMp3 pays pay royalties to Russian music licensing society "ROMS" no US artist or record label has collected the money because it would look like they were legitimizing the activities of ROMS and AllofMP3.

Visa & MasterCard had banned the site http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061019-8029.html
This is a war without a death toll, but a war none the less. Alliances, embargo's, ultimatums, the whole nine.

FBI raids on garage bands for playing copyrighted music. All of these copyright issues are so ridiculous. I remember back in the old days when my friend would get the latest Nirvana tapes and the first thing I did was dub it. Then CDs came out and they started to make CD quality tapes that were able to hold up to 20 tracks for poor kids like me so I could still dub from my friends. It's the same thing, just on a much larger scale.

Even with this whole stink about copyright enfringement people like Eminem still sell 11 million albums. Oh no I'm sorry 50 cent couldn't get the 15 person hot tub and he could only get the 10 person. When it comes down to it these huge record labels, the company takes most of the money anyway. It's kind of like a hoe standing up for his/her pimp. Sure they don't like the fact that they don't make more from their work, but the pimp(company) will give them a sense of security. Even if they do get slapped from time to time.

There was a time when it was all about the music. Obviously corporate America doesn't understand this and they have convinced some in the music industry that it's the money before the art. So many musicians have gained international acclaim as a result of file sharing.

I love music of every genre. I have more than 3000 songs on my PC at home and the list keeps growing. I want to listen to the music that I want to listen to when I want to listen to it. I do not have the money to be paying a dollar per song. I can't imagine my life without my music to get me through it.

I think it's a ploy between the corporations where they are basically saying "Buy our cds and mp3s. Oh you can't afford it? Well check out the radio stations that our fat kat buddies own(who still indirectly recieve payolla) so you can listen to the songs that we want you to listen to. You don't like the radio? Damn you then you poor schmuck!"

I know it's much more than that. It's just one of the scenarios I came up with in my head.

Steve Jobs doesn't help very much when he sells out to the man and makes his mp3 player (which I refuse to name in print) a huge pain in the butt to share music with others. Rock on Bill Gates! I think the ZUNE(this I will name!)with it's wireless sharing capabilities is the best thing since sliced bread! I have no problem paying $100 less of my to purchase a product from a man who gives a greatly significant portion of his personal profits to charity organizations.

(sigh)...MONEY

Artists For File Sharing
http://a4fs.net/

Recording Artists Coalition
http://www.recordingartistscoalition.com/


In regards to these frivilous lawsuits:

"It would be nice if record companies would include artists on these decisions," said Deborah Harry of Blondie, adding that when a grandfather is sued because, unbeknownst to him, his grandchildren are downloading songs on his computer, "it's embarrassing."

The artist Moby, on his Web site, offered a similar opinion, suggesting that the music companies treat users of file-sharing services like fans instead of criminals. "How can a 14-year-old who has an allowance of $5 a week feel bad about downloading music produced by multimillionaire musicians and greedy record companies," he wrote. "The record companies should approach that 14-year-old and say: `Hey, it's great that you love music. Instead of downloading music for free, why don't you try this very inexpensive service that will enable you to listen to a lot of music and also have access to unreleased tracks and ticket discounts and free merchandise?' "

At the same time, other influential musicians and groups — like Moby, System of a Down, Public Enemy, and the Dead — contend that the record industry's efforts are misguided and that it must work with the new technology instead of against it.

But most seem ambivalent, or confused.

"I see both sides," said Rodney Crowell, a country music singer and songwriter. "In some ways, I think the record companies have it coming, but at the same time, being a writer and therefore in the business of copyright, they're saying it's impacting our business by 30 percent or more, so we have to do something."
The Recording Industry Association says there has been a 31 percent drop in sales of recorded music since file sharing became popular more than three years ago, but statistics from Forrester Research show that the sales decline since 2000 has been half that, or 15 percent, and that 35 percent of that amount is because of unauthorized downloading.

(Taken from a New York Times report first published September 14, 2003)
(Sure it's old but still very much valid)

this stuff is very interesting indeed!
copyrights need to be respected, BUT in this type of industry -- the shared/word of mouth portion contributes soooooooo much to the overall sales picture. (similar situation for software copyrights --- would windows dominate the market today if ppl hadn't "made copies" for friends when they were new?)
is it truly can't see the forest for the trees?

I remembered this old thread and I wanted to include a very helpfull source, the interface is simple to use and the moment I get my personal computer on a network not associated with the Army's strict allowable criteria I am going to download the Pro-Guitar softwhare. Anyway the site ULTIMATE GUITAR TABS ARCHIVE | 300,000+ Guitar Tabs, Bass Tabs, Chords and Guitar Pro Tabs! has either found a way to slide through the MPA's grip or they aren't afraid of a lawsuit, anyway check it out.
Than if anyone's looking for gear Musician's Friend - Buy musical instruments, music gear, musical equipment online is a great cheap place for quality and speed. My Fender package came from there. These two sights have been awesome a musician or a wannabe's best friend in when your only source for commerce is the local Turkish/Tsuni Bazaar or AAFES... enough said check it out. Sorry to spam on here guys but I swear the sights are awesome.

Well it seems to me that the Record industry decided to meet the changing demand for music and the evolution of technology with a slap attack of tradition aiming at infringement laws, which it than turned right (over the span of a few years I know) around and released those rights to online vendors at .99 a pop... would Itunes and the online music market be where it is today without Napster? I don't think so... if you want to keep your records sacred at 16.99 a pop you'd better have some unique incentives and material other than a ridiculous adhesive sticker across the top :) Lately I have noticed some unique extras with albums, but it wasn't the original I needed... Journey just shouldn't be without Steve Perry DEAD on Will

I agree about Musicians Friend... ordered from them several times and always great service.

Guitar Center Guitars, Musical Instruments, and Musical Equipment from Guitar Center is another good resource.

The recording industry screwed themselves. If they had launched MP3 sales right away, they would have had more control of the market. Sure, there are always people who are going to peer-to-peer download. But iTunes sales show that people will skip the hassle for $1 a song.

iTunes itself was not good for the industry because you had to have their software and the songs were proprietary. (Granted... most people burned them to disc, then ripped them to MP3).

I love what Amazon is doing. For about $10 you can grab an entire album right away at 256k MP3.

Also, the industry is crying about lack of album sales. However, singles sales ruled until the 60's and stayed alive (through 45 rpm records) well into the 80's. Hit singles (and the purchase of single songs) is certainly not a new concept. The industry simply got spoiled with album/CD sales.

In reality, things have returned to normal. Pop start put out singles, people by the single, it is disposable music.

I just caught this (Mr.) Lauren Keiser
President
Music Publishers Association

Ultimate-Guitar.com thats what I use. And of course right as I typed that I realized that Marvin beat me to it. Question: who all at Beach TV plays instruments? I play guitar, bass guitar, drums, piano, and harmonica

I played Bass Trombone for 12 years. And some guitar.

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