Karaoke Forums

The more interesting thing to note here is -

You don't hear us GEM licensees complaining about it. Only the people that haven't leased a GEM seem to be the ones concerned with this.

The offer of making new content available only to certified hosts and GEM licensees was made AFTER the GEM was made available. I believe the offer itself has only been presented by Harrington through these forums. There has never been any official statement on the Sound Choice site that I am aware of. Regardless, I don't imagine anyone bought a GEM because of that offer. I certainly didn't.

-Chris

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-Chris

EMI content is only a portion of the SC offering. I don't see how they would be able to force a full recall unless they got others on board. Even still, CB lost their lunch and their stuff didn't go away.

I openly admit I hate SC's practices. But what is worse is how the greedy publishing works in the US. It doesn't make any sense to wish for a SC loss on this as I see it.

I agree completely mrboo, the licensing in this country is beyond messed up and needs a major overhaul. Keep in mind in this case the licensing is not US licensing, but UK licensing which is much more lenient, these were all done through MCPS.
TheGEM wound not be killed as it may sound, but to remove the EMI licensed tracks (if that is what EMI decides they want) but the sets would have to go back and be replaced with discs no longer containing those tracks

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

Yup, and so what? The value of purchases would not be affected by the outcome of any suits.

The $3,000.oo+ laid out for GEMS could become valueless overnight. Definitely as a licensing fee and also, since the GEMS are not purchased, if the suit finds against SC they would have to be returned. You wouldn't get to keep the tracks for the money either-

See the difference? That money could end up right down the toilet. So one again, the question is: What possible business sense does it make to risk it rather than wait for the conclusion of the court?

As for simply keeping tracks on the PC and hoping EMI won't bother KJs, we kinda thought that would happen with SC as well, right? Keep in mind that they ARE awake, and what would stop them from doing what SC has- and with many more resources and the precedents that they have already one in the courts?

As for someone wondering about worldwide duplication: Remember that the entire content of the GEMS are reprints, and that SC's entire library has already been pirated. It's already done.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Not everything in the world, many things are rented or leased by companies that have been sued. Unfortunately you would like nothing better for a certain company to fail and think this lawsuit will do it. I highly doubt it as one cannot get money (or very little) from a failed company.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Well as long as we are making wild guesses and spreading the FUD on thick, let me play! GEM licensees COULD get a cash settlement! We COULD get to keep their music and get a second set for free! We COULD get awarded a steak dinner cooked by Kurt Slep himself in the kitchen of our choosing!

You know what I think will happen to my GEM set? Absolutely nothing. Four FOUR YEARS I have been listening to the GEM panic of the month. "It's a bad business deal!" "It's a waste of money!" "They are going to demand it back!" "They are going to raise the fees!" "They are going to be pirated and FREE!" "SC is going out of business!" "The contract is going to change!" "It's going to be worthless!" "You'll have nothing to show for it!". ' Etc, Etc, ad nausem.

AND.......nothing happens. Nada. Nill. Zilch. Zero.

Meanwhile, the best base set in the business keeps on being used nightly. It has been one of the best investments I have made in my business and paid for itself years ago.

<<- Now back to your regularly scheduled GEM panic of the month ->

Like I said in another thread......the GEM folks all seem pretty calm about it. It is only those without a GEM that are concerned.

-Chris

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-Chris

Since I've joined this forum, I've noticed the two sides - SC and ANTI-SC. Except for a few choice individuals, most of you seem pretty on the level. However, the few crazies on both sides are what is ruining karaoke from my point of view. This infighting is absolutely ridiculous. If you all want to end the pirate problem, its time for some of you to get with the program, see that change is needed/ is happening, and fight this problem in on the streets, not the courtrooms. Some of you have hundreds of SC discs and think GEMS and audits are a scam... I agree with both in your case. You already invested in it, and should have to pay more to verify your investment is legit. You have the discs in hand.

SC has a lot of money somewhere that no one sees. They just issued a few more trademark infringement lawsuits in the Eugene, Or area, so the money is there...

Now, as Ive said before, I DO NOT agree with how SC is casting a fishing line out with these lawsuits, Nor do I feel that the pirates running shows for $50 a night and drinks are doing us any good either.

I needed a good CORE set of discs to get myself to the next level, and the GEM set at $3300 is to me, a better deal than hunting for different manufactures tracks.

If you all like speculation... SC may have to admit fault. (or not, just a quiet settlement) But if them and EMI work out a deal, SC will offer the money to fix it, and probably announce a new, strong agreement with EMI to exclusively make karaoke songs with their music. (this is the part where it was said the new music updates would come from)

Y'all need to stop attacking each other over this s*it. Build a bridge, get over it. I wouldn't want to attend some of y'alls shows based on how you attack each other here.

