"Sundown" in Gateway commercial!?!?!

[mtheeb]

I just saw and heard something really bizarre. Here in Los Angeles, Wednesday, at about 9:45pm, during Felicity (my wife was watching, not I) a commercial for Gateway computers or MP3s aired. In it, the driver of a truck and his cow (that's right, cow) passenger were singing a funky, rap-like version of SUNDOWN! I was not dreaming, and I do not drink alcohol. Actually, it was very humorous, very cool, and very complimentary to Lightfoot. At the end of the spot the driver told how much he likes that tune, and the cow seemed to agree. Wow. I'm grateful to God that I lived long enough to witness that!

[Restless]

I just saw and heard something really bizarre. Here in Los Angeles, Wednesday, at about 9:45pm, during Felicity (my wife was watching, not I) a commercial for Gateway computers or MP3s aired. In it, the driver of a truck and his cow (that's right, cow) passenger were singing a funky, rap-like version of SUNDOWN! I was not dreaming, and I do not drink alcohol. Actually, it was very humorous, very cool, and very complimentary to Lightfoot. At the end of the spot the driver told how much he likes that tune, and the cow seemed to agree. Wow. I'm grateful to God that I lived long enough to witness that!

[socialvandal]

We saw it too! It was amazing...

[BILLW]

I haven't yet seen the commercial here on the east coast but a guy named ELWOOD does a rap version of Sundown on the CD "Parlance of our times" which is pretty cool to hear. Is it the same tune?
Bill

[charlene]

http://www.gateway.com/home/deals/of...usic/dmz.shtml

Gateway website and ELWOOD singing Sundown.

Char

[charlene]

http://www.gateway.com/home/deals/of...usic/dmz.shtml

Gateway website and ELWOOD singing Sundown.

Char

[char]

toronto star - april 15/02
Suing and singing in digital debate
Copyright fight takes a new turn as firm settles file-swapping and Gateway opposes anti-piracy measure
Rachel Ross
Technology Reporter
The battle over copyrighted digital material is heating up.

Proposed legislation and recent litigation in the United States are pitting content owners against computer makers, while computer users are caught in the fray.

Last week, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced a $1 million (U.S.) settlement with a company whose employees traded songs on an internal network. This puts other businesses on the alert to check their network for offending files or suffer the financial consequences.

Meanwhile, American politicians have introduced a contentious anti-piracy bill. If passed, the bill would require copyright protection systems on all digital devices, limiting their customers' ability to watch movies and listen to music on digital devices.

The bill has computer makers such as Gateway Inc. so upset the company is airing a commercial that opposes the bill —— complete with a singing cow.

The battle lines are being drawn in what promises to be an important fight, whose impact will likely be felt in Canada.

A spokesperson for the RIAA said they took up the fight against Integrated Information Systems Inc. after receiving a tip that the company's corporate network was being used to share thousands of copyright-infringing files.

"This sends a clear message that there are consequences if companies allow their resources to further copyright infringement," said Matt Oppenheim, RIAA senior vice-president for business and legal affairs.

The RIAA was tipped off to the company's activities through the association's hotline, set up to collect tips from the public on copyright infringers.

Amanda Collins, RIAA's deputy director of communications, said she couldn't comment on any other ongoing investigations by the RIAA, but said the association receives numerous calls to the hotline each week.

Jim Garvey, chief executive officer and chairman for Integrated Information Systems, said he still doesn't know who ratted on his company but he'd like to find out.

Garvey said the Arizona-based firm was unaware of the music-swapping activity until the RIAA brought it to their attention.

"It all seemed pretty harmless," Garvey said. "This is happening in every business and every business in America and we were unfortunately the guys who got stung."

Industry analysts agree that the settlement should act as an effective deterrent against file-swapping servers.

Rob Batchelder, research director for the Gartner Group, said the settlement is certainly an effective deterrent.

"Never underestimate the power of a public execution," Batchelder said. "This has scared the hell out of most people."

Michael O'Neil, an analyst and country manager for IDC Canada, said the likelihood of finding such a song-swapping server on your corporate network is slim. But O'Neil said that any computer with "computer-literate employees" has likely saved music files on their local hard drives.

Garvey's expanded his company's business consultancy services, to include what he's learned from his dealings with the RIAA. As a part of their normal computer security assessment, Integrated Information Systems will also check the network for any MP3 files.

Corporations may not think this a problem for them but it is, he said. "One employee can bring a copy down today."

With the economic downturn Garvey believes there are a lot of jaded unemployed people who might just squeal on their former employers.

"If a company gets turned in ... the RIAA's going to get what they want."

While Garvey felt the settlement was high, he said that if they had pursued a courtroom battle it would have been even more expensive.

Fred von Lohmann, senior staff attorney for the technology advocacy group called the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said it's difficult to imagine that "this internal corporate listening resulted in $1 million of lost profits for the RIAA."

He said it's important to factor in those sales that are gained when colleagues share music files.

