Those familiar with His Purpleness are probably aware of his checkered legal past -- his lawsuit against his former label, his performing in public with the word “SLAVE” written on his face, and his name-change to an unpronounceable symbol in an effort to make a point about his label owning the rights to market his public image. Points for creativity and all, but I’m not sure what that’s going to accomplish.
And as much of a creators’ rights advocate as I am, there is a line in this area that should not be crossed. You don’t win points in my book by being a control freak, and you don’t win points in just about anybody’s book by suing your own fans. Let me say that again: suing your own fans. This is the second time Prince has sent his legal minions after his own biggest fans -- the ones who have spent their own tme and money setting up Web sites designed to promote his career. Their alleged offense? In their efforts to promote the man and his music at no cost to him, they have supposedly displayed images of Prince and Prince-related items on which he holds the copyright.
The fans running these sites understandably aren't very happy about this, and in response have formed the ingeniously-named organization Prince Fans United. Yes, that's Prince F.U. for short. There have also been renewed calls for the Purple One's head over at the Daily Vault.
The legal foundation for Prince’s actions is tenuous at best -- he’s a public figure and there is such a thing as fair use. The moral foundation is non-existent. The people he is suing are helping him, not harming him. What can you say about such behavior but: what a maroon.
2 comments:
That was a brutal pun at the end. Reminds me of home.
It's all about knowing your audience.
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