Feb26

Bangalore Mirror : Blatant Rip-Off

It is widely believed that the Indian MEDIA has scant respect for copyrights. Although it is unfair to generalize, I’ve starting to believe that it is indeed true.

We’re a niche online media portal covering events & stories in Bangalore city. Time and again I’ve noticed that mainstream media uses OUR content (photos, research data, etc.) in their stories and never gives us credit (forget about taking permission!)

Let me provide a recent instance:

Bangalore Mirror issue of February 24th 2010, Page 7, which bore the story ” Tweeting to Save Carlton Towers”.
Bangalore Mirror - Blatant Rip-Off
Bangalore Mirror has used 3 of MyBangalore.com Copyright images in the above mentioned story .

Images in context
1.A shocked survivor
2.A Fireman in Action
3.A victim being brought out of the building.

These images have been very prominently featured in our story which have been captured by our Staff Photographer Manish Gunjan.

The story was published on February 23rd, 2010 Titled:
Pictures: Fire in Bangalore’s Carlton Towers
http://mybangalore.com/article/0210/pictures-fire-in-carlton-towers.html

As anybody can tell, this is a case of blatant rip-off and copyright violation. Can you believe that the honorable Bangalore Mirror belongs to the Times of India Group?

It is extremely unfair to pass off somebody’s work as your own. I have no idea, how many images/stories are being used on a daily basis – they could be anyone’s, but I do know that this nefarious practice is increasing and there is nothing we can do about it.

Jan27

“Phir” Mile Sur Mera Tumhara … Yeh Rubbish Kisne Banaya!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq31OjsQ124

The classic ‘Mile sur mera tumhara’ was conceptualized and conceived by late Suresh Mallick and it was first aired on Doordarshan on Aug 15, 1988 . Mind-blowing anthem!

After 22 years Arti and Kailash Surendranath have recreated and presented it as “Phir” Mile Sur Mera Tumhara … to say that they’ve R@PED the anthem is an understatement!!!

It looks like a trailer of a B-Grade Bollywod flick … starring Abhishek Bachchan, Shahid Kapoor and the like. Where is Sachin, Abdul Kalam, Sunil Mittal, Narayan Murthy, Sania Mirza, Vishwanath Anand, Leander Paes, etc?

Zoom / Times of India have produced this piece of crap.
The lyrics should have been:
“Phir” Na Mile Sur Mera Tumhara
To “Ku-sur” bane Humara

Jan12

Wanted: a clone of MyBangalore.com … Yeah Right!

I guess “imitation” is indeed the sincerest form of flattery:
http://www.rentacoder.com/RentACoder/misc/BidRequests/ShowBidRequest.asp?lngBidRequestId=1325391

Originality is an Underrated Virtue

- Shuhaib Shariff

Jan11

I missed out ….

Grrrrr….

DoubleSpring team @ McDonalds

DS team @ McDonalds

Notice the BIG SMILE! Why? Because I was not around :-(

Jan10

Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

The Pursuit of Happyness - For Steve Jobs

Oct09

US President Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize!

US President Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize!
Although I have great respect for Obama, this award seems pre-mature.

Some amusing reactions on Twitter:

1) Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize as US didn’t attack any new country this year under his leadership

2) Aamir Khan will say next week: “Now you know why I don’t believe in awards?!”

3) I nominate my electrician, Mr Nilesh Pandey for the No-Bell award. He’s yet to come and fix the ringer