I can’t figure this out. This video, from MTV’s video site, has been bleeped by MTV in an effort to hide file sharing system names in Weird Al Yankovic “Don’t Download This Song.” The original lyrics:
Once in a while maybe you will feel the urge
To break international copyright law
By downloading MP3s from file-sharing sites
Like Morpheus or Grokster or Limewire or KaZaA
UPDATE –
Mike Weiss (Former CEO, Morpheus) says:
When the video first was released by Weird Al, Morpheus sought permission from Sony Music to distribute the video as a promotion for Weird Al. Unfortunately Sony denied the request. There were no bleeps of the names of Morpheus or the others when the video was first released so it seems a bit odd that Weird Al would censor his own song over a year after release. Also Wilson Sonsini was the first law firm (along with the EEF) representing Morpheus, but Arrington was not on the case. MTV is not owned by the record labels so it also seems odd that MTV would censor the video. But what is interesting, after 7 years and the tens of millions of dollars spent on litigating Morpheus, Kazaa and Grokster to death (not to mention a very odd ruling by the US Supreme Ct), and Limewire’s legal process trailing by a few years–that someone someplace believes that by bleeping out these names will have any effect on the future of the music industry when all the litigation did not. Just weird…but lots of weird stuff goes on behind the scenes.
Say it ain’t so, MTV!
The whole song is a parody of the RIAA, the video shows a kid getting shot by police for downloading music, and it suggests you’ll burn in hell for file-sharing. I suspect this is actually intentional. You’ll notice that most cursing on MTV gets “cut,” (one example which shows both happening, near 2:40) not bleeped so I suspect Mr. Weird Al actually did this on purpose. I have an email in to the young man and I’ll get the bottom of this.
really?
If Mike answers this question to the readers, I promise to stop asking.
But he keeps taking down the post, which tells me that he worries that the readers will actually see this blatant conflict of interest.
1. J. Michael Arrington was attorney at Wilson Sonsini where he co-authored a book w fellow attorney Gail Clayton Husick (TRUE OR FALSE).
2. Gail Husick is married to Webaroo Co-Founder Brad Husick (TRUE OR FALSE)
3. Michael Arrington endorsed Webaroo in April 2006 Techcrunch article, without disclosing his personal relationship with Gail Husick to his readership. (TRUE OR FALSE)
4. Failing to disclose is unethical, and more important, contradictory to what Mike has been telling his readers.
(TRUE OR FALSE).
Mike: Don’t erase. Answer.
As far as I (and many other techcrunchers are concerned) Mike Arrington can say whatever the bleep he wants!!!
Full disclosure? Who the bleep are you, huh? How about that for disclosure?
It’s a blog. A blog is an opinion. Get over it.
If MTV bleeped file sharing names from a song, that would be overkill on the downloading paranoia, but seems to make sense given how the recording industry is paranoid.
It could be happend.
How ironic, as I’m not in the US, MTV refuses to play the video for me.
I’ve seen this video elsewhere, the names at the beginning are not bleeped out in any other version, just the MTV one…silly.
When the video first was released by Weird Al, Morpheus sought permission from Sony Music to distribute the video as a promotion for Weird Al. Unfortunately Sony denied the request. There were no bleeps of the names of Morpheus or the others when the video was first released so it seems a bit odd that Weird Al would censor his own song over a year after release. Also Wilson Sonsini was the first law firm (along with the EEF) representing Morpheus, but Arrington was not on the case. MTV is not owned by the record labels so it also seems odd that MTV would censor the video. But what is interesting, after 7 years and the tens of millions of dollars spent on litigating Morpheus, Kazaa and Grokster to death (not to mention a very odd ruling by the US Supreme Ct), and Limewire’s legal process trailing by a few years–that someone someplace believes that by bleeping out these names will have any effect on the future of the music industry when all the litigation did not. Just weird…but lots of weird stuff goes on behind the scenes.
Thats stupid. Like anyone doesn’t know about file sharing and that censoring this song is deterring people from downloading songs. Come on.
I remember MTV bleeping some pretty ridiculous things back when I was actually in the habit of watching MTV. They bleeped out “gun” from a System of a Down song.
Are you kidding? Are there really people out there today who think mainstream media represents some type of free press? Let’s get real. All media outlets, TV, film, radio, newspapers, magazines and web are owned by a handful of companies who all answer to the same master… control. This type of censorship happens more than you fat & happy Americans will ever know, and it’s not just little things like lyrics, it’s a pervasive bill of goods we are all sold every day.
The few windows that were opened in the early days of the internet got shut hard and fast and soon no one will remember that early freedom, so back to the American serfdom, everyone.
you will see the real kidding
Speaking of censoring, I tried to watch the video, copy write prevents me from seeing it in Canada.
same problem in Europe
MTV bleeps all brand names and fuzzes-out logos on clothing.
This makes sure advertisers can’t get on the air without going through MTV itself.
If they didn’t do this, “product placement” would be huge in music videos and lyrics.
Thats stupid. Like anyone doesn’t know about file sharing and that censoring this song is deterring people from downloading songs. Come on.
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To spin off Philip’s comment, it could just be the whole “we’re scared of trademark usage” that causes them to blur out tshirts, lyrics, etc. that have trademarks in them.
MTV still has videos? How ’bout that! I know they *used* to. But I stopped tuning in years ago, when it turned into just another reality/drama station.
So… what does MTV stand for these days? Money TV? Moron TV?
Oh wait, the topic is the bleeping thing… who cares…
They can bleep all they want, all they are doing is ruining the experience. If anyone wants to know the lyrics they can just Google it.
Maybe the guys who bleep the stuff out are still using dial-up.
AppleGazin
By bleeping the names it makes the song more timeless… Like a fill in the blanks for your favorite music downloading sites.
Why, because if we had it the RIAA way, any form of music is piracy unless it’s filled with DRM (and they are sure thinking of ways to sue you even if you sing it or play it on a guitar for your own amusement).
MTV is still around?
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