Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 03:48:07 GMT From: "Cornelius Harris" Subject: (313) Underground Resistance vs Sony, Round 1 This will be news to some of you. For others, you've heard some rumors. Recently, UR (Underground Resistance) has enjoyed the success of the track, "Knights of the Jaguar" by DJ Rolando. Recognizing that UR (Mad Mike, in particular) would be unwilling to license the track, Sony bypassed even making a request and has decided to release a "cover" version titled "Jaguar." Unconfirmed reports even indicate that promotional information on the records imply that it is a UR release. Cover versions traditionally have been done by fans of the original track as an homage to the original. In this case, it is being done as a method of undercutting the sales of the original. While this is an unethical and unprincipled act in and of itself, it is also a very dangerous act. In doing this, a major label, Sony, has determined that it has the right to stomp all over an independent label in its pursuit of profits. With this as a precedent, the question that should concern any and everybody in the music community is who will be next? It is imperative that Sony be held accountable for its actions. We are currently looking into whatever legal options we have as well as any other means to put an end to this. We urge all concerned individuals to flood Sony's offices worldwide with calls, emails, and faxes expressing those concerns. This kind of crap has to stop and it has to stop now. Anyone with any ideas, comments, addresses, or suggestions, please let me know. Some basic info follows. Any media folks, contact me privately. If anything could get Mad Mike out in the open, well...contact me. Peace, Cornelius Harris Underground Resistance This is the original irritant, the place where this started. Feel free to...contact them. Sony Music Entertainment (Germany) GmbH New Media/Business Affairs Stephanstr. 15 60313 Frankfurt Telefon: (069) 13888-0 dirk_dreyer@de.sonymusic.com The following are also involved in this in that the track is available in the UK and New York. Feel free to let folks know how you feel. Sony 666 Fifth Ave New York, New York 10019 212-833-8000 General Comments: SonyMusicOnline@sonymusic.com Sony of Canada Ltd. Head Office: 115 Gordon Baker Road Toronto, Ontario M2H 3R6 Main Telephone: (416) 499-1414 Main Fax: (416) 497-1774 General Inquiry e-mail: feedback@sony.ca