IMSLP is over

[Guido]

 

UE are not happy:

http://imslp.org/

I don't really understand what legal grounds UE are giving, given that everything was rigorously checked for legality.

Here's the actual letter that they sent:
http://imslpforums.org/Second%20U-E%20Cease%20and%20Desist%20Letter.pdf

[Symphonien]

That sucks! That site was awesome...

And I never got around to downloading a lot of what I wanted...



Stupid UE... I thought it was all public domain music only.

[Justin Ignaz Franz Bieber]

Luckily I got most of what I wanted off that site. I guess we've still got that Werner Icking archive, right?

[71 dB]

I don't really understand what legal grounds UE are giving, given that everything was rigorously checked for legality.

Legality? Many scores must have violated copyrights. 

[lukeottevanger]

Yes, perhaps I too sensed something was going on! I've been heavily downloading from IMSLP these last few weeks and am happy at least to the extent that I have got almost everything they had going that I was interested in (which was a great deal). But I feel like boycotting UE now....and how dare they use Janacek's name in the cause of oppression! 

[greg]

i just saw this this morning, and was about to make a thread.....
yesterday i tried getting to the site several times, and it was down for maintenance. Of course, i thought "oh yeah, they're probably really making the site into something amazing." And of course, whenever i expect something good something very bad happens, so it really wasn't surprising in a way. How could something as good as IMSLP last that long anyways, nothing that good lasts.

I did download most of what i wanted, but there was a lot more i was waiting for- the never even finished scanning the rest of the Bartok Concerto for Orchestra! i don't know wtf was going on with that.... and the most important, three of Mahler's Symphonies- 2, 7, and 10 (1st movement) they don't have- if i asked for them for my birthday, i'm not sure i'd be able to get anything else...

i don't see what the problem is if the scores are already in public domain

[not edward]

I think he realised that if he gave in to UE's demands for an IP address filter on access, and implemented one, UE would immediately demand that he prevent people from using proxies to access the site while pretending to be in Canada (which they would demand, even though it isn't possible).

Plus it's normal behaviour for a large company faced with an irritant who lacks assets just to threaten them with lawsuits in the hope that they go away. In this case it worked.

I hope that IMSLP will be resurrected somehow. It was a very valuable service for music-lovers on a lower budget (particularly music students and young performers, ie: those who would form the future of music).

[greg]

I hope that IMSLP will be resurrected somehow. It was a very valuable service for music-lovers on a lower budget (particularly music students and young performers, ie: those who would form the future of music).

and of course publishing companies don't think about this- all they care about is money, not people, just like any other large company or business

[johnQpublic]

and of course publishing companies don't think about this- all they care about is money

So, does that mean Greg that you'll never want your music published by a reputable company? 

[greg]

So, does that mean Greg that you'll never want your music published by a reputable company? 

exactly, i don't care much about the money, though it's nice to have.
If I can get scores how I want them to look with Finale, that'd be great! And then I could let anyone get them my scores for free! 

oh yeah, a couple things i thought of adding to this thread. The first thing is- reminds me of a while ago when "they" tried to shut down a bunch of guitar tab sites. It's not exactly the same thing, but reminds me of it. I don't think it was publishers, but i did notice lots of guitar tab sites that were down. But now.... i don't even worry about it since the one site that has basically every tab on the net is up, maybe the others are too, i have no idea.

the second thing- if someone notices a resurrection of IMSLP or another site trying to do the same thing, update us! 

[greg]

new updates on the page

UPDATE: Due to demand, I strongly encourage any organization willing to support a continuation of IMSLP to contact me at imslp@imslp.org . For everyone else, please check back from time to time for news. I was very happy about all the moral support that you showed on the forums and in e-mails, and I would like to express my uttermost gratitude for the support.

UPDATE 2: I am currently in negotiations with various people and organizations in the interest of continuing IMSLP. Please check back periodically for more news.

I have also been doing much thinking with regards to the support I have received (and am much grateful for!), and wanted to say the following:

Do not hate Universal Edition. For they are human, like us. They have reasons for their actions. I personally do not believe their actions are for the good of the society, but we are all human and we do make mistakes, sometimes large ones. Instead of sending hate mail to Universal Edition, send mail to Universal Edition explaning why their actions restrict the rights of people around the world.

I also believe that the fundamental meaning of music is lost when music is used to split people into opposing camps. For music is supposed to unite people, not divide them. Music is supposed to make people understand, not alienate. Therefore, I repeat again, do not hate Universal Edition. I am positive that they love music as much as we do (or else why be a music publisher?); the current situation at hand is simply due to a misunderstanding between Universal Edition and us.

That said, I still would like to thank immensely the literally hundreds of e-mails I've received in support of IMSLP. I don't think I understood fully what I meant when I said I will respond to them all, but I will keep my word. However, some responses may be very late, and I apologize beforehand for this.

Many people have also requested copies of the database and extensions. I promise I will release them; the issue right now is just that I am preparing for my Masters application (which is due in a little more than a month), and this incident has taken a further toll on my time, so I may have to release the database and extensions late. I apologize greatly for the delay! But I will keep my word.

i think they'll start it again, at least someone will 

[johnQpublic]

So, Greg.

Should there be no publishers?

[greg]

So, Greg.

Should there be no publishers?

They can do what they want, doesn't matter. I myself would rather keep it simple and have all my scores on in a single folder on a computer, or a CD. It's a lot neater that way.

[Larry Rinkel]

exactly, i don't care much about the money, though it's nice to have.

Say that when you're forced to be financially independent and/or have a family to support.

[greg]

Say that when you're forced to be financially independent and/or have a family to support.

of course i'd make my money with another job, composing on the side......

i just wonder, though, what exactly publishers do nowadays. Do they all use Finale for scores or what?...... what if you type in a score and like how it looks exactly with Finale, do they just take it and print up books?..... the money would be nice, but i'd hate it if people had to pay to get my scores- i also wonder if letting someone read one of your own scores would be illegal? lol

[johnQpublic]

All the smaller companies do use either Sibelius or Finale. In fact my latest publication that's in preparation was done by me on Sibelius but the publisher is using Finale and I did a special thing that he can't duplicate, so he's scratching his head how to make it look like mine!

I can't speak for the BIG companies though. I would kind of hope they still use standard, old-fashioned "type setting".

[greg]

All the smaller companies do use either Sibelius or Finale. In fact my latest publication that's in preparation was done by me on Sibelius but the publisher is using Finale and I did a special thing that he can't duplicate, so he's scratching his head how to make it look like mine!

lol that sounds a bit silly
he must be REALLY commited to Finale

[karlhenning]

Do not hate Universal Edition. For they are human, like us. They have reasons for their actions. I personally do not believe their actions are for the good of the society, but we are all human and we do make mistakes, sometimes large ones. Instead of sending hate mail to Universal Edition, send mail to Universal Edition explaining why their actions restrict the rights of people around the world.

Sterling stuff here;  such character deserves support.

[Joe_Campbell]

Well, in the spirit of IMSLP, did anyone happen to dl Alkan's 12 etudes in minor keys, more specifically the concerto for solo piano? Perhaps you could PM me, as I really wanted to get a hold of them, but never thought to on the site.

[Maciek]

What an irritating bit of news. Especially since Szymanowski (who is mentioned in the letter) goes into public domain this year, and that's a fact I've heard repeated over here on the radio and elsewhere more times than I would care to count. I'm not saying the whole letter is crap but at least that little bit certainly is. Or else copyright law is even more of a mess than I thought.