MX Tabs Politics

[Danish]

So, as we all know, MX Tabs is closed. In my opinion, it was the best source for tab on the Internet. I used it extensively to learn to play guitar, as I'm sure many of you have.

To get right to the point, I'm going to make a statement that I'm sure will ruffle some feathers:

MX administration showed very little heart and very little commitment to what they were doing by closing MX in the face of - to put it bluntly - very weak pressure from "the industry." If you won't fight for what you think is right, I don't have very much respect for you.

[PerpetualBurn]

It was nothing to do with pressure from the industry, or at least not as I understood it. MX wants to focus the site on the forum and on sputnik's music reviews, NOT on a tabsite.

And there was nothing on MX that you can't find by googling.

[dustindow]

yeah but MX did come first. Also MX was the best tab site IMO. Most people I know used MX over any other tab sites.

[OnDesolationRow]

How dare MX stop providing us with a free source of tabs and make us actually have to search on Google? That bastard. Didn't he realise setting up a tab site was a lifelong commitment which he could never renege on?

[PerpetualBurn]

yeah but MX did come first. Also MX was the best tab site IMO. Most people I know used MX over any other tab sites.

And maybe one day everyone will turn to Sputnik and MX forum for musical opinions.

If MX doesn't want to keep the tabsite open, then that's his choice.

[dislocated214]

I found the Forums through MXtabs. Most of the people I know used MXtabs too. I agree with Danish. By closing the site their basically letting the music industry push them around.

[PerpetualBurn]

Except he didn't close it because of pressure from the music industry.

[Reaganista]

why would you want tabs?

you can pay people to play music for you nowadays.

[PerpetualBurn]

And if we all paid each other to play music then there would be no unemployment and everyone would be rich. Genius.

[ADashofSalt]

How dare MX stop providing us with a free source of tabs and make us actually have to search on Google? That bastard. Didn't he realise setting up a tab site was a lifelong commitment which he could never renege on?

yeah I'm deeply outraged by this. They had a moral obligation to us to provide tabs. Why did they set up the site if they didn't want to make the commitment to it ! I see this as being an insult to this community.

[Bron-Yr-Aur]

He was being sarcastic, I hope you were, too. Oh god, shut up with the mxtabs bullshit.

[ADashofSalt]

He was being sarcastic, I hope you were, too. Oh god, shut up with the mxtabs bullshit.

sold out

[form]

i never used mx for tabs anyway

but the thing i dont understand is why other tab sites didnt get shut down (the first time mx did) and why theyre just aiming at mx

but oh well, i didnt use it

[Chrizzle fo' Shizzle]

Except he didn't close it because of pressure from the music industry.

Hey errbody, read this

[griftadan]

i wish it was still up, every other tab website sucks. its dampened my playing, now all i do is improv on the same scales for hours on end.

[ADashofSalt]

If he didn't close it because of music industry pressure, why did he try and stop me from sharing the tabs on this site?

They aren't his property so what is his problem.

Yeah

[EinzingerIsGod]

If he didn't close it because of music industry pressure, why did he try and stop me from sharing the tabs on this site?

They aren't his property so what is his problem.

But they're not yours either. The fact is that the music industry is saying the tabs belong to them, and if MX doesn't want to deal with the hassles of lisenceing then that's his choice. If people are in such dire need for tabs or whatever they should just work improving figuring things out for themselves. I agree that MX Tabs was the best tab site out there that that it was a huge part of me learning to play guitar, but there was a time before MX Tabs where people were still able to learn the instrument. Its absence shouldn't put a halt to anyone's ability to pick up the instrument and play.

[ADashofSalt]

The fact is that the music industry is saying the tabs belong to them, and if MX doesn't want to deal with the hassles of lisenceing then that's his choice.

Where was that said? It's already been said they didn't stop them because of pressure from the industry!! Didn't you read that?

[EinzingerIsGod]

I make no claim of them belonging to me and I don't try to regulate them, what are you talking about?

I know, I'm just saying that the music industry, here in the US, is saying that this is their property (which I completely disagree with). I do think the site went down without a fight or what have you, but that was MX's choice.

[EinzingerIsGod]

The music industry as a whole hasn't really said anything, one group has said that tabs are illegal, a group that represents who exactly?

No I agree with you. I just don't think I'm explaining myself well. I find it ridiculous that one group has all of a sudden claimed the rights to tabs and such. But unfortunately they have, and they have money, which unfortunaltely gives them power.

[Danish]

Except he didn't close it because of pressure from the music industry.

From mxtabs.net:

"Most of you are aware of the claims made by the MPA and sheet music organizations that tablature is illegal. We dispute this view, and state firmly that it was never our intention to do anything illegal. On the contrary, we believed that we were helping the music industry and in particular, musicians. As we have mentioned before, Mxtabs accounts for over $3000 per month in sales of licensed sheet music via links from our tabs. However, since it appears that no sheet music companies are planning on offering any sort of tab licensing, and have no interest in negotiations, we have chosen to close our doors rather than continue to aggravate the industry. To this date, we have not received any threatening letters, but are closing on our own volition."

Gee, sounds to me like MX folded because of pressure from the music industry.

But notice it didn't even take "threatening letters", only non-threatening accusations. If MX administration has any commitment to what they do and the backbone to stand up for themselves when they know they are in the right, they certainly aren't showing it here.

If MX doesn't want to keep the tabsite open, then that's his choice.

No one said it wasn't. I think it's the wrong choice. If the site was taken down because they wanted to do something different or whatever, fine. That would be okay. But then why would they lie and say they're taking it down because of (very weak) industry pressure? It doesn't make sense.

[PerpetualBurn]

To this date, we have not received any threatening letters, but are closing on our own volition

I politely disagree with your selective reading, Danish.

[Whale and Wasp]

like a lot of people i'm pissed about MXtabs not available, but its jeremy's site and he can take it down if he wants to

[BullHorn]

like a lot of people i'm pissed about MXtabs not available, but its jeremy's site and he can take it down if he wants to

Yes, it's true, it's not my site either. And I haven't been a good guest so far.

[BullHorn]

IANAL, but I think this a violation of free speech. The tabs on the internet are trasnscribed by people on the 'net, not copies from tab books. Unless they can prove it.


I'd be willing to host them.

[BullHorn]

Just host them anywhere but america no need for a lawyer.

Well than why not just let someone in europe do it than?

I thought it was just another freedom of speech issue going down the drain. Just hypocritical crap as usual. I'm not the brightest bulb in the closet man.

[Scuba_Steve]

IANAL, but I think this a violation of free speech. The tabs on the internet are trasnscribed by people on the 'net, not copies from tab books. Unless they can prove it.



but you see, it isn't a violation of free speech. The internet is not a democracy and things on the internet can be moderated/modified.

And they are people interpretations of the songs, AKA COVERS. Song covers still mean that the artist (if on a recording) or venue (if played live) must pay royalties to an organization for that songs use.

So technichally, it was illegal. Even if morally it was perfectly fine


EDIT: Chad, alot of european countries treat copyrght infringements just as harsh (if not worse) than the states does. Although, if you can get someone in eastern europe, then it may work.

[BullHorn]

So technichally, it was illegal. Even if morally it was perfectly fine


I see. IANAL.

[Iskandar]

Yeah, I understand where you're coming from calling it a violation of free speech but look at it like this: You can put anything you want on the Internet; just not on Jeremy's site if he decides you can't. You can make your own site for that.