The stated reason for the removal demand was ‘copyright infringement,’ which Apple takes ‘very seriously‘. And the message from Apple to Digital Music News was pretty clear: that was cute, but please don’t make us bury you.
The iTunes Radio contract, leaked and published by Digital Music News in late June of this year, was specifically for independent, non-major labels that did not strike directly-negotiated, higher-rate deals with Apple. Perhaps more importantly, the contracts forced sub-standard terms onto all indies, except for biggest, most influential labels (from what we’ve heard).
The contract also conditioned iTunes Radio inclusion on iTunes Store placement, with no opportunity to negotiate separate agreements. The contract was met with little-to-no resistance from the indie label community, specifically indie consortium Merlin.
Well, you knew this was coming, didn’t you? 🙂
Most companies would act like Apple.
But that’s not to defend their indie-strategy. It sucks, big time, and Apple can’t prevent you from reporting the details.
They own the words, not the information.
You are correct.
DMN can still report the facts. Just don’t use the exact language that is contained in Apple’s contract.
Paul
Bearing a grudge against Merlin and Charles in particular makes you look like a small minded divot
Seems like ‘divot’ has a negative connotation, just judging by the context.
But seriously, if reporting about Merlin’s shortcomings and questionable decisions mean I have a grudge in your mind, so be it. I won’t waste either of our times trying to convince you otherwise.
Just make sure you think about these points the next time you opt into a Merlin-brokered deal. That is, if one even exists 😉
I know you guys want to share the truth and lies of the music industry with us all but sometimes you have to be careful of the bridges you burn.
Traditionally, Apple has been the only pro-music tech company in the world.
If that’s changing now, after Jobs, it should be reflected in the music press.
If the bridges are burning it’s because Apple set them on fire.
I have to keep warm somehow 😉
Pablo – Keep doing your thing. That’s what alternative news is all about. It’s not mainstream reporting. And burning bridges…does that even exist when reporting news about another person or entity, as a media company? Perhaps it does, but we need to hear it.
i like pizza an bazoobies.
🙂
It’s stealing. The ol’ smash ‘n grab. Now you’re in bed with pirates & pedophiles. Think about that.
Hey torrentfreak, you need to work on your sarcasm…
But you can SUMMARIZE the content and REPORT on it without infringing… The document itself is less important than you’re putting it in context.
Strange, I have an indie label with ~80 albums on iTunes and we haven’t received this contract as of yet.
Our iTunes distro is AWAL (KOBALT). Not the very brightest or fastest people in this business. But They would have mentioned it if they got something from Apple for us.
It was stupid to publish the entire Apple iTunes Radio Contract. That clearly is a violation of Copyright Law. It is like publishing all of War and Peace. It violates the Fair-Use section of Copyright Law. And Paul Resnikoff cannot simply say “F*&k it”
Digitalmusicnews.com and Paul Resnikoff are simply wrong to do this.
When the Chvrches speak up against people who are making violent threats, DMN says that the Chvrches just don’t have thick enough skin. DMN essentially calls them whiners.
So when DMN speaks up against Apple, does that make them whiners too?
I fail to see how this is any different. People speak up about things that are important to them, and just because DMN thinks contracts and money is more important than how people treat each other doesn’t mean that they should crap on people who stand up for something else.
Calling Apple “Pro-Music” is charitable. They impose the same kind of brutal terms we mock the rest of the industry for.
Steve Jobs is rolling in his grave ! He promised that he would never become “microsoft”…a bully ! He believed in fair and even compensation for the creators of copyrights, music and records…..(the original Itunes agreements)….Some of us grew up believing that the “military industrial complex” and “corporate america”, was the enemy….What is that aged old saying “if you don’t learn from history, you are destined to repeat it”….Well, instead of IBM and GM , etc, we have Google, Microsoft, and Apple…..now try to remember that other saying about “power and corruption” ! ! !
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