"It's a way to help you discover new artists that you're interested in." he said. "Rather than understanding the opportunities presented, they've been dedicated to using litigation as a substitute to innovation in a new marketplace."

Litigation is only one technique the industry is using to stop the spread of copyrighted movie and music files. Legislation is an another important part of the offensive.

Senator Fritz Hollings of South Carolina has introduced a bill to require computer manufacturers to install hardware and software designed to limit their customers' ability to watch movies and listen to music on digital devices.

The bill, known as the Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act, would compel manufacturers, consumer groups and copyright holders to agree on a security system for digital media or let the government set the standard. All digital devices made after the standard was set would be required by law to implement the technology.

Consumers might still be able to play a CD they purchased on their computer, but the security system might stop them from copying those files onto their portable MP3 player, for example.

Computer firms such as Intel are opposed to the bill because they see it as having an impact on sales. The audio and video capabilities are a big selling point for the latest computer models. Limiting those capabilities with copyright protection software could make it more difficult to convince consumers they need a new machine

Gateway Inc., famous for packing its computers in cow-spotted boxes, is going to start running a television commercial in the United States that opposes the bill.

The commercial features the company's chairman Ted Waitt, who founded the firm on an Iowa cattle farm. Waitt is seen driving a truck when his passenger, a cow, pokes its head out and the pair sing along to their favourite tune.

The commercial then suggests customers download the song and burn it to their MP3 player. The company distributes the song —— a remixed, rap version of Sundown by Gordon Lightfoot, on its Web site.

Greg Lund, manager of media relations for Gateway, said the company isn't advocating "willy-nilly illegal downloading of music," but that they are taking a stand "with consumers" on the digital rights debate.

"We support activities that many of our customers come to us and want to do. Things like converting a legally acquired CD to an MP3 format, or burning a backup copy of a legally acquired CD," Lund said.

"Those things would be taken away under the Hollings bill. It's not the government's role to get into this debate."

While the legislation is only proposed in the United States, von Lohmann of the Electronic Frontier said he believes the bill will have an impact on Canadians.

"It's just an undeniable fact of life: Whatever standards for tech happen in the U.S. are imposed on the rest of the world," he said. "Companies aren't interested in building separate product lines, for the most part."

Another possible outcome: If the standards have a great enough impact on sales and are endorsed by other countries, von Lohmann believes computer makers could opt for an alternate solution that would really leave the United States out in the cold.

Computer makers could choose to focus their product line on computers for the rest of the world, made without any of the copyright controls.

Tough standards could have the added effect of pushing the computer manufacturing business out of the United States.


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[Wingdrops]

Sis

Was that article on the copyright fight used with permission?

No public admission, please, but you have my business card. The fines won't exceed $10,000 per violation.

LOL

2M2L, Esq.

------------------
"And the laughter came too easy for life to pass me by."

[2Much2Lose]

Sis

Was that article on the copyright fight used with permission?

No public admission, please, but you have my business card. The fines won't exceed $10,000 per violation.

LOL

2M2L, Esq.

------------------
"And the laughter came too easy for life to pass me by."

[char]

Bro
do I get a family discount ??
lol
sis

[craiga]

That begs the question: Does Gord own the rights to his songs, and wouldn't he have had to sell the rights for "Sundown" to Gateway in order for them to use it? The same way Michael Jackson is selling rights to some of the Beatle songs he owns to various companies.

[IllinoisRob]

That begs the question: Does Gord own the rights to his songs, and wouldn't he have had to sell the rights for "Sundown" to Gateway in order for them to use it? The same way Michael Jackson is selling rights to some of the Beatle songs he owns to various companies.

[jaybyrd]

I do not think that artists need to seek permission to record any song that has been published. They let the writer Know that they intend doing so out of common curtesy. Record companies own the original recordings and control those with an iron hand. EMI here in England do not lease Beatle recordings to anybody. We then see compilation albums by "various artists" titled "The Greatest 60's Album Ever" with not one Beatles recording on it. Robbie Williams is the current flavour of the month over here, and I would love him to record one of my songs, no permission needed. I am sure the publisher owns the material. Moose Music or Early Morning Music. Somebody tell me I am wrong.

[wattsdmatter]

I do not think that artists need to seek permission to record any song that has been published. They let the writer Know that they intend doing so out of common curtesy. Record companies own the original recordings and control those with an iron hand. EMI here in England do not lease Beatle recordings to anybody. We then see compilation albums by "various artists" titled "The Greatest 60's Album Ever" with not one Beatles recording on it. Robbie Williams is the current flavour of the month over here, and I would love him to record one of my songs, no permission needed. I am sure the publisher owns the material. Moose Music or Early Morning Music. Somebody tell me I am wrong.

[Janice]

Yeah, but paying royalties is different from seeking permission - Isn't it? (BTW, that is a genuine question and not sarcasm )

[char]

here's some info: http://www.ascap.com/musicbiz/money-copyright.html

char