Blasphem-E 2009-02-02 20:31:26

Well said InG. Well said. But you missed the part about how we should all ejaculate over copyright laws.

Bad-Man-Incorporated 2009-02-02 23:09:57

InGenius..
We ARE going after midi rips. It's a bit harder to prove than an actual sample, for obvious reasons. However, if a 13 year old, first time submitter submits a perfect zelda song and the instruments are standard FL or Reason sounding, you bet your ass I banstick the fuck out of him. My shitlist is FULL of "possible" midi rips belonging to the VG genre...and so help me when I get the ability....
The proof, however...is a bit harder.

Other mods agree on midi rips. You certainly don't speak for all of us. But when we do get more abilities, we do have to enforce the rules. They are all we have..we have to make SOME order from them...otherwise...the system cracks, and it is the society (or users) that ultimately end up paying the price.

Your last paragraph, gives a "fuck you, I know what the rules are, so if you don't punish others ...I won't follow them either" But, It's next to IMPOSSIBLE to prove that someone actually used a midi. They aren't coded songs once they are "re instrumented" in FL. But if you look at history, you'll see...

#1 song for a while was that "Dragonforce" on piano. Direct Midi rip. Someone found the actual midi used (based on very VERY subtle variations on some parts of the song) and that song was deleted. I can't remember if the user was banned or the account deleted...I think it was, but I could be wrong. Either way, once proved of a midi rip, the action was swift. It's a lot of work, and hours of time, for people who aren't paid to moderate. A "sample", on the other hand sticks out like a fat chick at a cheerleader convention.

You are right, there are some mistakes...and I'm positive Tom or Wade didn't think about "midi" rips, when they created the audio portal. It was a little harder to do then...I can't say anything about the "flashes and sprites" copyright thing, cause I don't know much about the flash end, and what legalities they have taken to protect themselves there...if any.

I will definitely ask the admins, the points you bring up InGenius, as they are valid. If and when I hear something, I will let you know.

war-spawn 2009-02-03 02:04:34

Also, diminitive...

It's illegal to steal identities. Everywhere. GG

Triskele 2009-02-03 21:32:28

INTERNET...Net..net....DRAMA...Ma...m a....

Fail troll is fail

S3C 2009-02-04 12:48:05

" I hate to infer this, but it's analagous to Hitler ignoring the fact that his own mother was Jewish. "

hahah GODWINS LAW!

j/k mayne, i completely back up what you say.

Also, BOUNC3 = complete tool

InGenius 2009-02-11 15:01:16

I appreciate the reply, Badman, you're one of the few Mods who bother to talk to us on our level. Bounc3 left the moment I brought up a valid point about sprites, midi rips, and outright stealing video game music. As for the "Fuck you", I feel like most of the power-that-be of this site are giving the users a hearty "Fuck you" and have been since this site became profitable for them. I've went through all the channels that I've been instructed to go through multiple times when reporting outright stolen music on the site, and every one of the users I've reported is still up. I've gone through all the channels with my copies of death threats and malicious pm's, not a one has ever even been responded to. I've given pages upon pages of copyright law and Fair Use positions as interpreted by the court systems of the US (since I can't speak for any other country), and it's all fallen on, for the most part, deaf ears. So that is why I am so vehement about this position, as there appears to be no one in a position of power to deal with these issues.

As for proving something is a midi rip, let me posit a question: how would you prove I sampled drums out of a track if I mixed them all up and didn't use a 5 second loop? Quite simply put, the ToS doesn't require you to prove it's a direct midi rip, just like it doesn't require you to prove an acapella wasn't gained through Creative Commons licensing. The burden of proof in the ToS is on the user to prove themselves not-guilty. I've already dealt with a few Trance and Dance artists who were not-so-politely told to pull their music because it had acapellas in it. Those artists were required to track down written statements from the original pella artist to prove they had rights to use the vocal. Which means you're guilty until proven innocent in the ToS. So why would you ever need to prove a video game remix/remake is a direct midi rip.

Simply remaking/remixing the track is a violation because the ToS already says "No remakes, covers, etc." unless it's from Creative Commons sources. So all of those remixes and remakes in the VG section, whether directly ripped from midi or not, are in violation of the ToS. So again, it comes back to the nagging feeling that only Techno and Hip-Hop are targets for bans, deletion, or any of the other (fairly empty) threats that are levied against musicians on this site. So if I come off with a "fuck you" sound, that would be why. It doesn't matter if it's a direct midi rip or a remake, Sonic Green Hill Zone 1 is in violation everytime.

But again, Badman you seem to be one of the few mods here that gives a real crap about the site in general. There may be others, but they sure are quiet when there's serious discussions going on. I can only wonder if making fart jokes and talking about how gay Chronamut is would be more to most of their likings, as opposed to actually doing some work.