It’s laughable when large corporations brand battered and shattered by new digital technologies make decisions. The decision by Sony today to block Beyonce’s official YouTube channel in the USA due to a copyright infringement issues appears to be one of those decisions.
Right under a massive banner that says “Congratulations for winning six Grammy Awards,” in the spot where the video for “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On) would normally be, reads the notice: “This video contains content from Sony Music Entertainment, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds.” I’m curious if you live outside the U.S. whether you are seeing the same thing?
Whatever the copyright or contractual reasons, it is a Gerry McGuire moment of “show me the money” by an industry that has always fought tooth and nail for every penny. Framed this way, I suppose it’s an understandable decision by Sony and perhaps YouTube. The record industry, has always wanted to, and often did, make ever dime from any sliver of copyrighted music and video, leaving artists with very little. Has much changed? According to Wired Magazine, YouTube works closely with companies like Sony, Warner Brothers and Disney, to either shut down or make money off of copyrighted content.
This highlights the continued power of an industry fighting to maximize its revenues, often-times to the detriment of the superstar musicians responsible for generating the revenues. So why should you care? That’s what business is about. Right? I suggest that perhaps you should care, and care a lot, because of the less highlighted breaking news this past week that included a leak about the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement - an international treaty over copyright protection. The agreement contains a “three strikes” policy, one that provides companies like Sony with the ability to shut down your accounts and penalize ISPs.
So, how does this really affect you? It essentially means that practically every site you use, from YouTube and BlogCatalog to your favorite blog could be shut down by their ISP or hosting company or they could simply remove your account because you downloaded some content. However, don’t be too concerned as there is proposed exemption for your IPod (and I presume IPads too) from being inspected.
Are you surprised that this agreement is being pushed, in secret negotiations, by a government that promised us transparency? Do you find it somewhat fascinating how we criticize China for censorship when this agreement, being pushed by the United States of America’s government, could have the same affect on the content you are able to consume. More to the point.
This policy is strongly backed by the Recording Industry Association of America. Do you remember a mantra about lobbyists will not have access to the White House? Will we ever learn that there is little, to no difference, between the parties that run the US government? It’s all about power. Will we ever take a real stand and hold our politicians accountable? I however apologize for digressing and ranting about politics, as this post was intended to be about Sony, Beyonce and YouTube. Or was it?
The story of Sony banning content on Beyonce’s YouTube page reminds me of the Legend of Hans Brinker, the little boy who put his finger in the dikes to save Holland. Perhaps, like the hero of that story, in this latest music industry story, the dike is no longer leaking, Beyonce’s Youtube channel is back on, Sony has plugged another revenue hole and YouTube is just happy to feast on the spoils of war.
Source: TonyB
