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hi_vis360
December, 2024

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Legal help (fraud)

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please
Posts: 96 - Karma: 600
I stumbled upon an article today that talked about a band trying to get their fans to stream a silent album on spotify overnight. So they could get money to tour. The article is here: http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/mar/19/spotify-streaming-silence-vulpeck-make-money?CMP=twt_gu

So now I have the idea of setting up a scheme where I put a similar thing on spotify and have a old computer in my basement play it 24/7. I would make ~500 dollars per month doing this, not a lot but that is 6k per year towards hookers and blow.

The question is if i were to get caught would it be fraudulent to put an album on spotify and then listen to your own tracks to generate revenue for yourself?
Mar 19 2014 7:34PM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,027
Sure
Mar 19 2014 7:36PM
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erikK
Posts: 3245 - Karma: 2,329
I expect some great replies to this as everyone on NS is either already a lawyer or currently in law school
Mar 19 2014 7:39PM
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please
Posts: 96 - Karma: 600
^beats going to a $200 per hour attorney
Mar 19 2014 7:46PM
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Chron_Rabbit
Posts: 988 - Karma: 1,567
you get no credible advice... so does it really?
Mar 19 2014 7:59PM
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Chron_Rabbit
Posts: 988 - Karma: 1,567
Also this is definitely fraud and the authorities have been notified.
Mar 19 2014 8:00PM
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SFB
Posts: 8895 - Karma: 26,354
police are on their way OP
Mar 19 2014 9:31PM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,488
That's about the rate your mother charges
Mar 19 2014 9:33PM
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
It seems like it is the same as clicking on ads on your own YouTube videos. Not sure if it qualifies as fraud, but it is forbidden and they will notice the IP address and stuff before paying you.
Mar 19 2014 10:02PM
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op14
Posts: 1769 - Karma: 4,586
$500 a month? That's pretty cheap...
Mar 19 2014 10:03PM
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Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
I would say its legit and I am both a lawyer and doctor so you know its legit.
Mar 19 2014 10:06PM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,488
you're a moron
Mar 19 2014 10:11PM
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.undetected
Posts: 1076 - Karma: -445
Yea this plan won't work just because they will realize what you are doing before they pay you. Im unsure if it is fraud though.
Mar 19 2014 10:43PM
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please
Posts: 96 - Karma: 600
I'm the police
Mar 20 2014 6:38AM
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please
Posts: 96 - Karma: 600
lol do you think I would be dumb enough to use my own IP address for this stuff, I would use a vpn. Don't worry about the technical details I promise it will work. My only question is if they were to find out will they sue me for the money or press charges.

Its different than clicking ads, the artist has the right to listen to his own music or watch their own youtube videos.
Mar 20 2014 6:48AM
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feihlination
Posts: 8356 - Karma: 1,084
the point of it is to generate ad revenue and you are clearly bypassing their regulations.

so it is probably illegal since you would have to sign a contract of any kind that you do not circumvent their ad revenue restrictions.

if they are too dumb to not have something like that, go for it, but they probably arent.
Mar 20 2014 11:03AM
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montanan
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 1,346
just do it and c what happens, whats the worst that could happen? getting in trouble for fraud should be fun dood ! what they guna do, arrest you and or fine you if they find out? or sue you ? ya probably, and then have fun getting a lawyer and dealing with the criminal justice system as your life, and bank account rots away cause you wanted an extra fucking 5 bills a month..... so ya go for it man. ! totally worth it imo . and yes im a lawyer as well... haha, , but in all seriousness , that be cool if it worked and you didnt get caught. but is that a risk your willing to take ? have fun and good luck mang !
Mar 20 2014 11:58AM
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
Beyond that they may look at activity. But if you use a VPN and then some sort of script on multiple machines, it has potential.
Mar 21 2014 11:08PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51783 - Karma: 163,979
OP smoked too many rocks today. Interested to hear what other threads he comes up with though.

Smoke more or try harder
Mar 21 2014 11:10PM
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Avifarer
Posts: 5926 - Karma: 598
inb4 JD
Mar 21 2014 11:11PM
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eheath
Posts: 61657 - Karma: 123,595
I'm assuming you can't just "put an album" on Spotify and just listen to it yourself and make money...
Mar 21 2014 11:14PM
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-MK-
Posts: 3253 - Karma: 5,332
I am quite sure you are not the first person on earth to think of this, and almost positive such a large company/website knows how to deal with scammers like you before paying people $500/month....
Mar 21 2014 11:17PM
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CaptainObvious.
Posts: 5712 - Karma: 20,638
Hey OP. Stop scheming, get off your ass, learn an instrument, make an album, and earn your money.
Mar 21 2014 11:19PM
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ChillTeenDad420
Posts: 1858 - Karma: 5,512
spotify is where independent artists go to die
Mar 21 2014 11:55PM
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edai
Posts: 4991 - Karma: 4,677
My buddy on here is actually an astronautical lawyer so he deals with stuff like this all the time, except in space obviously. I don't remember his exact username hit him up though
Mar 22 2014 12:04AM
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