Another Cry from the Music scene.

“Dear MP3tunes Customer,

Let me start by saying that as the CEO of MP3tunes I appreciate your support over the last few years. Your suggestions and patience have helped us build the Locker system we have today. We just launched AutoSync that makes managing your music collection easier than ever.

As you may be aware, the major record label EMI has sued MP3tunes, claiming our service is illegal. You can read about the case here. Much is at stake — if you don’t have the right to store your own music online then you won’t have the right to store ebooks, videos and other digital products as well. The notion of ownership in the 21st century will evaporate. The idea of ownership is important to me and I want to make sure I have that right and my kids do too.

I would like to ask for your assistance in our battle for personal music ownership. We need your help because we are a small, 15-person company battling an international giant. They would like to make us spend all of our money paying legal bills. Here’s what you can do to help:

1) Please upgrade to a Premium account. This week MP3tunes is launching 3 service levels. I hope you will consider signing up for one of the paid levels. This will not only help us pay for the costs of our service (machines, storage and bandwidth) but a portion will go to cover our legal costs in our case with EMI.

2) If you have a chance to talk publicly about our cause on your blog, with friends, reporters or even EMI personnel please do so. MP3tunes is working hard to design a secure personal music service. We don’t promote sharing of music in any manner. We want people to legally acquire their music. But once they do, we think it’s important that you be able to use it how you want for your personal use. The AmazonMP3 store says: “You may copy, store, transfer and burn the Digital Content only for your personal, non-commercial, entertainment use.” and this is what MP3tunes allows you to do.

You have my commitment that I’ll continually battle for your right to store your music online and listen to it anywhere on any device. I hope you’ll consider helping MP3tunes in our battle. Thanks.

– Michael Robertson
CEO
MP3tunes.com”

This is the second time an existing client has come to me this month and asked more information on this company. Here is the email they get.

  —–Original Message—–
From: Robert Palmer [mailto:order@onlinebannerads.net]
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:00 AM
To: xxx
Subject: Place Website on top of Google, Yahoo and MSN…

Hello,

Let me introduce you to our unique Online Banner Ads Technology, which can place
YOUR WEBSITE ON TOP OF ALL MAJOR SEARCH ENGINES (Google, Yahoo, MSN), framing above all your competitors!

To see how our technology works, go to our website and see our ONLINE DEMO in 3 easy steps:
1. Go to http://www.onlinebannerads.net and click on ONLINE DEMO
2. Enter your URL http://www.xx where indicated: http://www…
3. Enter your desired keyword - and click Go!

With our technology you get:
- Full year EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS for chosen keywords
- No Pay per Click charge
- No Bidding competition to get higher than competitors
- No other company can own keyword during your paid period
- Fixed advertising budget
- Keyword-Targeted Visitors to your website (Reach consumers the exact time they search your keywords)

If you want to get more informations, please contact us <http://www.onlinebannerads.net/contact.html> and our representatives will kindly guide you through our technology and terms.
You also can Request Quote for list of desired keywords here http://www.onlinebannerads.net/getaquote.html and our SEO specialists will give you estimate traffic and cost of chosen keywords.

We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
Robert Palmer, MBA
Sr. Account Manager
robert@OnlineBannerAds.net
http://www.onlinebannerads.net

—
Confidentiality Information Warning:
The information contained in this e-mail is strictly confidential and intended for the use of the entity or individual named above. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient, employee or agent responsible for delivering it to the recipient, any transfer, dissemination, publication or copying of this email is prohibited without the consent of OnlineBannerAds.net. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify us by return e-mail or forward this email to unsubscribe@onlinebannerads.net

Sounds great, right? Not so… I dug up some information about this company and business model.

IFRAME INTERNET BANNER ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Exactly what I told my first client “It’s nothing but spyware/adware.“

Looking at the search results of the company’s name it looks like they are using the techniques of “Online Reputation Management”  allowing only positive search results on the first couple of pages. See all the article sites and PR self promotion. It’s also a new domain “Creation Date: 07-sep-2007“

Hey, this is something you don’t see everyday.

I have received 19 emails within a month and a half regarding “Bank Account Confirmed Successfully”. I finally had enough and called PayPal Customer Support  1-888-221-1161.

They said they are aware of the problem and they are trying to fix the issue.

Congratulations, your bank account was confirmed successfully through our instant confirmation process.

Your sending limit has been lifted. You can now add funds to your PayPal account from the bank account you just confirmed.

