the grateful dead allowing fans to tape a show is not uncommon. artists also donate their songs for use by organizations, charities, etc. the 'dead' do however have a problem with a fan profiting from the making and the selling of copies or trademarked merchandise. yes it happens, but keep in mind, if the dead perform a bo diddley song for instance...they pay bo diddley's publisher, and they have no rights beyond the right to perform it with permission. there is nothing new or diabolical about copyright protection or trademark law. the fact that it has all become news worthy is because all intellectual proprties, from written, to images, from film to music for under seige. the black market from china alone may be nearly as big an industry as the entire film or music industry. most artists, like most athletes, are not rich, and depend on the policing of royalties to survive. one of the largest single expenditures for all artists is someone to track and organize the business end of their work. in the end, as consumers, we'll get the art we deserve. stealing is a learned behavior....unfortunately when it comes to art, many kids call it 'sharing'. anyone who's been robbed can testify that getting your property back is generally never easy, and the process of getting it back is humiliating and sometimes costly. the #1 reason used by bicycle theives of all ages is 'i didn't know it belonged to anyone'.......be well guys, and have a very musical xmas
