Where is Guitar Tabs Universe Now?
If you have been looking for Guitar Tabs Universe you have probably figured out that the site is no longer working. Many people looked to this website to learn how to play their favorite songs in a easy to understand and learn format, with guitar tabs. However, Rob Balch, the one time manager of Guitar Tab Universe decided that he must close the doors of his site in 2006.
Why did Balch close the website? Well, there were a variety of reasons combined, but they all culminated from the fact that MPA (Music Publishers’ Association) and the NMPA (National Music Publishers’ Association) decided that sharing guitar tabs was an infringement on the copyright owned by the writers, producers, and performers of the songs in question.
Both of these organizations threatened legal action again Guitar Tabs Universe and its owner for copyright infringement. Apparently and much to the surprise of its owner, sharing with other people how to learn how to play songs or guitar via the internet is against the ethics of these organizations.
However, as Blach pointed out in his “Goodbye Letter”, Guitar Tabs Universe was about sharing with others the art of learning how to play the guitar. It was not about stealing other people songs, it was not about infringing on the rights of others, it was simply about using various songs and their guitar tabs, showing others how they too can learn how to play.
Mr. Blach was certainly in the right when he inquired into why having guitar tabs on the internet is different at all from learning songs from music teachers or even helping someone to learn to play something that they heard on television or radio. What’s the essential difference? What the NMPA and MPA apparently think is that the internet is an inappropriate means for sharing such information and is one step over the line.
Guitar Tabs Universe ceased to exist because the MPA and NMPA issued threats to the ISP and hosting server; Guitar Tabs Universe was requiired to close. However, as I’m sure you can see, this hasn’t kept the general population from sharing its passion for the guitar and the will to learn to play it.
If you believe for some reason that guitar tabs are infringing on their rights, then you might as well say that millions of people across the world are committing the same crime. Consider everyone who have enjoyed their favorite tunes, By just listening you can learn to play. There are many, many people who have shown their friends how to learn songs. If that is the case, all of the cover bands and beginning bands that do not write their own music.
So, if you were looking for the late great Guitar Tabs Universe, like many others, this is the reason why it’s not available anymore. Therefore, the concept continues on as seen in the numerous guitar tab websites on the internet.
