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GMC Forum _ CHILL OUT _ Powertabs.net Archive Shut Down Again!?
Posted by: N4085B May 6 2008, 11:14 PM
I searched but did not find it posted before, forgive me if its a duplicate post.
It looks like the MPA has shut down the Powertabs.net archive again last month due to copyright infringement.
I still have a hard time understanding when a person transcribes a tune it is harming an artist or record/publishing company...especially if they do not sell it. I've found many tabs that simply do not exist in music book form. I seem to remember a few years ago when the music industry went after midi and lyric sites on the same argument. We all learned by imitating our favorite artists whether by ourselves or by an instructor tabbing out a part for us. So am I to understand that showing a student a piece of music from a recent popular tune is now illegal?!!!
Posted by: DeepRoots May 6 2008, 11:18 PM
Well- if they think that it in any way affects their record sales- they'll close it down (if they can)
Maybe learning from the tabs stops the kids from buying the CD and trying by ear?
Either way- i think its silly.
Posted by: Zizi Top May 6 2008, 11:27 PM
i think it's the same as downloading programs and songs with emule, it's illegal, but everybody does it .. right ?
Posted by: iainsteward May 7 2008, 02:33 AM
I dont use powertabs.net anymore anyway, everything on powertabs.net is available at ultimate-guitar.com. I use that to search and normally if the powertab isnt on there then a normal tab is and I can use my ear to pick up mistakes/change what I need to....... I don't use EMule either, I use uTorrent and download the full albums 
Posted by: Andrew Cockburn May 7 2008, 12:53 PM
Guys, we don't condone illegal downloads on these boards, please stop discussing it!
Posted by: tonymiro May 7 2008, 01:32 PM
It looks like the MPA has shut down the Powertabs.net archive again last month due to copyright infringement.
I still have a hard time understanding when a person transcribes a tune it is harming an artist or record/publishing company...especially if they do not sell it. I've found many tabs that simply do not exist in music book form. I seem to remember a few years ago when the music industry went after midi and lyric sites on the same argument. We all learned by imitating our favorite artists whether by ourselves or by an instructor tabbing out a part for us. So am I to understand that showing a student a piece of music from a recent popular tune is now illegal?!!!
I think the issue is that someone owns the rights to the music in any published form - score, lyrics, midi sysops and so on. It's that copyright that is infringed by publishing and distributing the tab - whether or not the owner has published it, or even if it is out of print. So I don't think it's a case of stopping people from learning a piece by ear but one of publication and distribution. As for teaching someone else- not sure but I'd guess you'd run into difficulties if you provide a printed, or other hard copy, format.
Cheers,
Tony
Posted by: OrganisedConfusion May 7 2008, 01:35 PM
Any material to do with a song is copyright. All tabs of other peoples songs are copyrighted and therefore the only tab sites around are within countries that don't care a less about copyright infringement. I think everybody uses tabs at certain times but they are actually illegal just as downloading music is.
I think it is a useful thread because many people don't know that tabs are actually infringing copyright.
Posted by: tonymiro May 7 2008, 02:32 PM
I think it is a useful thread because many people don't know that tabs are actually infringing copyright.
Spot on OC though I think Andrew's point was aimed at those who were starting to discuss and name which p2p download sites they use and how.
Cheers,
Tony
Posted by: OrganisedConfusion May 7 2008, 02:35 PM
Oh yes. I missed them. Sorry about that. I was just talking about initial question. The other people are just naughty lol 
Posted by: Trond Vold May 7 2008, 03:00 PM
I understand the copyright problems offcourse, but.. I am having some problems too grasping why they target tabsites like powertabs.net.
Most tabs on powertabs arent 100% correct. Most of them are way off, and its more like interpretations of the song and they arent always of the entire song. Plus, they dont sell it.
It would be similiar as discussing on a forum on how (for example) the intro to Enter Sandman is played, and showing the basic tab of the 2 first bars. That same little tab would be just as viewable as something on powertabs.
Posted by: Tsarpf May 7 2008, 03:08 PM
Could the same happen to Ultimate-guitar?
Posted by: Andrew Cockburn May 7 2008, 03:09 PM
Cheers,
Tony
Exactly Tony! Lets carry on discussing the pros and cons of tab sites, but we need to stay away from discussions of illegal music downloads.
Posted by: OrganisedConfusion May 7 2008, 03:14 PM
No. Ultimate-Guitar is hosted in a country that couldn't care a less about what it is doing but you never know. Maybe it will disappear one day. I don't personally know why lots of tab sites are closing. I can understand when the tabs can be found as sheet music on the shelves but for tabs that aren't then as long as you aren't making money from them they should be fine. But unfortunately they have decided that tab sites shouldn't exist. Seems strange that they haven't given them a problem until recently though.
Posted by: N4085B May 7 2008, 05:23 PM
Im still trying to get my head around this "new" concept....if i go to a club and there is a cover band playing other people's tunes for compensation is that now copyright infringement? How about if the cover band is playing a small venue like a private party/wedding/prom/talent show for free, etc. It just seems that the whole argument is very shakey at best when applied to music (or art) that is someone's interpretation of another's work (or in the case of powertabs, used to study someone's work)...as long as the original artist is credited with it?
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