Billboard Apparently Unable To Hire Its Own Writers For Copycat Conference; So Just Copies Text From Others

from the so-derivative! dept

Wed, Jul 13th 2011 7:02pm — Mike Masnick

The SFMusicTech events have become something of an institution in San Francisco over the past five years or so, bringing together all sorts of people at the intersection of technology and music for a day. I've been to a bunch of them, and have always found them to be interesting and insightful, while also great networking/meeting opportunities. I was interested to find out that Billboard Magazine is apparently putting on something of a copycat conference, a month after the next SFMusicTech, called FutureSound -- also in San Francisco. The events definitely look similar... and perhaps that's because whoever put together the website for the Billboard event seems to have decided to just start with the SFMusicTech text, and then make some slight changes. From the SFMusicTech description of who attends:

The best and brightest developers, entrepreneurs, investors, service providers, journalists, musicians and organizations who work with them at the convergence of culture and commerce.

And, from Billboard's description:

The best and brightest developers, entrepreneurs, investors, music labels, service providers, journalists, artists and organizations who work with them at the convergence of music and commerce.

Kudos to the fine folks at Billboard for finally recognizing that "remixing" is cool. Though, seriously, I do think it's great that there will be more events hitting that intersection between tech and music. But, I do find it amusing when Billboard seems to have this habit of copying others, while attacking me when I suggest copying can be good for you. Apparently, copying is only good when you do it yourself. When others do it, well, that's a different story...

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Filed Under: billboard, conferences, copying, music, sfmusictech, technology

18 Comments

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PrometheeFeu (profile), 13 Jul 2011 @ 7:46pm

That sentence is pretty darn generic. Seems quite possible that this is a case of "independent invention" honestly.
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out_of_the_blue, 13 Jul 2011 @ 7:53pm

"intersection between tech and music"
Actually, it's either:

"the convergence of culture and commerce"

or

"the convergence of music and commerce"

Notice the point in common? Yes, money.

Otherwise, you at last got back at Billboard. They must be reeling from shock.
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Jacob Cooper (profile), 13 Jul 2011 @ 8:06pm

Maybe the events are more more closely related than you know?
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2011 @ 8:11pm

Perhaps they both copied it off of the promotional handouts or press releases?
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Josh in CharlotteNC (profile), 13 Jul 2011 @ 8:39pm

Re:
Even if both copied it off of somewhere else, Billboard still copied it.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2011 @ 8:48pm

Re:
Which is probably why patents need to get abolished. Independent invention will occur without them.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2011 @ 8:48pm

Re: Re:
Yeah, but wouldn't we also hold the other group up to the same standard? Did they maybe both use the same promotional agency, or the same ad firm, or the same marketing company?
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2011 @ 8:48pm

Re: Re:
partly why *
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Chargone (profile), 13 Jul 2011 @ 9:50pm

Re: Re: Re:
if i read this correctly, the issue is that one of these groups holds Mike up to a standard they're failing to meet here, and this is a comment on that, more than anything.
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Brian Zisk (profile), 13 Jul 2011 @ 10:32pm

Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Flattery. ;-)
We've been using minor variations on that tagline (written by me) to describe attendees of the SF MusicTech Summit since we started the event several years ago. It appears that Billboard (which call's itself "the premier trade publication for the music business") first started using this amusingly similar text just a few days ago.

Though there is no affiliation between our upcoming events, we were glad to welcome Billboard's Editorial Director and their Conference Lead to our previous SF MusicTech Summit. It is quite ironic to see this "close imitation" of "language" come from Billboard, one of the leading advocates of the "unauthorized copying is wrong and should be severely penalized" position.

Thank you TechDirt for noticing, and pointing this out...
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Atkray (profile), 13 Jul 2011 @ 10:49pm

"close imitation"
You Sir, are too kind they copy and pasted and then substituted artists for musicians and added music labels.

Pretty sure that level of plagiarism will get you thrown out of any respectable institution of higher learning.
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The eejit (profile), 13 Jul 2011 @ 11:53pm

Re: Re: Re:
Remember that last year, Billboard went all legal apeshit over soemone copying their text. Another case of "Monkey see, monkey do (then monkey sue)."
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Vidiot (profile), 14 Jul 2011 @ 5:06am

Re: "intersection between tech and music"
And, of course, "culture" is way too broad... hard to monetize, unlike "music", which is something sold for money on a shiny silver disc.
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Jul 2011 @ 8:33am

Re:
There is no fucking way that sentence was not copied. Everything is even in the same exact order.
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Jul 2011 @ 8:45am

Re: Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Flattery. ;-)
Ahh, so you came up with that whole thing by yourself? You have never seen another trade show blurb? Is the "best and the brightest" your unique contribution?
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dwg, 14 Jul 2011 @ 12:37pm

Re: Re: Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Flattery. ;-)
Copying even bland text like this is actionable, and should be pointed up as such to those who make a living pointing shit like that up to anyone within earshot.
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Jul 2011 @ 7:12am

Re: "intersection between tech and music"
They must be reeling from shock.

Don't be jealous that all you'll ever get is a shrug.
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Bill Werde (profile), 15 Jul 2011 @ 3:32pm

I'm Billboard's editorial director, and I was, indeed, graciously welcomed by Brian Zisk at his Spring SF MusicTech event. I was really impressed by the energy in the room and the quality of the event. I told Brian as much at the cocktail reception afterward.
Our use of this language was a mistake. I called Brian last night the second I learned of this situation and apologized.
Billboard has a long history of integrity. We're a 117-year-old brand. I've worked here six years and as best as I can recall, we've never had a situation like this. It's just not how we operate.
I said as much to Brian, and I hope he won�t mind me sharing: I think the intersection of investment, technology and music is a really exciting one, after being fairly dry for a number of years, held back as it was by tight credit markets and lingering rights issues. Today, as we look around, there�s an explosion of innovation hitting the market and consumers, and I think there�s plenty of room for multiple events. In the coming days and weeks as we announce programming and speakers and more about the overall production of Billboard�s FutureSound, I think you�ll see that our intention is not to directly compete but to compliment Brian�s event, and many of the others that have joined Billboard in this conversation over the years. I invited Brian to be my guest at our launch event. I hope he�ll be there, and I hope you will too. Only you have to pay.
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