Karaoke Forums

"Put the blame where it belongs with those who stole the music(downloaded), traded tracks, bought or sold preloaded drives. Hopefully after the publishers and Manufactures have found a way to lock down the thieves karaoke will survive."

I stand by my statement Chris, the first part now highlighted in red prefaces the entire statement. I will admit however that any statement can be twisted if someone tries hard enough to do so.

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"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

I am not twisting. I am asking for clarification. I still don't know for sure if you agree with the following -

(downloaded) from iRC, Torrent, or other pirate method = stole

(downloaded) from Karaoke Version, SelectaTrack, DigiTrax, etc = purchased

-Chris

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-Chris

to clarify my position Chris anyone who pays for US LICENSED tracks(and downloads them) is not stealing.

My opinion of what tracks are legally licensed for use here in the USA are based on what the publishers have stated directly to me when asked. Some of those you have listed in your post above are legally licensed for use here (per the publishers) and some are not (per the publishers). I personally prefer to own my tracks on disc, however I have purchased a few DTE downloads that are not available elsewhere.

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"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

So you are saying that if we download from Tricerasoft, for example, we ARE stealing? REALLY?? I certainly do not believe myself to be a thief, and if you believe me to be a thief I take offense to that.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I am sorry you feel offended Smoothedge....my position has not changed since I verified with the publishers who had and had not licensed tracks for use here in the USA.

I take it from your post that you have acknowledged that "certain companies" are selling unlicensed tracks and you fee safe in buying them anyways ?

I do however have a bit of empathy for those duped into buying something that can get them sued buy someone that is out and out lying about the tracks being licensed for use in this country.

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"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

Lone Ranger, you really did NOT answer my question. I did not ask what it would cost the illegally operated KJ, and I did not ask how it could affect one's reputation if they were legal. I also did not ask anything about what the (perceived) intentions of these lawsuits are all about.

Please re-read the post that was written because of something KJAthena said... In my question, "they" refers to the Manufacturer or suing Company (like PR, LLC), not the KJ.

I just think you need to use different wording. I am having a very difficult time with you implying that someone is a thief even though they paid a reputable source for it. If indeed the track is not licensed for use in the US, that just means they might be infringing on the rights of the copyright holder. It does not mean that person stole anything or that they are a thief.

I don't think you ever answered my related question -

An overseas KJ buys all of his karaoke music through a source licensed only overseas. Then they relocate to Florida. Are they supposed to buy US based licensed karaoke music to remain above board?

-Chris

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-Chris

DJs buy import albums all the time, I see no difference for karaoke.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Sorry Chris,

This is my opinion and I speak for myself only. I stand behind my feelings and opinions.

"I just think you need to use different wording. I am having a very difficult time with you implying that someone is a thief even though they paid a reputable source for it. If indeed the track is not licensed for use in the US, that just means they might be infringing on the rights of the copyright holder. It does not mean that person stole anything or that they are a thief."

Do you really want to discuss the different levels of theft ? "infringing on the rights of "is just another way of saying "stealing from" I guess it may be better to just steal from the rights holder than to download from a torrent site and stel from everyone ......but they are both stealing.

When I hear KJ's say "I don't care I will buy my downloaded tracks anywhere I want"...even ignoring TOS I worry for them.

Let the bashing begin........

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"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

if i buy from an overseas maufacturer, Sunfly for example, how am i stealing or infringing on anyones copyrights?

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

No bashing here but when the download is paid for so is everyone else down the line.

in ammounts they agreed to by contract even.

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

because they did not agree to those amounts here in the USA...Hench the exception of the USA and Canada in the licencing agreements.The amounts for licencing under PRS are government regulated in the UK....that is why the ban on imports for resale and the blocking of customers from UK sites.

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"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

Something that Harrington said just hit me. When we were talking about the SCD+G discs, he said they couldn't be licensed because of the price. He said the price for those discs is too low. OK, going by that logic, the domestic downloads are $1.00 to $2.50 LESS than the UK downloads. Wouldn't that translate to more licensing for the UK downloads?? Domestic downloads are $1.99. UK downloads can be as high as $3.50. Obviously SOMEBODY is getting paid. And since the Big three UK brands aren't being sued out of existence, like many here, they must be doing SOMETHING right.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Actually, only one UK site has been blocked, so far.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

they are not being sued...but they are blocking customers in the USA and it is more than 1 check again

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"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

I visit S-A-T, which has now merged with Tricerasoft. I also buy from SF, SBI, and Zoom. None of them have blocked us. I don't buy from KV because I found them to be TOO expensive. Besides, it states for home use only. Wouldn't want to get caught up in that crap. It's like Karaoke Channel. What a waste of a good music resource.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I actually only added the infringing line on there for your benefit. I don't believe it myself because, as was pointed out, the copyright holders made an agreement with the overseas distributers for which they were paid for. It can't called theft or stolen if the rights holder was compensated properly under the terms of an agreement they themselves made.

You still didn't address the question of the overseas KJ relocation scenario. But that is okay because I am pretty sure I can extrapolate what your position is. It would seem that your expectation is that KJ would have to re-purchase tracks they already own just because, in your opinion, what they bought overseas didn't properly compensate the state side rights holders. Seems a little harsh to me, but such is the life.

-Chris

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-Chris

But, Chris, the Big Bad Greedy American publishing companies have to get their cut. That is who is getting stolen from when we download overseas material. It's not the artists who aren't getting paid, it's the American publishers. I have two words for them, but I can't say one of them here. _ _ _ _ 'em!!!

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!