Karaoke Forums

But that was kind of my point. Creating their own is even worse than just purchasing/downloading through a real source. They've been doing it for years with no impact to them and they even advertise the hell out of the fact. They aren't distributing or selling their creations, but I seriously doubt that they've paid any sync rights (I could be wrong but doubt it).

The fact remains that I do have a hard copy of my receipt that maps out to the file I have in my possession. I have proof of purchase for something I possess. That does matter.

And just because Florida isn't on board with the whole pot thing now, doesn't mean they won't be in a few years.

I hope you are right on this..'' we vote on amendment 2 medical marijuana in Nov and I hope 60%. Say yes....a recreational law would be better but step by step is good foe now

I am banking that the digital downloads I buy and use now will remain useful for the life of my business. If I am wrong, you get to say "I told you so". If I am right, I am just going to go about my business without gloating. Though I will likely smoke a joint in celebration.

In fact, both of these issues parallel each other quite nicely. I have been smoking pot since 1978. I have never made a big deal of it and not once have I ever been busted for it. I joined NORML 30 years ago and I have quietly supported marijuana reform. I am fortunate that I live in a progressive state (WA) where the citizens and the politicians have enough vision to have changed the laws around marijuana.

I feel comfortable that a similar kind of change will take place for karaoke music and digital downloads. And like I did with pot, I am already on board and enjoying the benefits that others are denying themselves. Except with karaoke music, they are denying themselves for no good reason. No one is prosecuting karaoke hosts for digital downloads. Absolutely no one.

As of yet that is true... the future remains unclear


So unlike your legitimate concern that a pot smoker in Florida could potentially go to prison merely for possession of marijuana, absolutely no one is being scrutinized for buying and download karaoke tracks. Absolutely no one.

Yet... but if you read the tricerasoft lawsuit it requires all tracks to be destroyed by kj's if they purchased from Tri and per the TOS with Tri could be required..'all the publishers would have to do is publish the demand and the sue kj's...only a few dozen high profile cases would be required in each area.... publishers have VERY deep pockets and like to make examples.


I will be thinking about this tonight when I smoke a doob before going to a karaoke show tonight where they have paid for digital downloads......

Party on....

One karaoke hosting company using backing tracks they paid for, to make karaoke tracks for use only at their own shows, that they do not sell or give away for free - that should be pretty far off of anyone's radar. I actually have a certain amount of respect for what he is doing simply because he is doing it all on his own, is not stealing something someone else made and isn't diluting the market by giving away what he made. I respect that a lot more than some asshat that fires up a BitTorrent client or mIRC and outright steals the work of someone else.

Yet... but if you read the tricerasoft lawsuit it requires all tracks to be destroyed by kj's if they purchased from Tri and per the TOS with Tri could be required..'all the publishers would have to do is publish the demand and the sue kj's...only a few dozen high profile cases would be required in each area.... publishers have VERY deep pockets and like to make examples.

The Tricerasoft case will take years to resolve. Also, that case is about distribution, not about whether the tracks were licensed in the first place. The tracks were appropriately licensed and produced by SBI, ZOOM, Sunfly, etc. So anyone using them is using properly licensed material. The manner in which they obtained them is what is in question.

Finally, let's say that Tricerasoft loses and some sort of order is issued requiring all KJ's to delete the tracks they purchased from Tricerasoft. How would they enforce it? Sending notices to everyone won't accomplish anything. All any KJ has to do is say, oh, I bought the tracks through another site. The publishers aren't going to sue any KJ without issuing cease and desist letters first. They MIGHT sue someone that doesn't comply.

KJ's getting sued by publishers - possible, but highly improbable.

Most of you post is spot on.... with the exception of the tracks being properly licensed...... the tracks ARE NOT licensed in the USA and Canada......PRS specifically excludes licensing in those countries.[/color] The greatest majority of downloads sites do state somewhere (maybe well hidden so you may have to dig)Not for use in USA or Canada... Tri was the only company that kept insisting they were legal.

Most of you post is spot on.... with the exception of the tracks being properly licensed...... the tracks ARE NOT licensed in the USA and Canada......PRS specifically excludes licensing in those countries. The greatest majority of downloads sites do state somewhere (maybe well hidden so you may have to dig)Not for use in USA or Canada... Tri was the only company that kept insisting they were legal.

The contract through BMI specifically has a karaoke inclusion if the club checks it. I would assume the others have similar additions as well - never really checked. But it would be pretty naive on the PRO's to add the inclusion and not expect the graphics to accompany since karaoke has had video/graphics since the mid to late 80's. But I did talk with a couple reps via BMI a few years back and they said as long as the club has checked the karaoke box (paying for the extra cost) the graphics aren't an issue. No I never documented or recorded the call, so that is all hearsay. You can call and check personally.

No need to check BMI for me, Lon. I know there is an inclusion, and know the rates. What I meant was whether a karaoke inclusion was ENOUGH for liability coverage. In other words, while it is necessary, is the liability protection completely comprehensive?

This question is in regard to ANY type of show, whether disc, PC shifted, or download.

So the answer is that no one knows if the PRO fees are lyric comprehensive. I suspect that they are not, and that this will be the stick point if the publishers/owners wish to make any major changes to the karaoke industry in the not to distant future. I am keeping in mind that I believe that these organizations rep the artists' interests, not neccesarily the publishers / owners'.

If Jim can confirm or deny my suspicions I would appreciate it.

So the answer is that no one knows if the PRO fees are lyric comprehensive. I suspect that they are not, and that this will be the stick point if the publishers/owners wish to make any major changes to the karaoke industry in the not to distant future. I am keeping in mind that I believe that these organizations rep the artists' interests, not neccesarily the publishers / owners'.

If Jim can confirm or deny my suspicions I would appreciate it.

Ah. Jim, you understood my question, and I do appreciate your reply.

" At a minimum those rights are not accounted for by the PROs."

As previously stated, this could possibly be a sticking point later ( whether such cases are soft or not- venues don't like waves) , over which we Karaoke Hosts have no control. While no one has shown any interest in going down this road YET, I have been shiwn that would COULD happen just may do so. Gonna be fun to find out.

Ah. Jim, you understood my question, and I do appreciate your reply.

" At a minimum those rights are not accounted for by the PROs."

As previously stated, this could possibly be a sticking point later ( whether such cases are soft or not- venues don't like waves) , over which we Karaoke Hosts have no control. While no one has shown any interest in going down this road YET, I have been shiwn that would COULD happen just may do so. Gonna be fun to find out.