Swcast Warning

[sprinkles]

I thought I'd pop in and warn everybody about SWCast.
Becuase they don't answer emails or set up new accounts, we were getting a bit worried that they are not actually licesned.
I sent off an email to all the licensing bodies SWCast claim to be licensed with. It's been over a week, and only the BMI and ASCAP have responded. BMI sent some standard email about web licensing, but the response I received today from ASCAP is disturbing:

Dear Richard,

SWCast.net's license with ASCAP terminated on 12/31/2004, and we are
working with them to renew their license as of January 1, 2005.

Sincerely,

Melody Anne Zimmer
New Media & Technology

BE WARNED!

[oztec]

and people wonder why its so dead over there and takes 9 years for any sort of reply from member services o.O sucky thing is people are still paying for a service they aint getting

[Dredd]

Be careful what you say. Randall might threaten to sue you for "slander" or something equally ludicrous. The man is his own worst enemy.

[sprinkles]

I'm pretty sure ASCAP would back me up, I get from the tone of the email that they're pretty pissed with SWCast.

I think Randall wants to worry about legal action from customers more...

[MegaRock]

Nothing like receiving funds for licensing when you're not legally in posession of licensing.

[Dredd]

Anyone interested in a bridge?

Got some snake-oil over here too.

[sprinkles]

Bridge for sale, relatively new. Painted red, but can be repainted at buyer's request. Must be able to collect from San Francisco area.

[oztec]

sold!! and i want it the brightest pink possible!

[Jay]

Actually if you are negotiations with the royalty entities you are still somewhat covered. I have no idea what is going on over at swcast but I thought I would throw that out there. Now if discussions go silent or they refuse further communication then negotiations are over and they would be in a different situation.

[sprinkles]

Surely if negotiations have been going on over a year they're not going anywhere?

[Dredd]

You are correct, the P.R.O's will work with you about retroactive fee's...but this is a repeating pattern.

Checkout this issue of RAIN from 2003

RAIN - June 2003


I am writing with regard to a recent feature in the RAIN Newsletter (of which I am a big fan -- keep it coming!). The feature was on a service/site called "SWCast.net" and a program it is calling "Joint Performance Licensing" ("JPL").
....
....
....
despite making several streaming music programs available on SWCast.net, the site itself is not licensed by ASCAP. We hope to rectify this situation as soon as possible but we are having trouble identifying and contacting the operators of SWCast.net.

Sincerely,
Matt DeFilippis
Director, New Media & Technology
American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP)



I've had several conversations with the P.R.O.'s. They are reasonable people. At the most, it takes a few days to get rolling with any one of them...not a year.

*BOING* *BOING* *BOING*

This is the sound of a ball dropping...