Need help!

[Peter Pinckney]

Hi all,

My legal battle is nearly over but I've run into trouble. Originally I was receiving free legal help but now the French Government has changed the rules and I am no longer able to receive any help financially.

Either I quit the fight after all that I've been through or I try to raise funds to continue. To that end I will be raising a crowdfunding account and looking for help.

I'll post details here later and pray.

[Peter Pinckney]

Hi

here's the link: https://www.fundedjustice.com/en/pro...Justice-denied

If you can help I thank you and if you can post this link anywhere you think it could help me I thank you again.

[Peter Pinckney]

Unashamedley bumping this in desperation...........I didn't have a Facebook page .....;got one now but no friends.........not a clue how to use it so if any of you kind folk can pass this link around it'll help me...maybe?

[D Akey]

Very best of luck, Pete.

I'm not a social media person whatsoever. But you can look over at YouTube for ideas. There are videos on how to grow a following there. Usually it's in the context of a business, but this PR thing sort of is, right?

You might want to also look at something called 'Crowdfunding'. It's where you let people know what you're doing/planning and put it out there that you are looking for funding for it. The trick probably is in making a case that people believe in and want to see taken through to completion. I would think that one would have to present it in a way that people know and trust and believe in the cause and the end result. So that would mean pitching and making people care enough to take action.

You may not be known to people, and your legal stuff is probably off their radar as well. If you are off their radar, you would probably have to change that by becoming live to them.

As to the social media thing, from what I've gathered, I would however recommend that you pick only one or two social media platforms and focus on them lest you get overwhelmed. Many of these things require action and updating on a regular basis to keep it vital. And people remain interested if it's dynamic enough to make them look back in.

If you can place your plight in a larger context, it might serve what you're trying to do. Show that what you're doing would set a precedent for protecting other creative people as well. I'm sure the issue is huge and tapping into that would immediately give momentum -- like hitching your star to that very visible artists wagon.

Make people care about something you're about, whether you or music or copyright and let them know how it's screwing you and so many others over. If people don't have a handle to grab onto, they'll be off in another direction very quickly.

If you've still got a following, as with the bloke who lent you the guitar when you went back to England to perform where you posted the newspaper clipping a few years back, they might be able to be putting the word out. Maybe post things in the musician's shops, on musician's websites in the classifieds, etc. I'm just guessing where you might meet with some favorable responses.

Also, you thought about getting someone currently visible and in the public eye attached to what you're doing?

Have you thought about doing some grass roots concerts, kind of like it was in the old days when your band was getting started, only this time with a cause? And social media is ideal for posting music. So if you put out a performance on YouTube or whatever with your message being there as part of it, people will see it. And then who knows? Just talking about it is less of a draw unless you get visible in some bigger contexts. You could appeal perhaps to bloggers and sit some interviews? Hopefully you can come to it with your strengths and let others do the same.

Anyway, best wishes for a favorable resolution.

[Peter Pinckney]

Thanks DA for the reply....................the link shown is, in fact, to a Crowdfunding project for legal fees....................my problem is I have to give the lawyer an answer soon...........after all this time the politicians screw it up yet again..............I can't even vote them out without taking French nationality.

I left it too late to be "connected".

Screwed!

[D Akey]

Nasty one, Pete. Who knows what the future holds. Hoping for the best for you.

Still and all, what about playing again if you love playing. Seems like all this formidable energy you've got could be put into supporting your music. I hope you're still playing even as a soloist with a pick up band behind you. I would have thought the French would be all out for the artists based on how they look at art as a reverential heritage thing. And if you drop a word or two about it all between songs, who knows.

Hoping for a satisfying outcome for you no matter what. Hang in there, mate. Be creative. You have so much wonderful expression inside you. The world may be acting as a foil in that arena, but just keep on keeping on being yourself. That's as much as any of us can hope for. Personal integrity, Chief.

[Peter Pinckney]

Hi DA,

mixed news.................I sold all of my gear for stage so can't play anymore..............but had a meeting with my Lawyer and while he is sympathetic, French law prohibits him from no win no fee deals...............however the Crowdfunding has begun and I'm 1% towards my target with about three weeks to run so who knows..........I won't let these parasites off the hook!


My Story.


In the late ‘60’s and early 70’s I was recording and writing songs in a band called Aubrey Small. I am second from left in the photo.

With the interest in the music of that era still very much alive, I decided to re-release an album in 2002 but found that pirated CD’s were already on the internet without my permission. I traced the pressing to a plant in Austria owned by one of the largest pressing companies in Europe.

I brought proceedings against them for infringing my copyright in France where I now live. After admitting their culpability, they then began a long legal fight to have the case heard in Austria. After years of struggle (2006 to the present day) the European Court of Justice has found in my favor, in that, the courts of France can try the case.

During all of that time, I was able to qualify for Legal Aid but the French Government changed the rules and now I can’t continue unless I pay the legal fees personally. I am not able to do this and due to my age (74) can’t get a loan. I am certain of winning the case but I need your help to finish the job.

This means a lot to me because I can’t leave the only thing I owned to my children. In copyright law they should have been able to control and benefit from my music for 70 years after my death.

Anything you can do to help me will be very much appreciated.

Thank you for reading.

https://www.fundedjustice.com/en/pro...-Pirated-Music

[Marilyn Anne]

I hope things will be better for you .

[Peter Pinckney]

Bumping this with a new link.