Re: Bass players - what's a good stomp pedal for FAT tone?

[Charles Zwicky <cazwicky@earthlink.net>]

Mark,

  Thanks for the response.  I just returned from a session and while I 
was on the train to the studio I was considering the justification 
for stealing / bootlegging / copying commercial effect pedals... the 
argument that you presented was that boutique pedals were  "clones 
with tweaks" ...  This is like arguing that you can illegally 
download a song because it uses a I-IV-V chord sequence.  I think 
it's just that naive.

Consider the amount of work that goes into designing, tweaking, 
manufacturing, styling, distributing, marketing and maintaining a 
line of  effect pedals, and  the comparable amount of time and money 
spent arranging, recording, mixing, mastering, duplicating, 
packaging, marketing an album.

It may be flattering to think that people will steal your work 
because it's that good, but the bottom line is the bottom line.    In 
both cases the parties involved intend to support themselves through 
their efforts, and the cynical thieves who help themselves to the 
work  justify their action by devaluing the work, in essence blaming 
the victim.

Food for thought,

Chuck  Zwicky


>Sorry I didn't see this post, I guess you got me on my conscience with
>this one as I do feel slightly less comfortable knowing it was your
>design. Congrats on that by the way it is great, I wish he would do a
>vexter version though, i'd be all over it then.
>
>On Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 11:13 PM, Charles Zwicky 
><cazwicky@earthlink.net> wrote:
>>
>>  Well,  I designed the circuit.  I licensed it to Z-vex,  and I think 
>it's
>>  unethical to steal.  Just because something is legal does not mean it's
>>  morally correct.
>>
>>  Karma indeed...
>>
>>  -Chuck Zwicky
>>
>>>  Unless Zvex holds a patent on this circuit it does not infringe upon
>>>  intellectual property.
>>>  It may be in questionable taste, or even bad karma, but it isn't 
>illegal.
>>>  Here's one of several web posts I found on the issue:
>>>
>>>  http://www.intelproplaw.com/Copyright/Forum/msg/385.shtml
>>>
>>>  "The copyright only protects the mode of expression, not the idea 
>embodied
>>>  in it.
>>>  Unless there is a patent involved you are free to make as much use of 
>the
>>>  circuit
>>>  as you want."
>>>
>>>  Jeff
>>>
>>>
>>>  -----Original Message-----
>>>  From: Charles Zwicky [mailto:cazwicky@earthlink.net]
>>>  Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 12:20 PM
>>>  To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
>>>  Subject: Re: Bass players - what's a good stomp pedal for FAT tone?
>>>
>>>  It does infringe upon intellectual property, however, and as a
>>>  musician you should respect that.
>>>
>>>  -Chuck Zwicky
>>>
>>>>  It's not thiervery, only PCB layouts can be copyrighted and at the 
>end
>>>>  of the day most modern boutique pedals are simply clones with tweaks,
>>>>  case in point the Malekko pedal I recommended which is a clone of the
>>>>  Brassmaster but it would be way harder to build and if you get a
>>>>  Germainium one source good trannys could be a pain.
>>
>>
>>  --
>>
>>  ...
>>  http://www.zmix.net
>>
>>  http://www.esession.com/ChuckZwicky
>>
>>


-- 

...
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http://www.esession.com/ChuckZwicky