Pirates About to Face Obama

Obama's plan to step up anti-piracy campaign is something to take note of. Soon that will reach Philippine shores, especially when this news piece actually mentions the arrest of intellectual pirates in the Philippines.

"The Obama administration on Tuesday announced the first-ever strategic plan on intellectual property enforcement, which is intended to both boost and better coordinate efforts to stop piracy at home and abroad, online and through physical sales for American products including movies, TV shows, video games, computer software, pharmaceuticals, counterfeit goods and more."
- Obama administration steps up anti-piracy plan

That's not something to be proud of, as a Filipino. But it's something to rejoice about in the face of rampant music piracy in the Philippines that is robbing Filipino music composers of their intellectual property.

Will Noynoy Aquino run after pirates as well? With Mar Roxas as his hench man, we can hope for that.

In the meantime, let's step on the gas for our educational campaign.

Buying Music is a Moral Act

I found an unexpected source in recent literature about buying music as a moral act, not just an ecomomic or social one. It's in  paragraph 66 of Caritas In Veritate, the encyclical written by Pope Benedict XVI.

(If only for this reason, perhaps all musicians should consider becoming Catholics ... ^_^)

Paragraph 66 partly goes as follows (emphases mine):

Global interconnectedness has led to the emergence of a new political power, that of consumers and their associations. This is a phenomenon that needs to be further explored, as it contains positive elements to be encouraged as well as excesses to be avoided. It is good for people to realize that purchasing is always a moral — and not simply economic — act. Hence the consumer has a specific social responsibility, which goes hand-in- hand with the social responsibility of the enterprise. Consumers should be continually educated regarding their daily role, which can be exercised with respect for moral principles without diminishing the intrinsic economic rationality of the act of purchasing.

Music Users Asked About Garage Band Music Copyright

Somebody posted in Yahoo! Answers a music copyright question concerning GarageBand in Apple computers.

The exchange went this way:

I'm making a film for a film festival, and I was wondering if it causes any copyright issue or something to use music in garageband. In the Apple website, it says xxx However, I don't exactly get what they mean. Does it mean that I can't use a single loop at a time, but more than one loop is fine to use?

The "Best Answer" was given by "ssj6akshat" (a top contributor)

They are saying that you can't sell their loops standalone but you can definitely sell the music you created with those loops.

I find that exchange admirable. It demonstrated a sincere inquiry into the copyright issues concerning the use of music inside the computer that the user owns; and a honest-to-goodness help from someone else whom the music user may not know since Adam.

Philippines Still in US Watch List for Rampant Copyright Infringement?

The Philippines is in the US Watch List for rampant copyright infringement, and nobody seems to talk about it. Nothing works like a freshly baked news from abroad to jolt us to that reality. If Indonesia is complaining, why isn't the Philippines doing the same?

The United States has once again put Indonesia into its Priority Watch List of countries with rampant copyright infringement, despite claims by the government in Jakarta of progress on that front.

Eleven other countries are included on the list, such as China, India, Thailand and the Philippines. (emphasis mine)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com

Truth is, I'm not surprised. I cannot help but hear people talk about buying cheap but good copies of music and video CDs in very accessible areas in Metro Manila, not to mention the street vendors selling those stuff to passersby (although in fairness, these vendors are nowhere to be found in many areas now, thanks to the efforts of Bayani Fernando.)

The Anatomy of Music Piracy

What's clear about music piracy is, it's stealing. The surprising question after that is, "what constitutes stealing?" Then all hell breaks loose. Their is much debate on that question as we speak.

Typing "music piracy" in Wikipedia will redirect you the "Copyright infringement." No sweat, it's the same thing. Wikipedia defines "music piracy" or "copyright infringement" as follows:

Copyright infringement (or copyright violation) is the unauthorized use of material that is covered by copyright law, in a manner that violates one of the copyright owner's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works. (Wikipedia)

Definitions in other sites do not vary as much. But in my arguments today, I''ll show that such definition is not only outdated and impractical, it also lacks in scope.

Music Industry in the Philippines - Part 4: Promotion

Promotion is the other area in the music industry where the record company's money gets sucked up dry. Why?

• Promotion Tool #1 - Radio Stations
• Promotion Tool #2 - TV Guestings
• Promotion Tool #3 - Print
• Promotion Tool #4 - Ring Tones

Radio Promotion


Radio alone is expensive. Trash the law on music copyright with respect to radio stations. The sad truth is, the music industry pays radio stations for playing the songs, never the other way around.

Music Industry in the Philippines - Part 3: Packaging & Replication

Packaging and CD replication are done almost at the same time. By the time the CD copies roll out, the packaging materials are ready. But anyone who produces his own music and sells it straight to his or her crowd in the internet may no longer need to read this post.

Packaging is everything that has something to do with the branding of the music album. That includes selection of the album title, carrier single, theme, images and material.

Design, Titles and Credits. The packaging contains colors and images, the title of the album, the title of the carrier single (if any), the titles of the songs, the label logo, the credits, etc. The list of songs include the names of the music composers.

Music Industry in the Philippines - Part 2: Music Recording

Music Recording is where the initial investment comes in. This is when someone --- either you or a record company --- gambles on your song and puts money into music recording, with the expectation of getting that money back when sales start to come in.

The most thrilling part in a music composer's life is music recording. Incidentally, music recording is also the most risky part for the record company's money.

And real success is still a long shot for a new artist today. Of the 32,000 new releases each year, only 250 sell more than 10,000 copies. And less than 30 go platinum. (Courtney Love, extracted from Salon.com)

Music Industry in the Philippines - Part 1: Musical Creation

How does the music industry in the Philippines operate? Does anyone know? Probably the more correct question is, does anyone care to know?

Music composers and artists are too engrossed in their music writing and performing skills (perhaps rightly so) that they leave the rest --- their bank accounts --- to the experts.

The question is, who are the experts? and whose interests are they really protecting? I don't mean to say the experts are bad people. No. All I'm saying is trust them but . . . verify, verify, verify.

Internet Radio Stations Pay 25% to Copyright holders

What does the agreement mean for big name internet radio stations? They will pay up to 25% of their revenue to copyright holders, in exchange for the right to play any music they so choose. (Source: dbtechno.com)

You wish that piece of news is from the Philippines, don't you? As a matter of fact, that piece of news comes from Boston, USA. Copyright owners there are "bitching" the radio stations as well "about not getting their royalty cuts from air time."

It's not just in the Philippines where music copyright holders complain against radio stations. "Music on actual radios is considered free promotion for the artist." The same argument you hear here.