Weblog of a “Switcher”

Us users should be able to make ringtones out of our music without any concerns from the RIAA at all...

Slashdot | Apple, the RIAA, and Ringtones: "'Apple's interest in defending the rights of the consumer has cost them a lot of grief in the ringtone market.'John Gruber of the Daring Fireball cites Engadget, which reported that the RIAA wanted to be able to distribute ringtones of its artists without having to pay them big money to do so. It won a decision last year before the Copyright Office saying that ringtones weren't derivative works, meaning they didnt infringe on the copyright of the songwriter.' The piece goes on to explain the tense relationship between Apple content holders regarding ringtones and other pieces of IP, such as in the recent withdrawal of NBC.'"

So based on that decision, it sounds like we, the music loving public, should be able to make a ringtone out of any piece of music we purchased without paying any money at all.

I would think that such wording also means that the very talented people that make Mashups should be allowed to do so without any hassles of the RIAA as well.

Now, I'm sure that this really says that the RIAA isn't responsible for paying artists any amount of money. Which is what it has been doing for years.

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Amount Of Money, Apple, Content Holders, Copyright Office, Daring Fireball, Derivative Works, Engadget, Grief, Hassles, John Gruber, Loving Public, Nbc, Piece Of Music, Relationship, Riaa, Slashdot, Songwriter, Weren

I don't often agree with Mr. Gruber and Daring Fireball, but boy do I agree with him on this topic: The Ringtones Racket!

During Apple's press event introducing the new iPods, Steve Jobs told all the Apple Zombies in the audience that iTunes would sell ringtones for way less than other vendors. The audience went nuts, as it usually does when God (Mr. Jobs) says just about anything. Yes, you can buy ringtones from the iTunes Store for the low everyday cost of $1.98! Even if you already own the CD that the song you want to make a ringtone out of, you "have" to buy it from the iTunes Store in order to turn it into a ringtone. This is quite a racket indeed. First you bought a CD, then you have to spend 99¢ to buy the song again, so that you can then pay yet another 99¢ for the privilege of cropping out as much as 30 seconds of that song to make a ringtone.

Mr. Gruber says that we should feel no remorse in making our own ringtones and using tools like like MakeiPhoneRingtone or iToner to move the ringtones to the iPhone. I fully agree which is why I purchased iToner. I probably would have used the free MakeiPhoneRingtone tool, but it wasn't out when I purchased iToner. I don't really mind. Ambrosia Software did a great job with iToner and is well worth letting them know it buy giving them $15. Plus, I would much prefer giving $15 to Ambrosia Software then 99¢ to the RIAA!

It's becoming clearer and clearer that the RIAA needs to get their act together. If they don't I get the feeling that they are going to lose more and more musicians over time to produce and promote their own music rather than selling their soul to the RIAA. At least that is what I personally hope will happen.

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Apple Press, Audience, Daring Fireball, God, iPhone, Itoner, Job, Mr Gruber, Musicians, New Ipods, Nuts, Own Music, Privilege, Remorse, Riaa, Ringtone, Ringtones, Steve Jobs, Using Tools, Zombies