Consumed Links - March 27, 2012

Things continue to be busy around here and look to be picking up even more. Let's see what may have been overlooked across the web.


The Temptations are the latest to file a class action suit against their label over royalties. (RS)


Looks like there will be A LOT more of Angry Birds coming our way. First a theme park in... (mashable)


Ubisoft is looking to provide more value for PC gamers and ditch DRM? (gamingbolt)


There is an interesting article over at IGN discussing when epic games become bloated. (ign)


Kevin Smith says he is bored with directing acting films. So, what would he rather do? (contactmusic)


Recently five 18th-Century bone telescopes were discovered in Amsterdam. (livescience)


Rats are invading the Florida Keys... nine-pound ones. (yahoo)


And finally... for now.... 


A company that produces the "pink slime" beef product has put some of the production on hold. (bbc)

Consumed Links - December 2, 2011

Here we go with this weeks' round-up of things found around the web. 


Drowning Pool has parted with Ryan McCombs and are now seeking a new singer. (metalunderground)


The family of Bob Marley are suing his brother for using his name and likeness to sell and promote a bunch of items. (tmz)


Tommy Lee is being sued by a former assistant for unpaid wages. (prefix)


A man is suing the city of Houston claiming that his civil rights were violated and that he is the victim of racial profiling. (drivingwhitewendyista)


Did Mario save the 3DS? (ign)


Ah yes, it is time for the end-of-the year lists to start cropping up.. here is PopMatters list of the Best Re-Issues. (PM)


While we are looking at lists... here is the top 15 Metal Albums this year as told by Axl Rosenberg. (metalsucks)


Oh, and I decided to finally go ahead and join paper.li. Check out the latest articles. (consumeddaily)


And finally.... 


This is the cutest kitty pic this week (in my opinion).....  (lolcats)

Consumed Links - September 23, 2011

It has been pretty busy for me and most likely for many of you. So, it can be hard to catch up on all the things going on . Without further ado, here are this weeks links. 


As many have celebrated the 20 year anniversary of Nirvana's album, 'Nevermind', URB magazine recently listed five other classic albums that should be celebrated. (5classicalbums)


Poor Joel Tenenbaum. First he was ordered to pay the RIAA $675,000. Then, it was slashed to $67,500. Now, it has gone back up. (CMU) 


Imagine being banned from the internet because of a single infringement accusation... Italy is trying to make this happen. (TechDirt)


Most times Consumed Links cannot be complete without a good list. Mental_floss has a interesting list featuring some very strange sea creatures. (8strange)


Wait a minute... There was a missing baby and the cops would not help the mother? (Wendyista)




And finally, for now... 




Rob Flynn from Machine Head teamed up with Metalinjection to discuss the forthcoming album, "Into The Locust", which is due out September 27th. 

Consumed Links - August 1, 2011

Here we go again.... let's see what we missed. 


For those that love the show 'The Walking Dead', AMC has an interview with executive producer, Gale Ann Hurd, in which she discusses a few things for the next season.  (amc)


Now that Spotify and turntable.fm are licensed by BMI, a record number are getting paid. (musicindustryreport)


The CEO of eMusic recently stated that their business will be huge. Here is why... (BI)


The maker of Angry Birds is being sued for patent violation. (mashable)


A judge has reduced the million dollar fine for Jammie Thomas-Rassett. (prefix)


And finally, for now...


Music Bloggers Hack Record Industry by Launching Indie Labels via wired. (huh?)

Axl Rose Sues Activision

Axl Rose is suing video game makers, Activision, for $20million. 


The Guns 'N' Roses singer is reportedly suing for the use of the song "Welcome to the Jungle" in the new "Guitar Hero III". Rose claims that Activision did not stick with the terms agreed upon for the songs' inclusion. 


Apparently, Rose only allowed the use of the song as long as former bandmate , Slash, was not depicted nor were any songs of Velvet Revolver included. 


Well, not only is Slash in the game, there are quite a few Velvet Revolver songs offered. Also, Slash is featured on the cover of the game and was named the spokesman as well. 

-------
Opinion : If Axl could just let things just go and not spend all his time suing people maybe, just maybe, he could put some decent music out again.

Consumed Links - September 1, 2010

Let's just get to it.


Donald Duck appears to be in hot water as a woman is suing Disney for allegedly being groped. 


From smokinggun.com : " 'While visiting Epcot Center in Florida, a Pennsylvania woman alleges that a Disney employee dressed as Donald Duck grabbed her breast and molested her after she sought an autograph.' "
(read more)


The RIAA and the National Association of Broadcasters are reportedly lobbying for FM Radio receivers to be put on all portable devices.... (read more) 


Jim Jarmusch is reportedly working on a documentary about Iggy Pop. 


