The following (below) was written and posted on my personal FB page. Im sharing it here because its worth exposing both the unethical AND illegal behavior of using someones name and property without their consent. If youre in a band that writes original songs in a collaborative way, ALL the members involved in creating the song have a legal right and legal part-ownership in the songs and, therefore, the songs cannot be used, released, compiled in any manner, profited from, etc.. without the consent of ALL contributing band members. If one member writes the whole song, presents it to the band, and everyone simply plays exactly what was written by the one member and it can be proven that he wrote the whole song in the format that the band is playing it in, that one member can claim ownership if this member already copyrighted the song prior to introducing it or he has signed documents or a digital info trail that proclaims his ownership. Even if someone has a strong idea for a song and all the lyrics written, if the song is arranged, changed, modified, etc.. by the whole band and all the members contribute to making the song become a final product by introducing their various parts, everyone involved in the process has a legal part-ownership (unless a document is signed that waives the rights of contributing members.) If you (as a band) desire to copyright a song that was written in a collaborative effort by all members of the band (who legally have part-ownership), an ownership agreement should be introduced when copyrighting the individual songs. If an individual copyrights a song that was written in a collaborative effort by the whole band (everyone legally has part-ownership) and this individual tries to illegally claim ownership of the song, those who legally have part-ownership in the song can file civil orders and lawsuits (especially if the songs produce money in ANY way at any time.) If youre in an original band that creates songs in a collaborative way, a paper trail (emails, texts, or signed documents) shows that you all understand who owns the songs and how your songs get released, used, compiled, sold, etc... If someone steals your name and property and uses them without your consent, shame on them! They will definitely reap what they sow! I have my attorney involved and I received info from him (as did Scott and Dave.) January 18, 2015 Scott Reese, David Berry, and Leo Kline III, you have no shame for doing things that you should be very ashamed of doing. Scott, you allow the hurt and pain that was given to you by others to hurt and drag others down. David Berry and Leo Kline III have been dragged into the hurt and pain that you insist on putting into others lives. Dave and Leo, you could have chosen the ethical and legal thing to do, but you chose to align yourself with Scott and do the selfish, unethical, and illegal thing. All three of you should be ashamed of doing something so malicious and hurtful. Dave and Leo, you know/knew how I feel/felt about my name and intellectual property and you ignored this and went along with Scotts malicious and hurtful plan. Dave, you outrightly aligned yourself with Scotts ugliness and Leo, even if you didnt know, the responsible thing to do at that time would be to ask, Wheres Rich with all of this? No excuses! BTW - this is not about creating drama! This is about exposing the darkness and drama that others created and that they are currently allowing to continue. Not on my watch! Im not the troublemaker here! Scott, if you would have done the right thing, none of this would need addressing. My name and my intellectual property (I legally have part ownership in the songs that we wrote in a collaborative way) are being used without my consent. And, you have acted as though “the Secret System” is still a performing band. There was a review written long after we sat at a diner and agreed on calling it quits in early 2014 and you allowed (very deceitfully) my name to be used as if I’m still performing in a band that has not performed as a full band since early 2014. Scott, you constantly bitterly complained about musicians that try to pull off the same thing that you’re currently doing! What a scam! And what hypocrisy! Leo and I wanted to do the last two shows that we all agreed on doing together and Scott, you pulled the plug on the band doing these shows together and then you stole those gigs from the band and performed an acoustic act known as “Scott and Dave of the Secret System.” Shameful! Ugly! If anyone is reading this and you decide to be defending Scott, Dave, and Leo, please first consider how you would feel if your name and property were being used without your consent to propagate lies, hurt, and evil that people are using for their own illicit gain and that they are profiting from. The reason I’m writing this is because I believe STRONGLY in calling out the darkness and evil that I’m called to call out. Hate me if ya want – I’m not a people-pleaser! Scott and Dave, it seems that you’re intent on having the hurt, darkness, and evil that currently surrounds “the Secret System” to be allowed to continue. It’s my hope and prayer that the hurt and pain that you inflict on others is stopped. It has been brought to your attention that what you’re doing is not only immoral and unethical, but illegal as well, and you have no remorse whatsoever for being so ugly and hurtful. I should have known better because I saw it coming from a long way away. Scott, the way you treated Brad Jacob when you backstabbed him was a sure sign and I should not have allowed myself to get dragged into your hurt and dysfunction after seeing you hurt him so badly. Your constant ridicule, condescension, and putting down of nearly all Lehigh Valley musicians and bands was a sign (even as I tried to convince you that everyone was out and about, plugging away - trying to do their own thing and make their mark - and that this should be celebrated at ANY level of performance.) Your constant hatred and complaining about many things in your life that you can’t control and that you allow to continue was a sign. You freaking out, turning beet red, having veins pop out in your head, and spitting while you yelled and screamed was a sign. We all know that being in a band is not easy (and life in general), but there’s no reason that suffices for behaving in such a way. Emotional blackmail that stems from intense hurt and used as a weapon is not pretty under any circumstances. Scott, I imagine that your life is so out of your control, that your hurt, aggression, and passive-aggressive behavior are eating you alive. There’s a way to life and peace and you know of that way. I encourage you to walk in it. You pride yourself in so many prideful things, but I wish that you could see how the denial, deflection, projection, acting out, repression, and intellectualizing in your life has caused so much hurt. Of course, you remember the dozens of times you called me passive-aggressive! I consider myself calmly assertive, receptive to others hurts, and very mindful of dysfunctional co-dependent behavior in others (even though I tolerated your hurt, aggression, and dysfunction for far too long.) I have a very rich, fulfilled, and peaceful life and, most importantly, I know how much I am loved and accepted. Scott, Dave, and Leo, you know that what you are doing is illegal. If you can do what you’re doing to someone that you called a friend for six years, you can certainly do it to ANYONE that is presently in your life. All three of you are in my prayers daily and I wish the very best for you. I pray that the hurt, pain, deceitfulness, aggression, repression, death/decay, hatred, darkness, etc… in your life is replaced with love, light, life, joy, peace, righteousness, etc… We all reap what we sow! Please consider turning away from the hurtful and illegal actions that you are responsible for. I determined a long time ago to call out the darkness that is blatantly trying to hide the light. Scott Reese, David Berry, and Leo Kline, I truly hope that you find yourself walking in the freedom and peace that walking in the light of God’s love brings.
Posted on: Sun, 18 Jan 2015 20:39:15 +0000