I’ve supported myself for the past decade with my side project • Hacker News Board

Re: I’ve supported myself for the past decade with my side project

#71

Post by ScottBurson » Fri, Jul 28, 2017, 9:17 PM UTC

yvoschaap2 wrote: post #45

ScottBurson wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's blatant, intentional trademark infringement for direct commercial gain. IANAL, but I would think this might result in something quite a bit more expensive than a C&D -- like a lawsuit with punitive damages. ETA: and now the site owner is on record here on HN stating that the intent was to steal search traffic. I'm sure this is a cutthroat business ... but this is an open invitation for one's own throat to be cut…

So many lawyers here on HN, I forgot...

It's not us you need to worry about. Good luck!

Re: I’ve supported myself for the past decade with my side project

#72

Post by sigi45 » Fri, Jul 28, 2017, 9:22 PM UTC

"And that’s all there is to it." srsly?

Re: I’ve supported myself for the past decade with my side project

#73

Post by WalterBright » Fri, Jul 28, 2017, 9:33 PM UTC

I've contracted malware twice from merely clicking on Google search results for lyrics. I never visit lyrics sites anymore.

Re: I’ve supported myself for the past decade with my side project

#74

Post by ebiester » Fri, Jul 28, 2017, 9:36 PM UTC

aphextron wrote: post #14

empath75 wrote: post #4

I feel like starting a business with a massive theft of other people's intellectual property isn't a great model to follow.

>I feel like starting a business with a massive theft of other people's intellectual property isn't a great model to follow. This is the basis of essentially every single huge successful consumer application/website over the past decade. There's really only 3 ways to make money on the internet it seems. IP theft, advertisement, and selling physical goods.

4. selling to those who enable 1-3.

Re: I’ve supported myself for the past decade with my side project

#75

Post by Steeeve » Fri, Jul 28, 2017, 9:57 PM UTC

I found one line from that article really funny:

> an LA-based company that was run by a self-proclaimed co-founder of MySpace

I've met several people in southern california that say they are myspace co-founders. Why on earth is myspace the go-to mark for them?

Re: I’ve supported myself for the past decade with my side project

#76

Post by gaadd33 » Fri, Jul 28, 2017, 10:38 PM UTC

ghjnut wrote: post #70

gotrecruit wrote: post #49

how much has rapgenius taken away from you? i know i used to land up in one of many crappy lyrics sites, such as yours, because those seem to be the only places to find them but these days i mostly stick to rapgenius for its clean interface. i imagine rapgenius's rise must have done some damage with their clearly superior technology?

It's also cool that artists will jump on to elaborate on their own lyrics. Here's Eminem talking about his hook in 'Rap God' https://genius.com/2566991

Do they jump on because of the community, as part of a PR plan, or does Genius pay them?

Re: I’ve supported myself for the past decade with my side project

#77

Post by joshuaheard » Fri, Jul 28, 2017, 11:18 PM UTC

Read the whole article waiting to find out how he got the lyrics and was disappointed. An article on a website selling content should at least include the source of the content.

Re: I’ve supported myself for the past decade with my side project

#78

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Jul 28, 2017, 11:27 PM UTC

joshuaheard wrote: post #77

Read the whole article waiting to find out how he got the lyrics and was disappointed. An article on a website selling content should at least include the source of the content.

[deleted]

Re: I’ve supported myself for the past decade with my side project

#79

Post by 6stringmerc » Sat, Jul 29, 2017, 3:41 AM UTC

wumbolad wrote: post #57

6stringmerc wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A more apt comparison is downloading an image that is still under Copyright (Mona Lisa is public domain, though photos of it may not be), getting a high quality print made at a local print shop, hanging it in your living room, and charging people $5 to come look at it. In this example, there is a tangible personal gain from violating the intellectual property rights of somebody else. It ain't theft, true, but it ain'…

Except he wasn't charging them to see it. He had a huge neon sign in the background that he was being paid to have in his house, and they got to see the mona lisa for free. If they happened to see the neon beer sign as well, then awesome.

Right, intent matters, so if host-homeboy knows he can profit then he's in on the graft. Your logic reminds me of people who try to defend themselves in court without any legal background.

The outcome of your hypothesis, legally speaking, is that the person thinking they're winning is going to lose their fucking house as an accessory. Game, set, match IP infringement.

Re: I’ve supported myself for the past decade with my side project

#80

Post by mcappleton » Sat, Jul 29, 2017, 3:46 AM UTC

CM30 wrote: post #32

empath75 wrote: post #4

I feel like starting a business with a massive theft of other people's intellectual property isn't a great model to follow.

No different to starting a company that lets people get cheaper rides while avoiding taxi restrictions or one that lets you find cheaper places to stay by avoiding hotel and zoning laws. A lot of successful startups and internet businesses are done on a 'break an awkward law first, ask for permission later' kind of way. There's a reason a common startup mantra is 'it's better to beg for forgiveness rather than ask pe…

I think republishing someone else's work without permission them is morally wrong, but offering a taxi ride is only wrong insofar as it is illegal. One is a good law protecting content creators, the other is crony capitalism. So I think there is a difference.