Karaoke Forums

Would you turn in a pirate?

Interesting that so far, the majority would rather not get involved...? Or maybe something else is going on here...

The majority said Maybe. Maybe that was before you posted. May have something to do with whether or not they thought they could remain anonymous or not.

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Kevin

nothing personal but a bad poll question

I choose not to get too involved with the entire PIRATE debate. On one side you seem to have some KJ's who claim to be 100% PURE and the other side down right scum pirates. Personally I believe the majority of KJ's are somewhere between SAINT LIKE and the DEVIL.

I mean every digital KJ who ripped their cdgs has (2) copies of the digital file
1 on the work drive and 1 back up. ( maybe even 2 back ups) --my understanding is you MAYBE allowed only the 1 digital file ???

Have you ever had a regular singer GIVE YOU a cdr of their favorite songs you did not have ??? hmmmmmm????

Bad poll, how dare you!

I have had a number of people bring me songs I either don't have, or they have a special verison of it. Not too often though.

I think you're probably right, most KJ's fall some place in the middle area.

I still think they should shut down the suppliers of the drives... Less possible monies to be made there I suppose.

Mark

Actually, I would encorage one person to post where it is legal to copy one song from a CDG to a hard drive.

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Kevin

It is "legal" to copy any song or music file you legally own to a hard drive, you just can't use it in a professional manner, i.e., karaoke and DJ'ing... Sort of, kind of....

From this site:

http://www.riaa.com/physicalpiracy.php? ... ne_the_law

Copying CDs

• It’s okay to copy music onto an analog cassette, but not for commercial purposes.

• It’s also okay to copy music onto special Audio CD-R’s, mini-discs, and digital tapes (because royalties have been paid on them) – but, again, not for commercial purposes.

• Beyond that, there’s no legal "right" to copy the copyrighted music on a CD onto a CD-R. However, burning a copy of CD onto a CD-R, or transferring a copy onto your computer hard drive or your portable music player, won’t usually raise concerns so long as:

• The copy is made from an authorized original CD that you legitimately own

• The copy is just for your personal use. It’s not a personal use – in fact, it’s illegal – to give away the copy or lend it to others for copying.

• The owners of copyrighted music have the right to use protection technology to allow or prevent copying.

• Remember, it’s never okay to sell or make commercial use of a copy that you make.

So, what you say?

Mark

I think that is the perfect answer. I failed to add "for commercial use" in my challenge but you covered it very well.

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Kevin

If it was anonymous and I got a reward out of it, I'd do it. I'd probably be anonymous just for a while because I probably would be bragging about it around other venues.

HERE'S WHAT I HAVE FOUND:

1. Few KJ's are serious enough about tackling the problem to get involved personally. Which reflects the way we human beings are when it comes to any injustice, particularly one that doesn't effect us personally. So I would venture to say that if you're working as much as you want to, you're likely to be unconcerned if every other rig in town is illegal.

2. Such an attitude is reinforced knowing that those who have reported pirates to manufacturers in the past have seen no results

3. Venue owners don't care about the audio or video medium that their entertainment uses. How do I know? I tell every venue that I approach for business that I have insurance and a legal library. And when they ask what it means to have a legal library and I explain it everyone of them, EVERYONE, is unconcerned about the matter

4. I contacted Ebay about a bogus 2 disc compilation I purchased that didn't even have a manufacturer's name on it. They told me such matters are not their responsibility to resolve

5. Those who understand enough about copyright law and economics suspect that if there hasn't been a copyright case against a KJ up until now, there probably never will be one. So, who are you really going to turn the pirate into?

The law has been interpreted that format shifting of karaoke is legal, and no interested party (karoke manu) has gone through the effort to challenge that view in court. Probably karaoke companies do not sue on this matter due to advice of their lawyers that they would probably loose.

Of course some companies are going to have a monetary interest in not encouraging that view. While they can not win in court, that does not prevent spreading disinformaion that it is illegal. It has not gone to court, and has not been proven illegal. At the same time it has not been proven legal in court, but the burden of proof here is on the music producers to argue it is illegal.

Unfortunately the laws are not exactly clear, and karaoke somewhat falls into the crack between laws written for music and laws written for video.

But even many karaoke companies are changing that point of view to get in line with modern technology.


http://ipjustice.org/karaokefairuse.shtml

Sorry to bring up this dead horse AGAIN>

Even sound choice is getting to grasp the concept of format shifting so long as the CD is owned (see sc post in thread below). But because of the tangled ownership of Karaoke songs, they cant speak for every aspect of the issue.

http://www.soundchoice.com/cgi-bin/ulti ... 001108;p=0

In the UK we need a license for ANY digital transfer of media for DJ/KJ use. Its called Pro Dub. You need this AS WELL as the Performing Rights License,which is usually the Venue's responsibilty. However the Pro Dub covers you for the NEXT years downloads/ format shifting. Which means the music/karaoke you had before you bought the Pro Dub has "had a blind eye" turned to it

Here is how I work,

First, I am 100000% disc (and yes I ment to have that many 0s).

Second, I will not play anyones disc if i recognize as a burn (and yea I have lost some singers because of that).

Maybe I am one of the few bu t so be it. (I have never been accused of marching to the same drummer as everyone else anyway)

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No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!

Great answer!

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No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!

Of course when you said Would you turn into a pirate, I immediately click yes not thinking you weren't talking about the swashbuckling kind...I fail.

Arrh me matey!