Aw Shoot!!! I'm being discriminated again (just because I don't have a GEM set)!!!! I finally got my name listed on SC's site (without being PC based)... Now, how do a I get in on that Steak Dinner??????????

Timberlea, I think it's sad that you have made the above comment, considering that you haven't read a single one of my posts in regard to this case.

If you had, you would know that, as stated SEVERAL TIMES on this thread, I do not want SC to lose to EMI, because if they do, they will drag all of us at least part way down with them. It will dry up music sources to a tiny few, raise pricing, add the threat of suits from publishers ( because NO karaoke host in the U.S. has actual permission to use said tracks in a show) and several other costly problems. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW???!!! At absolutely no time did I EVER put forth an opinion on the right or wrong of this case.

So why are you posting things that you have simply made up?

Now, on the other hand, if SC screws this case up as badly as they have others, I certainly would be justified if I am happy to see them blown away by their own foolishness, since the rest of us would suffer because of it.

However, on any given day anything can happen in court- right or wrong is only the tiniest part of it. Think presentation....

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Well, as I said, if the case goes SC's way, you will be dead on right. If not, well, my scenario is equally possible. Listen, this isn't about leasing GEMS or not, it's about WHEN. Buying NOW is pretty much just business stupid. No reason not to wait until the case conclusion, thus eliminating any worries.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Joe, you may have typed it but the gist of the majority of your posts are definitely anti SC and the only reason you said you hope SC doesn't lose was for the sake of your own hide not for SC's well being.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Timberlea, regarding the first part of your statement: I have never been anti-SC as a karaoke production company- they made some nice product.

I have always and ONLY been anti-SC methodology. You will note that even some of SC's biggest fans have become equally disgusted with their methodology. That they did to themselves.

As for the second part, you are 100% correct. SC's current business model is that of an IP troll's income through intimidation and litigation- a parasite to our industry. OF COURSE I could care less what happens to them as they are now. Also, OF COURSE I put our industry, my colleagues and myself well above them as a priority.

Please feel free to explain why I shouldn't.

Now in regard to the OP, you STILL haven't given any sound business reasoning why it would be a good idea to lease GEMS now instead of waiting for the court results and avoiding a possible large loss of income.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Joe, you really need to learn that this --> <--- means it's a joke. I do not think any of those things will happen, especially the steak dinner.

Let me edit my post down to the bare essentials so you will understand what I DO think will happen.

Bazza, even I got that about the steak, hence my wink

I understand that you feel your GEMS are safe- and they are if the suit goes SC's way. I fully agree.

Unfortunately, if it goes the other way, they are not. Since no one purchases the GEMS, they are still the property of SC. If the suit goes against them, the court could order SC to recall them for destruction. That's not an opinion- they could do it.

On the other hand, this could all become moot if SC has enough money to settle, decides to do so, and makes the lawsuit go away. OR, they could reach a settlement that does include destruction of recalled GEMS.

Four possible resolutions ( Decision to EMI, Decision to SC, Settlement without recall, settlement with recall), giving those who use GEMS a 50/50 chance of keeping or losing their sets.

So again, waiting for a reply:

Either give sound business reasoning why GEMS should be purchased during the open case with these risks instead of waiting to resolution, or join me in recommending that folks wait until the case is resolved.

So, three possible outcomes

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Joe, it sounds like you are assuming that SC is hearing the death knell before anything concrete has even happened. Take the auto industry over the last few decades, how many death knells were ringing but yet people continued to lease their vehicles. whether Ford, GM, or Chrysler. The reality is that both parties will most likely come to some kind of solution as happens the vast majority of times in lawsuits, whether EMI v SC or SC v KJ.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Is there anyone else who grows increasingly weary of folks who lean on analogies that ALWAYS have different circumstances that render the attempt moot? It is almost as tiresome to watch individuals flail about, wasting their energy verbalizing the obvious rebuttals? I maintain that such posts should be preempted with the disclaimer, FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!

You mean like sinking in Quicksand?

You need to take a statistics class. You are assuming a LOT from start to finish. All four of your scenarios do not have equal weight. There are many outcomes, not only two, for your four scenarios, etc.

It's like saying that every time you drive your car, you have a 50/50 chance of keeping or losing your life. Either you get in an accident, or you don't. See the folly of your odds?



Exactly.



I think its a perfect analogy actually.

You know what I grow "increasingly weary" of? Endless threads of FUD filled with "What If's", "It COULD happen", "Beware! You could lose everything!". And then nothing happens. Over and over again.

Talk about tiresome flailing...

Sorta like the headlines "Huge Storm, Blizzard, (or any other weather phenomenon) Coming, Disaster Looming" and then a sprinkle of rain or snow happens.

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You can be strange but not a stranger