Comments on: Google’s YouTube to show some charity?

By: Wayne Smallman

Wayne Smallman — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:07:52 +0000

Alex, I’d be more than happy, mate!

And all the best, too…

By: Alex Ross

Alex Ross — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:56:03 +0000

Hello!

I’m the webmaster for Dave’s website, he emailed me your page today so we have seen it.

We’re considering putting the video up on Youtube in full and adding a link for donations as you suggested!

Dave is sick of seeing it bootlegged so I think it’s a case of ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ and hopefully it will help raise extra funds.

There is an outtakes and extras on the DVD so maybe it will still sell a few!

Do you mind if I link to this page on the website? We have a press page and this could fit in nicely!

Cheers!

By: Wayne Smallman

Wayne Smallman — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 08:03:00 +0000

Hi Sue and thanks for the comments!

I've not been in contact with either Dave Cherry or the hospice, so I'd be loathed to act on their behalf.

But what you mention does touch upon an idea that I had.

With such things as this, maybe Google could add in support for making payments via PayPal or even their own Google Checkout thingy, so people can make donations before, during or after watching something like this on YouTube...

By: Sueblimely

Sueblimely — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 05:17:00 +0000

Perhaps you could post details of how we could make donations to the hospice.I agree with aaron that those who may have watched the YouTube video may not have bought the DVD anyway but some money may have been lost. If enough attention is brought because of your post then maybe you can turn the YouTube video into a good thing after all.

By: Wayne Smallman

Wayne Smallman — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 07:33:00 +0000

Hi Aaron, good question.

But to confuse matters further (and I’ve not seen the video myself, more out of protest I suppose) if it had been made clear it was a charity video and a donation would a good thing, of that 6,000 how many would have made a donation?

By: Aaron Bassett

Aaron Bassett — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:47:00 +0000

The question you must ask though is out of those 6000 how many would have watched the video if it hadn’t been free?

By: Wayne Smallman

Wayne Smallman — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:33:00 +0000

@Steve: First off, thanks for your comments! Always appreciated. DRM is on its way out. It’s inevitable, which the labels knew from the start.

They’ve had their fun, got their profits and now it’s time for the next trick.

The labels think it’s stupidly high resolution content, but they got that one wrong, too.

@Brian: Yes, I know it looks like I’m being harsh, and maybe I am.

It’s not directly Google’s fault, but the “do no evil” mantra of theirs wouldn’t be up to much if they didn’t.

Thanks for the comments, guys!

By: Brian Heys

Brian Heys — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:56:00 +0000

I agree Wayne. Google should dig into their pockets and root out some slummy to stump up for this. They can afford it, and it’s the least they could do.

By: Steve Parker

Steve Parker — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:17:00 +0000

I’m not sure that the charitable aspect changes much. The model of artificially restricting access to digital goods is losing a lot of its meaning in an environment where high speed internet access is the norm.

Tickets to a show, now that’s a different matter…