So Kevin Cogill the “Chinese Democracy” leaker, got some probation time and house arrest for leaking some of the new songs on his blog. In other music blogs and message forums, readers are calling Axl Rose a prick for this. Most readers are on Kevin Cogill’s side. Thinking there is freedom of speech and the 1st amendment, that Kevin Cogill had all the right to do this.

Correction: You’re wrong.

If you read the back of the album covers, take any CD. Look at the back of it, there you’ll see a huge “FBI Piracy Warning”…under it will say “”Unauthorized copying is punishable by Federal law”. Get the hint of the word Federal. This is why Kevin was sent to a Federal trial because he broke a Federal law by uploading unreleased tracks to his blog without Axl Rose’s unauthorized permission and consent.

You must understand copyright infrigement and piracy.

Is Axl a dick for this? I certainly think he is for sure, but if you use a little common sense…this is Axl Rose’s right to do this. Axl is in the right. It’s his copyrighted music. If he created it, and it is copyritten/trademarked. Axl has the right to force legal action.

People out there have to learn that it is not okay to take people’s music without unauthorized permission. That’s what Kevin Cogill did, he needs to suffer consequences for it by Federal Law. Kevin didn’t think it was illegal, now he knows.

Whether you like “Chinese Democracy” or not, Kevin didn’t have the right to upload those tracks before the album’s release date. It is stealing.

Respect the artist’s music that they own. People don’t understand copyright and don’t understand how it works, that’s why they are all shitting on Axl for it. I’m on Axl’s side for this because if my music was stolen without my unauthorized permission, I would force legal action myself. No musician or band likes getting their music stolen so some internet blogger can release it early. Respect the copyright and respect the trademarks of an artists work.

Kevin Cogill certainly got what he deserved.

Kev