Letter to Rammstein's Representatives

Communities?

2009-12-01T08:19:00.002+01:00

I need to get the most complete list of Rammstein fan communities I can. This is what I have at present:

# Herzeleid - ENG/DEU
# Neo-Rammstein - FRA
# Official Rammstein Site
# Planet Rammstein - FRA
# Rammchen - JPN
# RammImages - ENG
# Rammstein Brasil - POR
# Rammstein Club - SPA
# Rammstein Club Uruguay - SPA
# Rammstein Fan - HUN
# Rammstein HQ - FIN
# Rammstein Online - ENG
# Rammstein World - FRA
# Rammstein-Austria - DEU
# Rammstein-EU - MANY
# Rammstein-Portugal - POR
# Rammstein-Serbia - SR
# Rammstein.RO - RON
# Rammstein.SE - SWE
# RammsteinMX
# RammsteinNicCage - ENG
# RammsteinTR - TUR
# Rosenrot - ENG
# Sehnsucht - DAN

I'm certain that there are more, most particularly in Poland, Russia, and possible Mexico. If you know of a fan community that I don't have linked to on Rammage Control please get in touch with me. My email address is theletter (at) rammstein.me.

IP Rights Information Sought

2009-09-06T02:09:00.004+02:00

If any international IP lawyers willing to advise me on a few points (pro bono) read this could you please contact me? My email address is the letter at rammstein dot me (no spaces and obviously punctuation in place of 'dot' and 'at'). I'm trying to put together a guide and a legal disclaimer for Rammstein fan communities to use to help see that they don't misuse Rammstein media, or through inaction allow it to be misused, on their sites, and also to offer them some measure of protection.

Two-way Street

2009-09-03T11:02:00.002+02:00

Something that I've not brought to the fore in my writing here, but which remains in my mind, is the issue of intellectual property rights. A recent conversation has reminded me in a timely fashion that the triggers for the recently ugly situations have been the breaches of the Rammstein institution's rights over properties that must and should be protected, and that I need to also work on protecting the band and their represenatives from breaches of their rights.

I did make a point of including a nod to this in the petition, as I think fans have either lost touch with this concept or have never learned it. Too many fans disrespect IP rights. If they refrain from allowing breaches or potential breaches on their sites it is too often only out of fear of legal action, and too seldom because of a respect for the rights of the IP-holder. The same goes for the users on their sites.

Those who are aware of this issue (and who can be made aware of it) will still need an avenue by which to approach and consult with Rammstein's representatives (the point of the petition), in order that they can act in a well-informed and cooperative manner with them, but first they need to accept that piracy, leaks, and publication of controlled media are all illegal, disrespectful, and immoral.

Any IP-holder has an obligation to protect their rights over that property, or they risk setting a precedent that could lose them some or all of their rights over that or other properties should future claims need to be made in court. This and a simple respect for their rights need to be somehow conveyed to fan community leaders and the fans themselves.

Part of my crusade is to ensure that in asking for the respect and consideration of Rammstein's satellites community leaders and users realise that they must reciprocate.

United

2009-08-29T07:41:00.002+02:00

Rammstein fan communities are now getting behind this and linking it off their sites. If you have a Rammstein fan community site that's not mentioned in the list attached to the letter please do let me know. I have another site here, which is based around a more long-term initiative to improve the situation, and wish to link to all the Rammstein fan community sites!

Reticence

2009-08-29T00:06:00.001+02:00

It's interesting that the very communities I'm trying to help and protect are not linking to the petition from their news pages. Is the fear level that high? Come on people, help me to help you.

Petition Spamming

2009-08-28T05:49:00.003+02:00

I've noted, as have other visitors to the petition, that there is spam in there. I've asked PetitionOnline to remove these, and will continue to do so as they appear, but this isn't an instant process.

It's also been pointed out to me that there are duplicate signatures, or at least a few that resemble others very strongly. The system is meant to catch these, but might not be foolproof.

If you find these or spam in the petition feel free to post a comment here with the number[s] and I can then also get those culled by the PetitionOnline support team. I'm not sure I'll notice them all myself, so your help would be appreciated. It's really important that the legitimacy and integrity of this effort not be damaged by spam.

Sign The Letter

2009-08-26T11:50:00.001+02:00

There is a petition activated here.

Propagate the Word

2009-08-25T21:34:00.002+02:00

If you know a Rammstein fan please send them to this page. If you or they have feedback regarding the letter please comment. I've updated the letter based on feedback a couple of times already. If you agree with the letter please post your support.

Note that we will be setting up a petition based on this letter, and we plan to post hard copies of the letter to every point of contact we can find related to the band.