From Clashmusic.com " ' Iggy Pop is a force of nature. As frontman with The Stooges the singer helped set out the punk template, with loud guitars, screaming vocals and plenty of audience provoking antics during a live show.' " (read more)


While Donald Duck is in trouble, American Airlines is in its own hot water as a woman is suing them for a few things... and especially for what ended up in her hair. 


Eurthisnthat.com reports " 'We’ve all heard of the “friendly skies”, but some people have gotten carried away.  A 21-year-old woman has filed a $200,000 lawsuit against American Airlines alleging employees on a flight from Dallas to Los Angeles didn’t watch her back while she slept.  But, someone else did.' "
(read more)




And finally....


Have you ever wondered how hurricanes get their names? mental_floss answers... 
(How Hurricanes Get Their Names)

Consumed Links - July 21, 2010

Here is yet again another round-up of things from around the web.....


Jimi Hendrix being sued? A former friend is now suing his estate for not being credited for a song he states he co-wrote with Hendrix.  Hendrix Lawsuit


Here is a story that you don't hear often...(well, sort of) - a Catholic Priest has been charged with first-degree larceny... Priest Steals $1M


Rolling Stone Magazine recently did a pictorial celebrating three decade of Metallica... (rsm)


And finally for now...


This is not really an ad... but I love the artwork on these tees. (randr)  Check them out!

Consumed Links

Time for another round-up of items around the web.  It's a short one today. Enjoy!


Anita Baker could be facing jail? 
Singer-songwriter Anita Baker faces the threat of jail in a contempt hearing today in Wayne Circuit Court after refusing to sign documents that could turn some of her music royalties over.... (read more)


What are some of the ways that an artist should do to get their music on blogs (like mine)? The Do's and Don'ts get spelled out .... (here)


Sometimes we just all want to hear quick feel-good stories... - Animals That Saved Humans (list)

Dr Dre Suing Death Row

Rapper/Producer Dr Dre has reportedly filed suit against Death Row Records. The suit claims that since he left the label in 1996 he has not been paid royalties for his 1992 album, The Chronic. He also claimed that the 2009 reissue, The Chronic: Re-Lit, was released without his consent. 


In the suit, Dre claims that his lawyers notified the new owners of the label, WIDEawake, about not being paid the royalties and they have yet to pay him. 


Howard King, Dr Dre's (real name Andre Young) lawyer, said in a statement,  "When it comes to paying artist royalties and honoring limits on Dr Dre recordings that could be released, the "new" Death Row Records, to quote out client, 'forgot about Dre'. This lawsuit will make sure they remember." 


Dr Dre is suing for at least $75,000.  


Deathrow Records/WIDEawake Entertainment has yet to release a statement. 

Sit Back, Relax, And Just Read A Little Something

It is a holiday weekend.... so, it's time to catch up on some of the things we may have missed....



Hype Machine Outs Artists For Chart Manipulation - (hypebot) -- "We found several artists and blogs creating fake accounts on the site and favoriting their tracks to get higher visibility in the charts." (pretty pathetic if you ask me)



Recording Labels Sue Online Music Services - (tulsaworld) --- Microsoft Corp., Yahoo Inc. and RealNetworks Inc. have been sued by music labels that allege the companies made recordings available without getting permission. (didn't this already happen?)



Sony Music, IODA Create Digital Network (reuters)



Sorry, this is a short post.... but like I said, it is a holiday weekend... now go out and have some fun!

The Verdict

The Verdict Is In:

Thomas verdict: willful infringement, $1.92 million penalty

Jammie Thomas-Rasset's federal retrial concluded today as a jury found her liable for willful copyright infringement, awarding the record labels nearly $2 million in damages.

READ FULL ARTICLE

Michael Jackson Being Sued x 2

"Unfortunately, Mr. Jackson has elected not to honor the financial obligations of our contractual relationship despite my numerous attempts to amicably resolve this matter. I am sincerely disappointed in Mr. Jackson's failure to honor his obligations," says Michael Jackson's former publicist and business manager, Raymone Bain in a statement.


Bain is suing Jackson for $44 million.



Meanwhile, actress Ola Ray, who played Jackson's girlfriend in the video for his hit song "Thriller," is suing him as well. She claims claims she didn't get a fair share of the royalties for her part in the hit clip.



Why now are they suing him? Shouldn't they have done this before....or is it just because of those "Thriller" plays that were done or because of these upcoming shows in England?



I can understand the business manager....but Ray? She should have read the contract probably. Either that or acted better in the role. Sorry.

