I don't think it's a big deal. Everyone takes from something else one way or another. I'm a music producer and I think things have gone way too far with being being all, "don't touch my stuff, don't even sample a second of mu sounds unless you can pay me" I mean it's all about money these days. Half the time I try to get someone involved in a project, they want money and they want to be paid like their stars. They act as if I got millions, as if I make millions. I've slept on the street before who are they kidding.
Metallica helping kill Napster was the worst. Talk about greed. I guess millions aren't enough. Other big bands tried to help Napster. They even made tshirts! Their has been no place since Napster to be able to get any music you need such as underground very hard to find stuff that plenty of people would buy but is unavailable for purchase or out of print. So many of these companies and people, I ask "so I can I use it or can I pay you a little for it" and they want a ton of money. So what happens is, I walk away and they get nothing and no one gets to have their stuff anymore because they are so greedy. We all lose in the end.
To better understand what I mean. I highly reccommend getting Negativland's "Fair Use" CD. Feel free to download it and copy it and sell it because you know what, they don't care! That's right, they don't mind at all!
My name is Jason Grimm. My music goes by "Grimm" if you ever see it or like it, feel free to copy it, pirate it, feel free to make 100s of copies and sell them to your friends. Because I actually like more people to get my music. And if they trully like it and would like to support, they'll buy a copy. Feel free to sample it, use it as soundtrack music for your videos, whatever.
Did you know that folk music and folklore was made up of stories passing around? Did you know that's all dead now because of copywrights that protect the big companies and hurt the artists more then help them? Yep, remember making a collage in school by cutting out pieces of magazines with your art teacher? Did you know that the most famous stories that have stood the test of time are taken from the bible, mythology, and folklore? Have you ever heard Shakespear saying, "Their are only 7 stories to tell?"
When I was younger and wasn't able to hear alternative views that the mainstream didn't support, I didn't believe in sampling. I didn't know about "Fair Use" copywright law. But I learned more. Their was a person here on Startics that was upset when I used a 1inch piece of art they made to make an item on my private shard which only I and a few friends played on. I posted a picture here because I thought UOers woudl enjoy seeing it. Instead of being happy and letting everyone enjoy the item in a scriptted item, the end result was the person upset because they sell their icons, and me taking it off.
Now if someone is taking an entire game or music CD saying, "hey I created this myself, this is mine, I own it so come buy it" I can understand. But what's wrong with a little borrowing? Everyone borrows ideas. Art is everything around us that we see. We are all copying everything around us but putting it into our interpretation. That's what art is.
So just enjoy the game for what it is. I don't know much about it but unless they are taking 90% of the game (which it didn't look like) I see no problem with it. I have a new CD out that says, "You now are free to use this for whatever you like. A credit would be nice if you use a large piece of sample but is not required. Feel free to email me with it in use, I love seeing people enjoy my work."
Did you know that cooperate labels and the RIAA have been hurting artists far more then helping them? Did you know that tons of artists are begging as activists to have copyright laws redone but that it will never happen because the companies make millions from it? Most artists don't even own the rights to their own songs! The companies go on to reuse the music in movies and most artists never see a dime unless they had the money for powerful attorneys to combat the board room attorney assult teams they keep which spend thoughsands on lavish meetings getting drunk and doing other things I won't mention here.
I've got a disibility and been trying to get a business going but America has so many laws that it is almost impossible for me to even sell my mothers fresh made jam from our grapes! What this means is that the corperate companies control everything. Have you ever seen an old lady at a flea market selling her pies or jam? She's breaking the law. She probably doesn't know it but she is. Unless she has her permits and licenses in order. Unless she has spent thoughsands to convert her kitchen to a licensed one or bypassed the law by renting a kitchen to make it in.
http://www.negativland.com/riaa/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ukdDJXK84U