The Letter

2009-08-25T09:48:00.006+02:00

We, the undersigned, are fans of Rammstein and/or their work. We hold Rammstein in esteem, and even affection, and feel loyalty and pride as a group dedicated to the interests of Rammstein as an institution.

This however has been eroded and weakened of late by the aggressive stance Universal Music and Pilgrim Management has taken in the protection of their intellectual property and that of the band.

We do not challenge the right of the band and its satellites to protect these properties, but we do question the manner and method by which they have done so. A public entertainment institution like Rammstein is only as successful as its fans make it. We agree that threats of legal action, trademark breach claims, and cease and desist orders all have their place. They fall into the category of tactics to make use of after opening reasonable and calm dialogue, making requests, and finding that the courtesies fail.

The alienation, intimidation, and closed-door tactics utilised on behalf of Rammstein and its business have done (and continue to do) irreparable damage to the fan-band relationship Rammstein has enjoyed up until this time, and unless prompt and robust measures are taken to ameliorate this harm it could impact the band, its ability to generate income, and potential for future Rammstein projects to get a similar reception to that they have enjoyed in the past.

Fan communities are an invaluable resource, as well as the target market, for an entity such as Rammstein in more than one way:

The first is as a free method of catering to a fan base that is hungry for discussion, news, and unity with other fans of the same ilk. There are diverse and culturally broad communities to cater to every sort of fan, from every nation.

The second is as a means of controlling, filtering, and monitoring all information traffic pertaining to the business of the band. Piping selected information, media, and communications through community leaders is an effective way of ensuring that the right information goes out, and the undesirable and unverified information is reined in.

The third is as a means of feeling and gauging the response to media, information, and requests from the Rammstein machine. Having a finger on the pulse of your market is immensely useful. Also, knowing how best to attract new fans and address issues is priceless knowledge that can be gained via fan communities and their leaders.

The fourth is as a means of collecting the fan base into a limited number of cliques, managed and run in a range of languages, for easy access by Rammstein's management. The diversity of the communities means they can be smaller, and are thus more intimate and readily controlled by their owners. This is not possible in a single community, such as the official Rammstein Community.

We ask that Rammstein and interested parties do not underrate the benefits that they reap from them and foster them as the valuable resource they are.

A strong community management strategy, including a two-way line of communication with fan communities and a degree of understanding and cooperation between community leaders and Rammstein's establishment, would go a long way to enabling the Rammstein entity to make real use of existing communities.

Further strong-arm tactics will result in the voluntary and involuntary closure of fan communities, and a reluctance to open new ones to replace them. This will cause a reduction in community activity and unity, and remove a means by which the Rammstein firm could very easily maintain a strong relationship with the band's fans without any substantial outlay of effort or money in order to do so.

We ask Rammstein and the organisations surrounding it to consider the cost-benefit trade-off of fostering and nurturing fan communities, versus the value gained from the present course of action being taken.

We ask that a less precipitate course be adopted in the handling of intellectual property rights breaches, and that lines of communication be opened with the community leaders of the major fan communities, many of which are included below.

We ask that our community leaders be treated with respect and consideration where community member activities on their sites might need regulation and management. They too are fans and have nothing but good intentions. Offering them more information and support in their bid to uphold the band's values would be the most productive step.

We ask that the Rammstein machine listen to the fans of the band. We ask that the members of Rammstein be consulted in regard to these requests, and that their wishes be considered paramount in any decisions made.

We the undersigned are fans. Please ensure we remain fans for the foreseeable future.

This letter is in no way affiliated with any particular fan community, nor are the communities listed below responsible for or part of this initiative. They are listed for your information only:

# Feuer Gotter - ENG
# Herzeleid - ENG/DEU
# Neo-Rammstein - FRA
# Official Rammstein Site
# Planet Rammstein - FRA
# Rammchen - JPN
# RammImages - ENG
# Rammstein Brasil - POR
# Rammstein Club - SPA
# Rammstein Club Uruguay - SPA
# Rammstein Fan - HUN
# Rammstein HQ - FIN
# Rammstein México - SPA
# Rammstein Online - ENG
# Rammstein World - FRA
# Rammstein-Austria - DEU
# Rammstein-EU - MANY
# Rammstein-Portugal - POR
# Rammstein-Serbia - SR
# Rammstein.RO - RON
# Rammstein.SE - SWE
# RammsteinNicCage - ENG
# RammsteinTR - TUR
# Rosenrot - ENG
# Sehnsucht - DAN
# you.Rammstein.me - ENG
# Zwitter.RU - RUS