Karaoke Forums

Hey all,

I have usually been buying new doubles of my karaoke CDs for a second rig but I have a question.

When is two copies NOT two copies? If I have have two copies of CD-XYZ one that is like new condition in my original set, and the other is in worn or scratched condition in a second set, does it "count" if the CD does not play well or if at all?

I would think that even a totally broken CD (say in 2 actual pieces) with an exact matching like new version would count as two instances so long as they have the original labels and so forth.

I am asking this because I have seen some karaoke CDs that are really cheap ($1-$2) because they are worn or have scratches that might cause playback issues in a store I was looking at.

Thanks!

If the damage isn't on the label side, I've found MOST discs to be repairable as far as scratches. I have a cd resurfacer I bought years ago that brought I'd guess 95% of 'scratched/unplayable' discs back to like new condition.
If it's a snapped disc I believe that would be considered no longer useable so even if it was on computer - technically it should be deleted or the disc replaced.

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

Lonman,
When I went through my audit I had a SC disc that I snapped when applying the watermark to the inner ring (following the advice of SC to place the disc on a piece of cardboard box while applying (I used a single walled when it snapped and then decided to use a double walled from that point on which was better)). I was miffed and told Brian about it. He Skype-viewed it and nothing was said that I had to have it replaced. I did not replace it nor did they send a replacement. It was assumed by me that since it was already shifted to HD and now that HD is backed up all is OK. I still have those tracks in my library. It was the 1st disc in a Teen Pak.

I passed the audit.

_________________
You can never argue with a crazy mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mind ----B. Joel
I have great faith in fools; My friends call it self-confidence ---- E.A. Poe
I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity ----E.A. Poe
I don't know, I don't care, and it doesn't make any difference! ----A. Einstein
Double bubble, toil and trouble ----W. Shakespeare & Walt Disney
I hate it when I get on FaceBook ----Me
Karaoke might be Groundhog Day ----?
Of All the Martial Arts, Karaoke Inflicts the Most Pain ----?

Obviously I can't speak for all producers, but I can speak for the one I work for, and this policy applies to Sound Choice and Chartbuster Karaoke.

We consider an authentic original disc to be valid for purposes of establishing 1:1 correspondence, regardless of the condition the disc is in (scratched, snapped, chipped, warped, or otherwise, playable or not playable).

Thanks for clarifying, Jim.

_________________
You can never argue with a crazy mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mind ----B. Joel
I have great faith in fools; My friends call it self-confidence ---- E.A. Poe
I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity ----E.A. Poe
I don't know, I don't care, and it doesn't make any difference! ----A. Einstein
Double bubble, toil and trouble ----W. Shakespeare & Walt Disney
I hate it when I get on FaceBook ----Me
Karaoke might be Groundhog Day ----?
Of All the Martial Arts, Karaoke Inflicts the Most Pain ----?

Good o know. I have a couple broke discs from years back. 1 I actually replaced with a custom from Clarks in Aus. for $80 It was 8148.

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

I just shredded all of my Backstage discs, but I am going to tell you they are Sound Choice.

_________________
-Chris

OK, wiseguy...we have to be able to tell it's one of ours.

That's good to know!

While I wouldn't it risk on a CDG that isn't already in my collection, I don't mind getting the double with a better version of it already in hand.

As for SC/CB, disks, that's a great thing to find out! A legal KJ who is making a new rig can be able to build it cheaper if those CDGs are available at a lower price.

I can understand if someone has it on their system and then the disk suffered a break, but would however question someone buying severely damaged/unplayable disks without doubles though, as they might have obtained the computer files illegally.

Thanks!

I don't think that really matters either since PEP allows, users under the "HELP" program, to use SC files regardless of how they acquired them (with a minimum192 kbs restriction).

Some time ago, our position was that it was necessary to rip the files yourself, which would of course require a working disc. Our position on that has relaxed somewhat. Our strong preference is for you to rip the files yourself, but if you have 1:1 correspondence, we'll usually tolerate the sourcing of the rips from elsewhere as long as they're of sufficient quality.

Where that becomes a problem is when there are circumstances that call into question whether you had 1:1 correspondence prior to being sued. We take a pretty dim view of people who wait to get sued in order to get legit, then try to pass their systems off as having been legit all along. If we're properly motivated to do so, we have ways of determining whether tracks have been illegally sourced. If we're not doing the audit to resolve a lawsuit, we're probably not going to look at that as carefully. (By the way, that's one very good reason to get certified voluntarily--there is less scrutiny.)

Well another thing that's good to know, as I am having no end of trouble with those horrible MediaCloq CDs I own. When I had sent in my CDs for trade to SC, they were missing some of the more popular CDs and I was kind of stuck with them. I've read the forums here, and tried different drives, different computers, and different ripper software to get past it. The damn thing is stubborn. While they are fine at 128kbps, I want them at least 192kbps to keep up with the recommendations.

Is this supposed to scare people into paying you to use the product(s) they originally purchased from other (now out of business firms), or just stop using the brands altogether?

I understand that you and your client/partner have absolutely no integrity when it comes to this business other than how you can continue to sue everyone on a ridiculous technicality... but then again, when all you have is the ridiculous technicality, I guess you have to do what you can to survive.

"Chartbuster" doesn't exist and all you have is the trademark for which you threaten suit.
That's known as a "trademark trolling operation."

Tell me it isn't.

As a traditional troll is said to collect a toll from those trying to cross a bridge, a trademark troll "magically appears when an unsuspecting producer adopts the same or similar mark and poses upon them two choices: pay to get a license to use my mark or litigate".

It's intended to answer the question posed.

Are you back from another "vacation"?



What, pray tell, is the "ridiculous technicality" to which you refer?



We did not "adopt" the Chartbuster Karaoke trademarks. We purchased the marks, together with the business goodwill associated with them, from the lawful owner, who had good title. There has been active enforcement of the Chartbuster Karaoke trademarks continuously, dating back to the original owner. There have been valid licenses to the Chartbuster Karaoke trademarks issued dating back at least to the ownership of the previous owner; those licenses remain valid and in force. We continue to offer to sell and to sell products bearing the Chartbuster Karaoke trademarks.

In my experience, the term "trademark troll" is used primarily by infringers who are irritated at having been called to account for their infringement.

If this is difficult to understand, I admit that I feel sorry for you. It must be very difficult for you to make your way in the world under the conditions from which you obviously suffer.