Great article on TorrentFreak: Copyright Drama Prevents Artist From Sharing Music on MySpace. The short version is this:

• Edwyn Collins pens and has a hit with A Girl Like You.
• Collins retains copyright and the licensing deal expires.
• Collins tries uploading the track to MySpace.
• MySpace yells NO! and sends Collins to a chilling REEDUCATION page.
• Detective work unearths the fact Warner claims rights to the song that Warner doesn’t have.
• Warner lawyers told to resolve the issue.
• Warner can’t be arsed to resolve the issue.

The article also notes: “Several big shot labels are still selling Collins’ track today even though their license to do so expired several years ago. This basically means that the labels are pirating his music, and making profit from these activities.” And while lots of idiots helpfully suggest Collins should sue or shut his whinging mouth (or words to that effect), it’s worth noting that it’s hardly simple to sue a massive record label, nor even keep track of ‘cease and desist’ notices and subsequent lawsuits if a whole bunch of labels are ripping you off.

I wonder whether Peter Mandelson and his Labour chums will cut off the internet access of all the major labels’ UK offices—in the manner they’re planning for individuals (Times Online: Can Peter Mandelson cast the internet pirates adrift?)—for such flagrant rights violations?