It's finally happened.
Yes thats right, the long arm of the legal divisons of the American music industry has finally penetrated my genteel Surrey home.
A few days ago in homage to the new Notorious B.I.G. film I knocked together a trailer for a film called Furious F.A.Z. about a friend of mine who’s known for having a bit of a temper when he’s had a few too many drinks. As background music I used a song by a chap called “Flo Rida” to emphasise Faz’s gangsa-ness. I uploaded it to Facebook, got a wonderful response from everyone and did a little dance cos I was getting attention. It’s the stuff that web 2.0 dreams are made of.
I logged into Facebook today and noticed this ever so subtle message from the friendly sounding “Facebook Team”
Now I appreciate that no, I don’t own the copyright to the song or have any claim whatsoever over it but seriously? I used it in a trailer for a pretend film that no one is ever going to see, let alone make any money from so what is the harm in using it?
I’d understand if I was charging $5 a pop to watch it and was using that money to fund terrorism or the RSPCA but I’m simply not. It’s just. for. fun.
I’m not mad at Facebook, they’re only doing what they’re told to by their lawyers. But the irony is that although the video and it’s offending song are no longer on FB where they can only be seen or more importantly in this case, heard by a select group of mine or Faz’s friends, it’s now on YouTube where EVERYONE IN THE WORLD can watch it.
Madness.
