March 13, 2008
Firstly and most importantly, we would like to apologise to all supporters of the PFU initiative for the phenomenal amount of time it's taken to provide an update. We felt it is now time to provide an update on progress to date and to explain some of the reasons for the delays in updating the site.
Since the formation of Prince Fans United last November, we were immediately contacted by representatives of Prince and asked for assistance in resolving matters both short and long term. An immediate agreement was put in place (the terms of which we cannot discuss as per the agreement) in order to assist with focus on putting together a landmark agreement that would provide the basis for all artists to interact with their fans on the Internet. The whole team involved in the drafting of this agreement felt that this was a great chance for Prince to again demonstrate thought leadership and innovation with regards to fan interaction.
A draft agreement was submitted to the NPG team some time ago which involved a great deal of work by not only the PFU team but also with the assistance of Web Sheriff who have constantly strived to understand and appreciate the concerns of both artist and fans alike.
Unfortunately for reasons which are still unclear at this point in time, no response has been received from the NPG team other than multiple requests for patience and understanding. With the apparent withdrawal from the internet by Prince, the subsequent closure of all NPG websites, and online discussions to date we can only speculate as to the reasoning for this. We have seen discussion on multiple sites of Prince being against the very ethos of the Internet and and can only assume this is part of the rationale for this lack of progress.
Subsequently, the PFU team have been attempting to liaise with AEG (Prince's touring representatives) to secure fan representation through priority booking for the upcoming tour dates and through online viewing of new videos and tour broadcasts. However, rather frustratingly these have been agreed to and then subsequently either withdrawn or again requests for patience have been offered with no success.
At this point in time, we are continuing to request clarification from representatives of NPG Records of their aims, desires and demands for fan interaction on the internet, and aim to continue to represent fan's rights to openly discuss and support their favourite musician without fear of retribution of unfair legal action. The whole PFU team continue to support Prince's campaign to remove illegal content from the internet but believe that the removal of fan owned photographs and non Prince copyrighted material is not the way forward.
It now appears that the legal threats sent to each member site in November have been suspended, however we have yet to receive any formal notification that Prince fans will not see further unjustified legal action. The Prince Fans United initiative will remain in place until those concerns have been satisfied and the reasonable request for a long lasting agreement can be put in place.
Many thanks again for your patience and your continued support.
Gavin McLaughlin
on behalf of Prince Fans United
December 3, 2007
Many fans were concerned to see a press statement made on behalf of AEG on 8th November that made several incorrect and inflammatory statements with regards to the formation of the PFU group and statements made in the press.As we've previously mentioned, talks are ongoing between all parties, however we have been liaising with Web Sheriff and AEG to clarify this statement and the confusion it caused.
Today we have received the following statement by the issuing PR team, The Outside Organisation:
We understand that our press release dated the 8th November has caused some concern within the Prince Fans United community. For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to allay any worries that Prince Fans United have with regard to the same and, in so far as our release has caused concerns, then we withdraw that part of our statement unreservedly and apologise for any offence it may have caused to fans.
We must make it clear our press release was made without clearance from AEG or Web Sheriff.
We understand that negotiations are on-going between the Prince Fans United sites and Web Sheriff on behalf of AEG, aimed at producing lasting guidelines so that the freedom of fan forums can happily co-exist with the protection of artists’ rights and we wish everyone involved success in these discussions.
Celena Aponte
International Director
The Outside Organisation Ltd
Again, many thanks for your continued support of both Housequake and the Prince Fans United initiative and we hope to be in a position to update all members further.
November 9, 2007
Many members and visitors will doubtless have seen the wildly inaccurate statement today by AEG that "Prince is not suing his fans" and referring to the Prince Fans United sites as "phoney". Not only is this statement confusing, libellous and misleading, we have actually been informed by Prince's representatives that his PR company (Outside PR) sent this in error last night and it has been picked up by a few key media organisations today.
We will shortly be issuing a (heavily) revised joint statement, however in the meantime please be aware that stories circulating on the internet that refers to "phoney" fan websites are wildly inaccurate and should not be taken at face value. Outside PR have assured us that every measure is currently being taken to withdraw these articles.
PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2007
PRINCE FANS FIGHT BACK AGAINST ATTACKS
In an extraordinary, but not unfamiliar move, the rock legend Prince is using an army of lawyers to launch attacks on his own fans. Several of the largest web communities dedicated to the artist have received notices to cease and desist all use of photographs, images, lyrics, album covers and anything linked to Prince's likeness. It is our belief that these threats are not made in an attempt to enforce valid copyright as Prince alleges in his threats, rather we believe they are attempts to stifle all critical commentary about Prince. We strongly believe that such actions are in violation of the freedom of speech and should not be allowed. Prince claims that fansites are not allowed to present any artwork with Prince's likeness, to the extreme that he has demanded removal of fan's own photographs of their Prince inspired tattoos and their vehicles displaying Prince inspired license plates. Prince's representatives have requested that the fansites provide them with "substantive details of the means by which you [the fansites] propose to compensate our clients [Paisley Park Enterprises, NPG Records and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG)] for damages..."
The owners of the three largest fansites supporting Prince: www.housequake.com, www.princefams.com
and www.prince.org supporting Prince have come together to fight back to what amounts to an injustice to the fansites and the very fans who have supported Prince's career, many since the very beginning nearly thirty years ago.
It is their hope that Prince will reconsider his position and allow these fansites to continue their existence without constant threats from Prince and his attorneys. Should this not be possible, the fansites are fully prepared to defend their position in the proper court of law, as well as fully prosecute any claims to which they are justly entitled.
The owners of housequake.com, princefams.com and prince.org acknowledge that, while Prince is entitled to control of his copyrights, it should be within the law. The law clearly provides for displaying of images of a celebrity's likeness for newsworthy events or matters which are considered to be public interest. All
three websites feel that the photographs and/or likeness displayed on their websites clearly fall within the public interest category. Additionally, the use of photographs is legal based on the fair use doctrine, i.e. the displaying of album cover art, or the collage headers created by website members using a variety of different photographs.
For housequake.com: Aaron A. Sikkink and Gavin McLaughlin
For princefams.com: Endre Adolfsen and Jonathan Nice
For prince.org: Ben Margolin
For more information, please contact the Prince Fans United Group
spokesperson:
Gavin McLaughlin at: pfu@housequake.com.
