Karaoke Forums

With regard to deleting SC files from your laptop or hard drive, picture the following senario...

Representitives from SC come to the establishment that has a pirate KJ. They see that he/she has SC songs in their book. They see at least half of the songs requested/played all night have been SC.

Now...they know you have SC songs. So, how is deleting them going to help? Let's say their was three people from SC. That's three witnesses. And let's say that they got one or two customers to testify on SC's behalf that they sung SC songs that night.

The damage is already done. I don't know if deleting all SC songs at that point is going to matter.

Alan

It would have to be the KJs before they are caught that change. Once they are caught it is too late, but if you watch 5 nearby cities get a bunch of KJs busted for illegal SC songs, pretty soon people can worry about being "Next", and take action to be safe. Being totally legal is expensive and a pirate won't change that far but going from 100,000 to 80,000 songs many of them can handle.


As to the other post, SC is the most visible, and therefore most likely to be first on the list of any band that is going to sue a Karaoke manu for their songs being made illegally. If you were a musician would you have gone after SC or MM first???? SC has the problem of being the biggest US company, they are not perfect but they at least put in SOME effort. Many of the smaller companies put out NO effort to be legal.

Dr. Fred said:

Using your logic above, you are crediting SC for "SOME effort." And that they are the biggest target partially because they are the "biggest US company." Does being the biggest allow them the advantage to be above the law? Whether it's a "little crime or a big crime" doesn't matter, it's still a criminal action.

So, let's offer that SAME credit to the pirates that have SOME original discs.... because they at least put in SOME effort.

This guy in MO I was talking about in my other post in this thread has already deleted all SC files. We were there about 2 hours and not one SC track was played, but other disc manufacturers were. He already knew about the lawsuit in AZ and got rid of those files. Therefore, a SC investigator can walk into his place of business NOW and won't see any SC tracks played. So the pirate cannot be sued and yet he can continue to play other, pirated tracks from every other manufacturer.

I was not talking about deleting files AFTER being investigated, but before. That it what that guy did and now..........he is still a pirate, still in business, just not using Sound Choice. .......and what can SC do about that? Well nothing. He stays in business and out of court as long as SC tracks stay off his computer.

Yawn --

I even wonder what would happen if the KJ removes the SC tracks after being sued? I guess he could be accused of destroying evidence. But then there would have to be definitive proof in that regard.

So, let's say the KJ "is called out" on the matter in court by the SC attorney who provides witnesses that testify that certain SC tracks were played. Well, in the course of an evening what is the most number of SC tracks that likely could be played? 80?

Alright, the KJ says:
1) "Ten of the tracks you say I played were from customers' discs"!
2) "Oh, and the remaining tracks were on discs that I sold, Your Honor! It's obviously too risky these days to be playing SC tracks at your show so I got rid of them all"!
Actually speaking, though, there are many of us who don't believe SC will actually take a case to trial. Just MHO




Again, don't participate if it's an effort!

I agree 100%...And Sound choice will not be taking any pirates to court. They're {paid by case win attorneys}, would actually advice against it. The pay off for Sound Choice right now is collecting that 6 grand chump change. A theif isn't as stupid as you think they are...just crooked....

_________________
Sweet Little Me In Karaokeland........

Bravo!!! I would like to second that motion and say I wholeheartedly agree with your analysis of what's happening.

And as someone pointed out on a different board in the last day to two, there has not been any statement from SC that their strategy is designed with the intent of reducing, if not eliminating piracy.

Also, from the latest statement on that board directly from Kurt Slep of SC, it is clear that SC is working on their own without the support of any other manufacturer. Which makes it quite clear that SC represents no one but themselves!

SC may be working on their own. I doesn't mean they can't provide information to the other manufacturer's (don't really think they will). It would take quite a while for them to come to rural America. They will be backed up in the cities and courts for some time.

I wonder though about groups like the KIAA who advertise that their agents will come to shows and get you for any illegal activity. If I was pirating and worried (a conflict of terms) I would keep my eye out for groups like that. They can strike anywhere at any time. They may not be the ones taking you to court. They will just report you to the manufacturers who will then take the bull by the horns. Makes SC's job that much easier.