With your Verified account you can:
- Fund purchases directly from your bank account, in addition to using credit cards
- Improve your reputation by letting others know you’re a Verified member of the PayPal community
- Send money to friends and family
- Add money to your PayPal account directly from your bank account

Sincerely,
PayPal

But my spendingwas never frozen. Could it be The IRS Bots or just some glitch?
All a little creepy…..

..Tax Takers Send in the Spiders - Wired

This was my first blog post from Google Documents and Spreadsheet, it went pretty smooth.

 A couple of old friends (that ended up in the same industry as me) were asking about my past work history. Here ya go…

Hans A. Koch

• E-mail hans@hansakoch.com • Voice +1 (415) 683-1016 • San Jose, Ca 95117

Objectives

Furthering my career in the fast paced Internet Marketing/Advertising industry where I have ample room for creativity, flexibility, growth, where I am using my people management, and business analysis skills.

Skills / Abilities

• Quick learning, Responsible, Punctual, Team Leadership, Teaching, Communication, and Management skills.
• Google AdWords, Yahoo Search Marketing, Microsoft adCenter, PPC Optimization, Organic Search Engine Optimization, Conversion Tracking, Statistical Analytics.

Professional Experience

Aug. 06’–Present syndeo::media Sydney/SF/Manila Founder Search Division President

• Created and optimized SEO, Link Strategies, Content, and PPC client processes.
• Developed tactics for GoogleBot, MediaBot (AdSense Media Partners), ImageBot, and AdsBot (AdWords Contextual Advertising)
• Managed over two dozen clients in Search Marketing: Search Engine Optimization, Pay-Per-Click, and AdSense Optimization.
• Trained/Managed over 15 employees in Account Management, Sponsored Ads, Search Marketing, Link Building, and Programming.
• Drove international sales in Search, Social Networking, and Social Media Development.

Jan. 06’–Aug. 06’ Pandora Squared San Jose, Ca Sales and SEM Specialist

• Developed Search Programs and Sales/Marketing materials.
• Optimized and documented the company’s search strategy for social network development.
• Daily Blogging and participated in Conversation Optimization (RSS) throughout the industry.
• Acted as a Salesman and Manager capacity with several members of the SEM team.

Dec. 04’–Dec. 05’ Who’s Clicking Who Santa Clara, Ca Pay-Per-Click Fraud Specialist

• Hired and managed the development team to redesign the Pay-Per-Click Software first to market.
• Enabled the Click Fraud software to work with Google AdWords, Yahoo Search Marketing, and a dozen more Ad Networks.
• Project Managed development and developed road map for future functionality.
• Account Manager and Technical Support for premium clients.
• Company spokesperson; Created and blogged for company.
• Created Search Engine Optimization and other additional product offerings.
• Developed strategies for all major Advertising platforms for maximum client ROI.
• Participated in several industry trade show demos. (SES, ADTech, etc.)
• Enabled media interviews and front page press coverage.
• Chief Adviser to CEO

June 04’–Nov. 04’ Safari Moving & Storage San Jose, Ca SEM Specialist

• Search Engine Marketing - Managed Pay Per-Click marketing strategies.
• Optimized current website plus fixed usability issues and increased clientele leads.

Sep. 03’–June 04’ Web Projects, Inc. San Jose, Ca SEO Specialist

• Search Engine Optimization - Received extensive training in interpersonal communications, time management, creative thinking, and team skills.
• Helped increase hundreds of Web Page rankings to the top ten in Google, Yahoo, and AOL.

2001–2002 Event Management Promotion Bay Area, CA Market Manager

• Executed promotional events for Yumsters, Go-Gurt, Pepsi Challenge, Mr. Yoshida’s Fine Sauces, Tempo, M&M’s, and 1-800-Collect. Self-motivated professional event personality.
• Promoted in highly populated areas including concerts, fairs, sporting events, malls, grand openings, festivals, and other locations with large crowds.

1999 Madera Adult School Madera, Ca Assistant Instructor

• Assisted business professionals in advancing their technical skills.
• Taught businesses how to incorporate the Internet into their existing business plans to increase profitability.

Education

Present DeAnza Community College Cupertino, CA

• Associates of Arts Degree, In Business Administration – Marketing concentration.

Special Activities & Interests

Elected High School Student Body President, Junior Class President, Selected for Boys State Leadership Program, and Rotary Leadership Camp. Web Technology Programs, Computers/Internet, Entrepreneurship Programs, and Tenor Saxophone.