Be Careful Selling that Bootleg CD, Vinyl, etc

[katzrul15]

https://news.yahoo.com/eric-clapton-wins-lawsuit-against-194053389.html

This e-Bay seller owes a 4k judgement over an $11 bootleg CD.......

[m60driver]

German seller responded to cease and demand letter by telling lawyers to "so sue me", never a good idea.  Clapton himself probably was not aware of the situation although by all accounts he is a bit of a twit and may very well have given a go ahead.  Disclaimer: I have been a Clapton fan since he was playing for John Mayall and the Blues Breakers.

[luckythewinner]

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@m60driver wrote:

German seller responded to cease and demand letter by telling lawyers to "so sue me", never a good idea.  .

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I am the VERO representative for a couple music artists. 

When I see a bootleg listed for one of the artists I represent, I send a polite note asking the seller to voluntarily take it down. 

I only every get three responses: 

(a) "I'm sorry, I did not realize, I will take it down"; 

(b) "{expletive} you"; or

(c) radio silence

In the case of (a), I thank them after it gets taken down. In the case of (b) or (c), I file a VERO notice and have the listing removed. 

I'm sure there are those who think Clapton's people should have researched the seller and realized she was not a threat before taking what I think is a regrettable action. 

But by the same token, I think the seller also should have researched the item and realized it was indeed a bootleg before taking what I also think is a regrettable action. 

But to me, the trigger for the whole sad episode was the arrogance of the seller who unnecessarily escalated the situation rather than take down an $11 item. 

[evry1nositswindy]

He is losing fans left and right.

[dogchow747]

It gets even more complex with digital only releases and ownership of those.

There is a album I want that was released "digital copy" with limited release.

Those cant be sold  here either.

Sure it's on youtube, but I would like a official, original (HQ audio) copy.

Someday I am sure that will happen here.

[jayjaspersgarage]

I would bet that Clapton makes it all go away once this gets him more negative press.  Does she have ANY other music listings?  A widow on a fixed income is not a good legal target for a millionaire superstar of his caliber.  

[timzbiz]

4k is about the price to see this rock dinosaur live in concert. Greedy old man.

[katzrul15]

Was always a huge Clapton fan.  Article bothered me - older widow who listed an $11 CD.  Article reads like Clapton pushed this?

With all his anti-vax bad press, his timing at the Holidays kinda astounds me....

With youtube and spotify....there is very little out there you cannot "access".  Tons listed on this site and others with the word bootleg in title.  Lol

(All this over a CD that the quality was likely carpola to begin with....)

[chapeau-noir]

Rolling Stone called Clapton "in his dotage" but I quit listening to him after he came out with that weedy unplugged version of Layla.  😖 "Have we come to this?" I wondered.

[vintagecraze50]

I just read about this today. The guy is worth about 450 million and he has to bring a poor older widowed woman to court. Wowsa what a turd.

[katzrul15]

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@vintagecraze50 wrote:

I just read about this today. The guy is worth about 450 million and he has to bring a poor older widowed woman to court. Wowsa what a turd.

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Yes.  And evidently he heavily pursues (or he instructs his people to) many of these types of listings.  All the while, he refuses to play any of his old stuff or some nonsense.  Penchant for bleeding the turnip, evidently.  I was pretty floored when I first saw the article.

[vintagecraze50]

Also huge Clapton fan. Absolutely a genius on the guitar and songwriting skills. Tears in Heaven my favorite .  Too bad the woman involved did not respond politely to his management and just comply instead of pushing the issue with him. Still, I would not have brought this to the point of bad press for him as well.

[vintagecraze50]

Well yes, it seems a bit crazy does it not?

[katzrul15]

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@vintagecraze50 wrote:

Also huge Clapton fan. Absolutely a genius on the guitar and songwriting skills. Tears in Heaven my favorite .  Too bad the woman involved did not respond politely to his management and just comply instead of pushing the issue with him. Still, I would not have brought this to the point of bad press for him as well.

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Mitoo.  Wonderful tonight is one my favs - Tulsa time, etc.  I listen to his Timepieces CD all the time and Backless is a fav.  We bought it on vinyl for DS over the holidays.  Still.....she was selling a 1-off for $11......dang!

[superpsychme]

Ok but that CD was literally just copied from an official release. OF COURSE that's not ok or legal. What about unofficial releases though? Fan made compilations of live concerts that will never be officially released, for example? What if the seller recorded it themselves? What if the band and management has said that it's ok to disseminate the work and no legal consequences will come from it from them?