Are You Kidding Me?

Yusuf Islam... the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens thinks that the Coldplay song, "Viva La Vida" sounds like one of his songs.



Islam told Reuters recently, "My son brought it to my attention and said: 'Doesn't that sound like 'Foreigner Suite?'"



So is he going to sue now? "it depends on how well (Joe) Satriani does."



I am sure that one song sounds like many different songs...



Guitarist Satriani has accused Coldplay of recycling original portions of his song, "If I Could Fly", and is currently seeking damages.

DMX Ordered To Pay

Recently a judge ordered currently incarcerated rapper, DMX, to pay $240,000 in damages to a man he assaulted in JFK airport.



Port Authority officers arrested DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, for posing as an FBI agent and using a fake police siren to pull over Sergei Priporin and his family at the airport.



Simmons claimed he pulled them over because he was making them late for his flight. He was in possession of Oxycodone, Diazepam, crack, and a billy club at the time of his arrest.



Richard Corde, X's lawyer, told the website TMZ, "Mr. Simmons still feels justified in pulling them over when they didn't get out of his way... he's not apologizing for that. The gentleman driving should have gotten out of his way."



At this time X is serving a 90-day jail sentence for drug possession, theft, and animal cruelty.

Things Read

For those just looking for a good article:

The show "Family Guy" recently won a court battle over a song used in the show: reuters

Live Music Overtakes Record Sales in The U.K. : bbc

When DJs Ruled The World (great article): independent

NAB vs. RIAA : radiomag

Hospital Sued For Saving A Life

A hospital in Blackburn, England has paid damages for saving a man's life after he attempted suicide. The man, Michael Dexter, overdosed on drugs when the hospital apparently gave him an overdose of the antidote.


The out-of -court settlement between Dexter and Blackburn Royal Infirmary is reported to include a payment of 90,000 pound (approx 125-128,000 USD).


Dexter had been taken to the hospital after ingesting pills that he washed down with rum and coke. He says he suffered permanent damage to his right arm when the hospital emergency department administered four times the correct dose of sodium bicarbonate through a catheter. He says he is unable to work or to perform simple cooking and gardening chores.


"I know they saved my life but if you went in with a heart attack you wouldn't expect to leave with a limb you can't use," he said.

News....

Billboard reports on the legal battle between production company Morgan Creek and the estate of Tupac Shakur. (billboard)



Arnold Schwarzenegger is rumored to star in 'The Expendables' set for 2010 and written by Sylvester Stallone. (natpost) Looks like an interesting cast... (imdb)


Diddy Announces New Album (rapweekly)


Pitchfork talks Dillanthology (pfdill)


and finally for now....



The Independent talks about "drum and bass"..... ( independent)

Whistle To This....

51-year old Leopold Wrobel, of Wingerworth, England was sentenced recently to 20 weeks in prison for repeatedly whistling the theme song of "The Addams Family" TV show at his neighbors.



Mr. Wrobel was convicted of violating an antisocial behavior order directing him to cease whistling the tune at the neighbors. He was also found him guilty of two counts of harassment by Magistrates at the Chesterfield, England court.



One of his neighbors, Kathleen Sharpe, told the court that Mr. Wrobel was always waiting with his whistling whenever she left her house.



In court Wrobel said he only whistled at his dog. However, much to his demise, closed-circuit TV footage shown to the court shows him repeatedly whistling when the couple left or arrived home.

Lawsuit: Manu Dibango

Cameroonian singer Manu Dibango filed a lawsuit in Paris against Pop artists Rihanna and Michael Jackson over a hook from his 1972 song, "Soul Makossa", being sampled without his permission. He is reportedly seeking 500,000 euros (approx. 641,000USD) in damages.


Jackson had accepted that the parts of the track were used on his "Wanna Be Starting Something" from the "Thriller" album and the singers reached a financial aggreement.


However, Rihanna obtained permission in 2007 to use on her hit single, "Don't Stop The Music", without contacting the original artist.


Dibango's lawyers have seperately asked the French courts to block labels, EMI, Warner, and SonyBMG (now Sony Music Entertainment) from recieving any income from the records until the matter is settled.


French judges are to decide if the 75-year-old Dibango's case will be heard on Feb 17.

Remember The Taco Bell Chihuahua???

After a ruling in 2003 against Taco Bell for not properly paying Tom Rinks and Joe Shields, creators of the Taco Bell mascot, the company sued their ad agency and placed all of the blame on them.



Fast forward: Recently a federal appeals court ruled that it is Taco Bell Corp. who is to be responsible and that they must now pay the lower court judgement of $42million.