~ Muppet Musique ~ (Updates)

[Drtooth]

I know, it's true. I wish there were more rights for the artists themselves. The world is not always a perfect and just place, by its very nature (or rather by ours, heh). We should try our best to improve it, but there will always be problems such as this. Despite all that, it would be worse if the artist was officially entitled to nothing, ever. As flawed as this system is, the alternative (no copyright laws) would be unexceptable.

Funny thing, though. This is the problem only in the US, to my knowledge. in Japan, the creator always has shared rights with the publication and animation firms that distribute their work. It is common to pick up a toy package and see a long list of copyright on it. Say you pick up a Dr. Slump doll... the back would have (C) Akira Toriyama/Shuiesha/Toei Animation.

And here's another interresting tidbit. They have a copywrite loophole that allows for actual published fan versions of other people's work. There are a lot of specifics, one being the run has to be very small, and the story will not be widely accepted as the product, and certain companies won't allow it. But other than that you can actually publish a fan work based on someone's idea. Sadly, it's used more for porn, though. but an excellent example of a story driven fan work is a Doraemon fan comic that gives a hypothetical ending to the series.

Too bad we could never have anything like that here. I'd give you guys some fan made Pigs in Space comics.

 

[CensoredAlso]

But other than that you can actually publish a fan work based on someone's idea. Sadly, it's used more for porn, though.

Lol, I'm sorry that just made me laugh. Oh that crazy Henti, lol. But that is a good point, other places are more forgiving of fans wanting to share in the glory, so to speak, which is nice.

 

[Drtooth]

That's what Muppet Musique and Youtube is for. We want to share stuff with each other that isn't available. We would drop it all in a heart beat if ALL this stuff were available for purchase.

Who wants to see fuzzy clips of Gonzo on some local station when you can watch it on DVD on a big TV? Who wants to listen to fuzzy sounding compressed music taped off an old source tape when you can listen to the same thing in CD quality surround sound?

Heck, I'm still grappling with the fact people are so cheap, they spend 3 days downloading a movie in theaters that comes out all pixilated and sound distorted than actually spending the 10 bucks. Especially if it's something you want to see.

But when it comes to rare clips, rare music, etc. There is no alternative. We'd love one, but there isn't.

 

[CensoredAlso]

Yeah but lately we've actually been pretty lucky. They have released old Sesame Street clips on the Old School DVDs. And out of nowhere we're getting the Fraggle songs on CD (I never thought that would happen). Sometimes miracles do happen, heh, and I think it's important to have hope and patience. Like I said earlier, I just wish progress was running a bit faster!

 

[Drtooth]

I also wish that MORe companies would realise that they're making TV obsolete by just copying the same shows over and over. Do we need that many copies of CSI? How come Paramount isn't suing Fox for copywrite infringement over that Bones show?

I think Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, and NBC have the right idea. instead of whining like idiots and sueing everyone under the sun, they combatted by putting up their original stuff online themselves. That's all I'm saying. Do something like that, more people will flock to quality.

That's why i hope the Sesame archive ssetta reported on actually materializes. Think about it. The same clips we have, but they came from the master tapes. And legally up too.

 

[CensoredAlso]

Well, TV has always been like that, the same types of shows over and over. Years ago, it was Westerns. Now it's crime dramas. The networks have always copied each other. And I could be wrong, but personally I think they know TV is becoming obsolete in favor of the Internet. They're not trying to stop it.

Yeah, I think more networks should collaborate with the Internet, it would solve a lot of problems.

 

[Mistersuperstar]

We have had this conversation many, many times and there are some of us on this board who feel strongly that ALL copyright should be honored, even if the material in question is not available commercially. I think it's a real shame that Disney and other big, multi-global companies who are making millions, feel the need to squash the little people for enjoying what Jim Henson has created over so many years. I still stand by the fact, if Disney, or whoever owns the rights to the clips, don't release a certain song or video, who is it hurting for people to get it another way until is IS released?

 

[Drtooth]

Now, before I say we should shut this thread down (as there is no way we'll get any more updates) I want to say...

Well, as I've said, we're fans. We don't WANT to have to resort to getting "illegal" copies of stuff not commercially available. I try very hard when asking for MP3's to NOT get something that was released on CD in the US and is still currently available.

But then, when one person suggested we just download the "cliff's Nightmare" episode of the Cosby show of some torrent, I said NO. Why? It's commercially available. And I'd probably buy it off of iTunes instead of the Cousin Pam drenched season set, but I would rather buy the Box set than get it illegally.

there are 2 reasons why. 1: Bootlegged or internet video versions of anything are grotesquely inferior to something legal.

Reason 2, they have released it... they do want to make money off of it. If someone doesn't release it, they CAN'T make money off it. It's only fair to get it if no one will or ever sells it.

 

[Mistersuperstar]

That's how I feel about it but the "powers that be" don't want ANYONE stopping them from making the exorbanent amounts of money they make from us fans. The simple answer is: if they release it, we will buy it instead of finding it another way.

 

[Muppet Loverr]

But then, when one person suggested we just download the "cliff's Nightmare" episode of the Cosby show of some torrent, I said NO. Why? It's commercially available. And I'd probably buy it off of iTunes instead of the Cousin Pam drenched season set, but I would rather buy the Box set than get it illegally

WELL First of I just suggested in a kidding manner, secondly if someone wanted to download video clips for their own personal collection, I don’t think that’s illegal. And LASTLY I get what you are saying with the money issue. But if people are just going to buy a whole DVD set for one episode that a pretty big waste of money, but its the persons choice....