Bruce Willis
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A Bruce Willis deepfake could appear in his stead for future film projects (updated)
Bruce Willis may have retired from acting following a diagnosis of aphasia, but a version of him will live on in future projects.
Who owns your iTunes? Bruce Willis probably doesn't care (Updated)
Bruce Willis versus Apple -- this time, it's personal. Is he Moonlighting as a legal Hudson Hawk who refuses to let his digital media rights Die Hard? (I'm so sorry about that.) Update: Noted by TechCrunch, Willis's wife Emma Heming-Willis has now said on Twitter that the report of his potential legal action vs. Apple is "not a true story." As we mentioned, when it comes to the British tabloids and celebrity coverage... well, let's just say I had a bit of a Sixth Sense about this tale. (Really, really sorry.) Let's frame this story by noting that it's a holiday weekend in the US, and perhaps the relative calm before the news storm of a major political convention and some anticipated Apple product announcements is giving tech and legal reporters some coverage latitude. Also, the sources for the Willis story (UK tabloids The Daily Mail & The Sun) are not always 100% accurate when it comes to celebrity coverage, or indeed about anything else. Nevertheless, the issues raised are current and challenging. Willis is supposedly considering legal action, among other remedies, to ensure that he can include his large iTunes media collection among the assets of his estate when he dies. His three daughters (Rumer, Scout and Tallulah), the beneficiaries of the estate, would then have full rights to thousands of songs, movies and more. Unfortunately, under the current T&C covering iTunes purchases, it's not clear whether that's allowed. When you buy a song from iTunes, the music comes along with certain conditions for its use. (Technically you are in fact purchasing the song, or "iTunes Products" as the terms have it, rather than licensing it; both Venture Beat and The Next Web are citing a part of the T&C discussing a "nontransferable license," but that covers iOS or Mac apps, not music.) Specifically, you are allowed to listen to the song for your own personal, non-commercial use; you are also limited in the number of devices you can use your music with (up to five), among other constraints. The key here is that the devices have to be under your personal control; otherwise you'd be permitted to put songs on your friends' iPods, which is contrary to the rules. When Willis passes on, hopefully many years hence, obviously he can no longer "personally control" said devices. While the current T&C doesn't say anything about transferring music, Apple support will not help users merge, split or transfer iTunes accounts. In theory, then, his estate would be stuck. Similar issues are already cropping up in divorce cases, where ownership of the digital assets has to be considered in settlement discussions. [Also worth noting: while Apple is far from alone in having digital property challenges, the company is restrained in how much latitude it can give end users because it in turn has rights agreements with the record labels, movie studios etc. Even if Apple wanted to give free and easy transfers to account holders, the original content owners might balk. --MR] In practice, though, there are some workarounds to these challenges. One would be to change the account/payment information on Willis's iTunes to give control of the digital assets to a trust in his daughters' names, although that's a lot of aggravation for the payoff -- he would still need a way to share the tunes between his kids (multiple iPods engraved with Dad's bald, menacing scowl?) without running afoul of the iTunes rules. The question of transferability is one that really hasn't been settled yet for Apple's digital products, or for that matter on Amazon or Barnes & Noble's e-book stores. The other, simpler approach Willis could take is iTunes Plus. Apple's DRM-free version of the iTunes music library is covered by terms that are noticeably looser and more flexible than the traditional iTunes library. The CYA sentence in question is "You may copy, store, and burn iTunes Plus Products as reasonably necessary for personal, noncommercial use." Depending on whether "personal use" can include "personally passing on my assets to my heirs," a library full of iTunes Plus tracks could be handed off alongside the family silver and the rights to Quentin Tarantino's career. Whether or not Willis pursues a course through the courts, the issue of digital asset ownership is one that isn't going away anytime soon. Thanks Michael G. [Photo by Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons]
Kane & Lynch movie poster seen at Cannes
The Kane & Lynch movie project appears to be moving smoothly -- it's to the "poster" stage already. Proving beyond a doubt that the casting is a "done deal"(as tweeted by writer Kyle Ward), Empire spotted a Kane & Lynch movie poster with billing for both Bruce Willis and Jamie Foxx at the Cannes Film Festival. This poster covers the entrance to the Majestic Hotel, making it look a bit more like the Tacky Hotel. According to Empire, the poster gives the film a 2011 date, but we don't see it. Perhaps it's behind that inconsiderately placed luggage cart. [Via Collider; thanks, Gimpygoat!]
The Digital Continuum: My only problem with Free Realms
I love Free Realms, so don't get me wrong when I say I've finally found a problem with it. What's that problem, you (hypothetically) ask? It's full of regular people and faeries, and what manly guy wants that?No, sir, not me. There's certainly nothing wrong with a man who prefers to flutter about on dainty wings, or a man who just wants to be a 'Regular Joe' -- but what of the rest who just want to express their inner macho man? I think we need some representation!That's why I've done all the creative footwork for Sony Online Entertainment and thought up a bunch of great concepts for manly races to add into Free Realms. That way, when hairy manly men log into the game after a hard day of sweating and lifting heavy things, they'll feel right at home.
The Digital Continuum: My only problem with Free Realms, part 2
Bruce Campbell has consistently displayed the essence of being a 100%, all-around bad-a** dude in his many film and television performances. Whether as Ash proudly displaying his boom stick for all to see, or as Autolycus showing Hercules how a real man gets the ladies, this Bruce never falters. Campbell (in any of his various famed roles) would be my prime avatar choice for prospective players to mine, deliver mail and fight cute goblins in Free Realms.
Bruce Willis in talks to star in Kane and Lynch film adaptation
Bruce Willis is in talks to star in the upcoming Kane and Lynch film adaptation, reports Variety. Willis will play Adam "Kane" Marcus. That's one-half of the rumor from back in November 2007 that said Billy Bob Thornton was in talks for the role of Lynch. According to the Variety piece, the filmmakers are still looking for Lynch, with shooting to begin before the end of the year. The movie will be directed by Simon Crane, based on a script by Kyle Ward.
Bruce Willis: iChat user, forum troll
What do you when you've got millions of dollars, no steady day job, and plenty of vocal critics that do their best to berate you knowing full well that they could never do your job if given the chance? We might just ask Bruce Willis that very question, but thankfully for all us, he's already responded. Apparently, Mr. Willis not only finds his way around internet message boards that focus on his films, but he doesn't hesitate to join in on the oftentimes testy conversations and give users his platinum-laced two cents. In a recent go 'round in regard to Die Hard 4, Bruce was caught mouthing off to disbelievers and carpers alike, and while a select few were adamant that this so-called Walter B. was little more than an overzealous fanboy, Bruce did the honorary thing and offered to prove it. The actor actually requested that a fellow iChat / Mac user hit him up for a momentary video chat in order to show his face, and sure enough, the most vocal doubter was indeed put in place rather quickly. Big fan of the ego, Bruce.[Via Switched]
