According to an internal WMG memo, >legitimate uses for P2P software inside of WMG. Could those uses involve poisoning

TO: All WMG Personnel
FROM: Dave Johnson
SUBJECT: Policy on copyright infringement and the use of "peer-to-peer" systems
DATE: June 3, 2003
COPIES TO: Roger Ames

As each of you is undoubtedly aware, the illegal copying of CDs is a serious matter that is adversely affecting the entire music community. Lost revenue as a result of piracy undermines the passion and hard work we bring to our jobs, threatening our livelihood and the livelihood of our artists. Copyright infringement is also illegal, no less so than shoplifting a CD. Downloading copyrighted music and burning CDs from peer-to-peer networks such as KaZaA, Morpheus, Gnutella or any other similar service is a violation of the law, and will not be tolerated among WMG employees.

If you have peer-to-peer software on your company computer, you must remove it immediately. Failure to do so, and the failure to respect music copyrights may lead to disciplinary action, including termination.

Beginning shortly, we will scan our computer network to detect the presence of file sharing software on company computers, so again, it is important that you remove the software immediately. If you need assistance in removing file sharing software, please contact your IT department. Your cooperation on this matter is essential.

The good news is that we have been working hard in recent years to stimulate a legitimate online market for music, and we encourage you to try out the music services in which we're involved. You can access some of them at the following link: http://www.musicunited.org/6_legalsites.html

We understand that a few employees need to access peer-to-peer services in connection with legitimate company business activities. Those employees should contact Jim Watson (James.Watson@wmg.com) so that proper authorization and access can be arranged.

If you are not sure whether an activity is covered by this policy, you should consult your supervisor or Mark Ansorge (212-275-134 [mark.ansorge@wmg.com] of the WMG Legal Department.

You also may want to take this opportunity to consider whether any peer-to-peer services are being used on computers in your home. Please keep in mind that use of peer-to-peer services to download copyrighted material without the consent of the copyright owner, whether in your office or your home, is illegal. It is also unfair to all of the talented individuals (including yourself) who contribute to the creation and marketing of creative works.

Thank you for your attention.

So I wrote a letter to Mark Ansorge. It was very brief.

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Saw the Dave Johnson memo.
What are you going to do about this?
http://www.fairforshare.com

WB can go screw.

"If you have peer-to-peer software on your company computer, you must remove it immediately. Failure to do so, and the failure to respect music copyrights may lead to disciplinary action, including termination."

LMAO. This is from the memo.

I just opened my 20gig drive.

and what will they do if they dont comply? Arrest em?

Wow my news posting really got trashed. I wish this site had a preview feature. Argh. I've reposted the complete news item plus URL references below.

Sorry.

According to an internal WMG memo, Warner Music Group is cracking down on internal P2P software use. Why they should need to crack down on usage is beyond me. Doesn't everyone who works for the music industry believe that P2P software == music piracy?

What I found interesting about this article is that apparently there are legitimate uses for P2P software inside of WMG. Could those uses involve poisoning the networks?
http://clearstatic.org:2396/node/view/99
http://clearstatic.org:2396/node/view/10

try posting via DMusic. Seems easier.

I also gave Ansorge a link to this page.

To him, I further publicly add this -- Steve Metalitz has ignored my request for negotiation, apparently, because I have not heard from anyone regarding this demand.

The labels know. Go ask Ted what's-his-name, the President of Digital Distribution at EMI. He preferred to remain a "spectator" in the discussion. Sony got the messages, too. So did the RIAA.

Someone from a major label better start talking to me real soon or antitrust is going to be a slam-dunk for the US Justice Department.

See what they're doing to Martha Stewart this week? What are they really nailing her for?

For lying to the government.

Wait till they get to Hilary.

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To everyone else:

Look at the last paragraph of this memo. This is what I now refer to as the "Grand Illusion."

Watch what happens when you simply break it in half. And we don't even need the first sentence.

"Please keep in mind that use of peer-to-peer services to download copyrighted material without the consent of the copyright owner, whether in your office or your home, is illegal.

It is also unfair to all of the talented individuals (including yourself) who contribute to the creation and marketing of creative works."

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You will notice that neither group which Warner Music Group is so concerned about necessarily contains the artists or the authors.

Martha didnt do anything wrong in my opinion, they havent even nailed the 'real' crooks like the ones from Enron but they nailed her because she's a celeb. America really has gotten off the beaten path. So sad, really.

what if they employees need to use the P2P for themselves? what if they need to share their own files? They can't because their bosses are so paranoid that they may dl some copyrighted material? It's really insane.

Up to and including termination, Thats after they shoot you, tatoo you, hang you and then emasculate you. Corporate paranoia, sad sad....

You see how it asks the people within WMG to try out the legitimate services. Rather odd that the people working at the factories/studios/HQ are being asked to pay for music their company is putting out. You think they'd let them hear the new stuff before it hits the street.

They don't need P2P for that. $4 billion a year in free goods solves that problem. It's called promotion.

So don't listen to the stuff that doesn't cost them anything. Listening for free is piracy.

What a country!

Notice that althrough the problem is clearly an IT matter its being handled by the legal department

Its not unexpected. Most offices dont let their employies install their own software on the office computers. It complicates things when they go wrong and make it much harder to audit the systems. Of course people frequently ignore these rules, so occasionally they need reminding.

Whats intresting here is that the memo refers only to copyright infringement and comes from the legal department, so its probably net being sent because of bandwidth shortage or auditing problems. This is very likely from someone high up in the legal department who has realised that very soon there will be a lot more copyright enforcer bots on those networks and some people and companies could even get sued, they want to make sure warner doesn't get caught

What if half of the P2P traffic has been the RIAA all along? Hell, what if they are the ones constantly introducing the new stuff ahead of release?

Nothing would surprise me now.

Like the employees aren't going to download music from home.