Negativland IPod

On eBay: a U2 vs. Negativland Special Edition iPod, courtesy of Francis Hwang, Director of Technology at Rhizome.org.

In 1991, Negativland sampled U2's I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For and was sued by U2's label. Hwang's (unofficial) special edition commemorates the infamous legal battle. Says Hwang:

"Now you can commemorate this ignoble episode in intellectual property history with iPod U2 vs. Negativland Special Edition. From its packaging to its pre-installed content, this unauthorized iPod modification is an artful mash-up of the forces of corporate megarock and obscure experimental music, and a provocative symbol of the ongoing struggle between those who would confine culture and those who would free it.

The package design of iPod U2 vs. Negativland Special Edition is inspired by Apple's unparalleled focus on every last detail of the shopping experience. This iPod comes packaged in a standard "cube" box that will be familiar to iPod owners around the world. However, one side of the box has been subtly modified to show the two bands in opposition, with U2 on top and Negativland on the bottom. On another side, the box label has been modified to read 'iPod/Special Edition/U2 vs. Negativland.'"

Apart from the packaging, the iPod is a standard U2 iPod preloaded with seven Negativeland albums (Hwang's also supplying the original CDs: fair use) and a book about copyright issues.

Hwang will donate proceeds of the sale to Downhill Battle, a nonprofit "working to end the major label monopoly and build a better, fairer music industry."