http://youtube.com/watch?v=eUhFLiw6h6s

Copyright infringement or coincidence? When you watch the video, some new text has been added since the initial upload. Apparently, both were inspired by The Legend of Zelda’s “Fairy Theme” ... or maybe that’s what their legal team advised them to say. Crazy.

Cheers,

Jon

Hey Pux Fans,

Just wanted to let you know that Pux is in the process of developing a patent. Mummmm’s the word as far as me telling you the details (once the the end result is accomplished and everything is officially patented with the imprimatur of the PTO, I’ll tell you all about it!)

However, if you would like to get involved with Pux’s entrepreneurial vision, let me know, and we can discuss legal paperwork (non-disclosure / confidentiality stuff) over wine and calamari ;-)

One of the greatest Puxinatux developments! I sealed the advertising deal with the MSPCA! (www.mspca.org)

Pux will produce the MSPCA’s TV: 30 spot for their “Walk for Animals” fundraising campaign. They hope to raise nearly 1/2 a million. It’s a great cause! Donate to the MSPCA today and stay tuned for the TV ad ;-)

How did this happen? The advertising president noticed my “Kitty Kitty” video post on YouTube and thought it was cute and funny.

This is a great opportunity for Pux to put his paws into the advertising market. A lot of great artists first started writing jingles and then made their way to stardom (check out “Hiromi Uehara” whom I had the pleasure to meet last week. She began writing jingles for a big Japanese car company and is now touring the world!)

Hope all is well with all of you! Catch ya’ on the flip side.

- Pux / Jon

Now, I don’t think the clientele at the BHH will appreciate / understand songs like “Dave, You’re a Loser” or “Sumimasen,” but don’t worry … I’ll find a way to slip them in ;-) The BHH is a gorgeous venue. It’s great to add a new corporate client to my existing Boston clients (General Electric Health, CB Richard Ellis, Natixis, etc.). I’ve played in their Wharf Room, but it’s great to now establish a relationship with Boston’s award-winning, waterfront hotel. (www.bhh.com)

One of my greatest teachers would find a way to base a fugue around the Super Mario Bros theme or “Take me out to the ball game” without the common audience noticing. As with every gig I perform, I’ll try my best ;-)

Anywho, keep lovin’ life, and stay tuned for more Puxinaux developments!

Cheers,

Jon / Pux

See Pux perform with Chelsea City Council live!

Meet the lead singer, Bart Steele, who’s turning heads across the nation:

http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/the_ballad_of_a_mad_fan/?most_popular=1

It’s gonna be chill and fun ;-) ... not to mention free.

Hope to see you there!

When:

Postponed for July … stay tuned!

Where:

The Middle East (the corner room) 472 Massachusetts Ave Cambridge, MA 02139 www.mideastclub.com

Chelsea City Council MySpace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=139960014

www.puxinatux.com

The proposed “Orphan Works Act” is a broad piece of legislation that will grant public access to “orphaned” works of artists. It is quickly moving through both the House and Senate, presenting many challenges and economic burdens on artists and small business.

Since 1976, artists could rest assured knowing that their works would automatically be copyrighted. This freed artists from prohibitive, formal copyrighting procedures and costs. It also aligned the US with the copyright laws of most other industrialized countries through international treaties. The Orphan Works Act, however, would force artists to take additional steps to safeguard their works. Moreover, the legislation loosely defines “orphaned works,” encompassing both educational and commercial sectors, opening the flood gates to infringement abuse. The infringer is not even required to prove they legally acquired the right to use the work. Another troubling issue is that the Bill calls for “private databases” to record and store registered works online with no clear understanding how this system would function and the potential costs to the artists. These “private databases” serve the same purpose as private registries. According to international copyright law, the use of private registries is inconsistent with Article 5 (2) of the Berne Convention which prohibits “any formality” as a pre-condition to the enjoyment of full copyright. Note that the drafters skillfully avoid applying the label “private registries.” Furthermore, if the owner of the “orphaned” work does eventually “surface,” the Bill will not cover legal fees.

Here are some helpful links to familiarize yourself with the Orphan Works Act of 2008:

1. Know the basics of the Orphan Works Act 2008. This site will get you up to speed with some of the pertinent, controversial issues surrounding this legislation: http://www.artistsfoundation.org/orphan.html

2. Listen to the interview of Brad Holland of Illustrators Partnership. He talks about how every artist and photographer is impacted by this legislation. http://www.sellyourtvconceptnow.com/orphan.html

3. Click the link below to read the “Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008” (House of Representatives). It’s approximately 20 pages of broad legislative writing: http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/orphan-works-bill-2008/The%20Orphan%20Works%20Act%20of%202008.pdf

4. Why is this legislation so problematic? The Artists Foundation has provided 10 Key Talking Points that every artists should know: http://www.artistsfoundation.org/talkingpoints.html

5. Is this legislation really rescuing orphan works? This article offers some possible solutions to the proposed legislation. For example, creating exemptions for old and abandoned works or perhaps applying Canada’s licensing system: http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=00272

6. Read The New York Times article “Little Orphan Artworks.” It will give you a brief history of US Copyright law (“opt-in” versus “opt-out” eras of copyright law) and raise your awareness about the legislation’s potentially burdensome “private database” system: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/opinion/20lessig.html?ex=1211947200&en=dcf3c1149318e375&ei=5070&emc=eta1

7. Read the Copyright Office’s “Report on Orphan Works.” Page 8 addresses the “Diligent effort” requirement. Is there a need for this case-by-case “standard” of review, or would a narrowly tailored “qualified search” rule better serve the interests of artists? http://www.copyright.gov/orphan/orphan-report.pdf

8. The Electronic Frontier Foundation released an article supporting the Orphan Works Act with suggested changes. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/release-orphan-works

9. Last, but certainly not least, read the Boston Herald’s interview with Jim Grace. Sometimes an analogy sums it up best: ‘ “It’s like killing a mosquito with a machine gun,” said Jim Grace of Boston’s Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.’ http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1095637

10. To understand the basics of copyright infringement, as it stands now, watch this video by UCLA Professor Neil Netanel. http://www.artistshousemusic.org/videos/proving+infringement

http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/the_ballad_of_a_mad_fan/page1

As a Boston-based musician and law student, what happened here pisses me off to high hell.

Read the article.

Let me know your thoughts and if you’d like to help in any way, let me know.

Cheers,

Jon

Hey Pux Fans!

The MSPCA contacted Puxinatux for a TV advertising opportunity cuz they love Pux’s “Kitty Kitty” video!

If you haven’t watched the video, check it out on my profile page.

Stay tuned for more developments, more humor, and more stuff.

Cheers,

Jon

Check out the latest music video, “Ourstage, I love you.”

Have a listen to “Moonlight Sonata in the City”—I thought it would be cool to take such an amazing piece by Beethoven and transplant it into the heart of the 21st century … no more horse-drawn carriages … we’re in an industrial world of machines, traffic, and sirens.

Also, I’m gonna be starting something called, “What I hear when.” Saty tuned ;-)

Looking forward to hear from you! As always, feel free to interpose any comments or suggestions.

Stay happy and healthy!

Cheers,

Jon