Let me also say that I wrestle with this question (as I'm sure others do). If you report pirates, you stand the chance of getting a bad rep, the venues will stop the hiring of KJ's, or both. Needless to say, dealing with and competing against pirates is a sticky wicket.

I remember when BMI made it to our rural community. Man, it was like the sheriff raiding bars for gambling machines. Everybody was up in arms. But they paid their fees and went on. Most will say, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it (or it comes to me). SC is not going to prosecute the venue even if they know the KJ they hire is a pirate. KIAA will threaten and want you to join as a venue owner. That way they say they will not go after the venue if they are found to have hired a pirate. Both are looking for revenue. Threats just cause everyone to stop using the SC discs. But pirates are not going away any time soon. Just need to deal with it.

Great idea!!! I've been contemplating opening a karaoke bar. If you're serious and people like to come to your shows - it's a no brainer! You control what discs you play. No worries!:withstupid:

Um, what sort of an idiot would delete that many songs and not reprint their books????? Just wonderin'....

_________________
"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Joe, prisons are full of idiots.

_________________
You can be strange but not a stranger

Point taken Timber, and true enough!

However, I wasn't thinking about the litigation, I was thinking just as a Karaoke Host. A major reduction or change in the library would make current books pretty much useless for work...

_________________
"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

How many SC CDG's are the pirates actually getting for $6,500? Are they going to get the whole SC library (less the ones no longer in stock)? Or are they going to get $6500 worth of cdgs at 20.00 each would equal to approx 325 cds? Hmmm. Just wondering. If it's the whole library, then that's a bargain. I've been buying SC's for 18 years and I'm sure I spent more than $6500.

According to a few colleagues here in NC (SC Home state), after paying the "fine", SC ships out about 340 discs to the KJ in question. Nowhere near their entire catalog and missing quite a few "choice" songs & discs.

_________________
"Give me the Beat boys and free my soul..."
DJShannonNC - getelevatednc@gmail.com

According to K Slep, SC is sending out what's left in their inventory, choice or material or otherwise. He estimates that the cost per track averages between $.70-$.80. So the $6500 would provide about 8200 tracks. Can't say how many discs cause some discs have 6 tracks and some have 15.

A multi-rigger on another forum who got caught was thrilled with his $13,000 investment to maintain two rigs!

So what's next after they receive the shipment. The 1 on 1 rule applies (1 orig = 1 copy) therefore they can still use the laptop. But what about songs not listed in the new SC inventory. Are they required to delete those songs in their laptop? I really hope that will be a requirement because I have some cd's I bought legally and was later pulled out of circulation due to licensing. Also some cd's that were discontinued. The result: I will be gaining the pirates' patrons due to lack of songs they can no longer play and I have it. Advantage: win for the legal KJ.

I was under the impression from a certain karaoke industry association website which shall remain nameless that all the karaoke manufacturers who joined said association were agreeing to cooperate in providing information to each other regarding pirated material.

Sound Choice happens to be a member of this association and my ASSumption would be that they would abide by the terms of this association and provide information to other manufacturers or perhaps have other manufacturers join them in court so as to share legal fees and make lawsuits much less expensive and easier to pursue for karaoke manufacturers.

I believe there is no way SC can catch up..with everything that has been release it would take several years if at all...personally I love SC over any of the others but common sense tells me that SC may put out one or two disc if any..they will never be the #1 source for karaoke again

Would this be the same nameless association that doesn't require that the members manufacturers prove that THEY are not producing and selling unlicensed karaoke tracks?

So...based on this thread, and correct me if I'm wrong, it seems like SC is:

1. doing nothing to help stop piracy.
2. has no interest in stopping piracy.
3. could care less about your illegal hard drives.

What they do care about is the SC logo and using that to recoup what's rightfully due them. Which I can understand.

The sad thing is I really thought SC cared about the industry, piracy, and the legal kj. But apparently, they don't.

I really thought SC was going to go after pirates. Not just because of copyright infringement, but because they're using stolen music and hurting us all.

It's a shame.

Alan