Late last week I received an “Advance DMCA Request” from the good ol Web Sheriff. You know the web sheriff is “protecting your rights on the internet.” This isn’t the first I have received. A while back I got one for the Yo Lo Tengo album coming out. The best part about that one, THERE WAS A SPELLLING ERROR. I thought to myself, why should I follow a “legal request” when it has a spelling error? I havn’t and probably won’t post any yo lo tengo, sorry. Don’t get me wrong about why I won’t post; I won’t post because I received the request in the first place. I don’t want some kind of warning threat with the band and label posted all over it. In fact it makes me not want to support either of them at all.

On with this new advance DMCA request, I figure I’ll share it with you.

Web Sheriff
Protecting Your Rights on the Internet
websheriff@websheriff.com

Copyright & Trademark
ADVANCE DMCA REQUEST
www.musicglob.com

THE SHINS – Wincing The Night Away

Hi,

This is simply to let you know that WEB SHERIFF represents SUBPOP RECORDS INC. and that this label will be releasing THE SHINS’ new album “WINCING THE NIGHT AWAY” on a worldwide basis.

Obviously, it would be greatly appreciated by both the artist and the label if you could refrain from hosting or linking to pirate files of “WINCING THE NIGHT AWAY” or any tracks from the album.

The label and artist have asked for WEB SHERIFF to help protect this release from piracy by way of 24-7 surveillance and enforcement and, as such, civil and / or criminal legal actions could, regrettably, result if these files are offered for download or streaming without the permission of the label.

Many thanks in advance for respecting this artist’s creation / copyrights

Naturally and notwithstanding the above, all rights of SUBPOP RECORDS INC., the RIAA, the BPI and the IFPI remain strictly reserved : please excuse this required formality.

With thanks & regards,

WEB SHERIFF
(Enforcement Team)

You know what REALLY annoys me about this email?? It came to my old MusicGlob email address and from PPWEB3@aol.com with no senders name. WTF? This email comes down to one thing, they are accusing me of being a pirate and a thief. Neither of which am I, except maybe on halloween and when I take money from friends that I might pay back. I purchase music, I go to alot of shows, I write about bands. How much more support do you want?

So what next? A scar on SubPops’ and The Shins name in my mind, and probably everybody that I may talk to when The Shins come up. It sucks I know, I’m sure they just want to protect their music or something but what about years ago when The Shins didn’t get big from Garden State. As for SubPop, I still love your bands.

Tell me your thoughts…

**UPDATE** 10/26/2006
The Web Sheriff responds, check out the comments.