Karaoke Forums

This copyright stuff is all federal. It's all congress stuff. I have a fairly directly line to my local congressman, who also happens to be Japanese, and also happens to sing "My Way" once in a while down at 7 Bamboo. Here's a copy of what I sent his assistant.

Hi Meri!

It's been a while. I was wondering if Mike had some time to talk
about issues affecting the karaoke industry. I can try and boil it
down here.

Karaoke has changed a lot in the last 20 years. A lot of folks run
their shows from PC's. (A lot pirate the content, but this is a
separate issue)

There's a few US karaoke disc makers that are trying to say that
copying CD's you bought and paid for to your hard drive is against the
law. They're really causing a big stink over it, and scaring karaoke
DJ's into submitting themselves for an audit with nasty attorney
letters and the like.

This would be like saying, "I heard this one karaoke DJ was growing
pot in his house, I don't know which one, but let's search them all"

I myself don't pirate content. Anytime they can look at my stuff.
Problem is, I don't agree with this tactic.

Here's where the issue really gets interesting... They're also saying
that any paid for, downloaded karaoke is against the law too, yet
there are legitimate companies (not these companies spreading the FUD)
selling karaoke on Itunes and other download sites. In the last few
days this has all erupted into a burst of discussion on one karaoke
forum I hang out on.

viewtopic.php?p=296174#p296174

If you can scroll down a bit on the above link, you can see one online
karaoke download site (tricerasoft1) trying to set the record
straight.

I want clarification on these issues. Who's right? The US companies
saying artist/label sanctioned karaoke downloads and legally purchased
content copied to your hard drive is legal, or the US companies saying
it's all illegal?

Because if the former is right, I have nothing to worry about at the 7
Bamboo. If the latter is correct, then I've just broken the law 444
times (the number of legit CD's we have) when I copied the CD's to 7
Bamboo's hard drive, possibly creating a trademark/copyright liability
for the 7 Bamboo.

Thank you so much.

Yours Truly,
Robert Cortese

I should have a reply in the next few days, and if not I can just stop by his office.

If we really want a definitive answer on these issues, everyone needs to do the same. Everyone needs to find out who their local congressperson is and bug the hell out of them.

When you send you letter, include that "Robert Cortese from San Jose CA has contact Mike Honda's Office" Each person that writes a new letter, append the names (and your name) By the time we get to the last few congress people, we'll have a chain of people listed that have asked the same question across the country. Let's keep this list rolling, on this thread.

I want karaoke forums to support me on this effort (staff) This is the way to get final, done, no more question about these issues answers that we need. I hope you'll trim any "anti" statements against this effort. This is the "RIGHT" way of getting the answer, nothing out of line here.

I'm not hiding behind anything, not even anonymity anymore.

So again..

Write your local congress, include my name, and the name of the congressperson I just mentioned.

Don't hide behind anonymity. Include your name, and your congresspersons name on your replies to this thread so others may include it on theirs.

Let's put an end to this argument once and for all.

_________________
Living my life as Robert Cortese, 162 E. Jackson St, San Jose CA.

It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
-me

All well and good, however your congressperson is NOT a judge or an attorney...

It will still be interesting to see what their response is.

I would have asked a few additional questions as well...

99% of the people elected to congress couldn't tell you the first thing that was in any bill they passed (like the healthcare law we have to wait to see what is in it as it is implimented, now we are finding out that many of it's supporters want exemptions from it)

Maybe not virgin, but when there's a huge, national problem and enough people to bring their attention to it, they are the ONLY ones with the real power to change things.

Congress has made many laws to regulate trade everywhere. DMCA is a recent example. There is so much confusion in this market, so much bickering, and I'm tired of it. We need our congresspeople to settle this once and for all for us. We need clarification, otherwise we're going to just keep bickering.

Look, if you don't want to write in, fine. Don't respond here. Like it or not this is the only way to effect change.

Unless you got something to hide that prevents you from doing so.

_________________
Living my life as Robert Cortese, 162 E. Jackson St, San Jose CA.

It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
-me

If you're REALLY serious toqer, this be the lady to contact.

Victoria Espinel
U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/intellectualproperty
intellectualproperty@omb.eop.gov

Her recommendations:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default ... _paper.pdf

_________________
Dave's not here.

I'll write her too. I hope you do the same.

We should still contact congress. They're the ones in charge of her branch. (Eg her boss)

_________________
Living my life as Robert Cortese, 162 E. Jackson St, San Jose CA.

It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
-me

And just to point out,

We are congresses boss.

_________________
Living my life as Robert Cortese, 162 E. Jackson St, San Jose CA.

It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
-me

This is the best source of current info on the state of IP policy in the US online. It's free to join. I did.

http://copyrightalliance.org/

_________________
Dave's not here.

JESUS. This is why we as KJ's are going to lose. Do you guys even get that? Either you're on board or go eff yourself. I'm sorry to be such a dick about this, but this is what we have to do. Don't effing say a word unless it's "Toq, I just wrote my congressman"

And just to abide the bide, I'm an EFF member
http://www.eff.org/

Same difference. It's also why I say EFF so much.

_________________
Living my life as Robert Cortese, 162 E. Jackson St, San Jose CA.

It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
-me

I'm sorry moonrider.. I was being a jerk.

_________________
Living my life as Robert Cortese, 162 E. Jackson St, San Jose CA.

It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
-me

But back on track here.

None of these organizations are going to care an EFF about us. Seriously! They got bigger fish to fry in the music industry than the 1% that the US karaoke manu's might represent. Even congress won't care if it's just 1 or two KJ's complaining.

We have to get everyone complaining. As the saying goes, "Write your congressman" We need to do it, I am so sick and tired of the bickering, and people posturing that their interpretation of the copyright/trademark law concerning karaoke WHICH they based off someone else's interpretation of vague, poorly written, and outdated laws is correct. These are all federal laws that US disc makers are bickering over, with import disc makers. It's got to stop.

So go bug your congressman.

Start here if you don't know who they are.
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

_________________
Living my life as Robert Cortese, 162 E. Jackson St, San Jose CA.

It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
-me

'Sok . . . my congressman's a bigger jerk. it's why I didn't vote for him.

I make sure he knows my stance on IP policies and enforcement.

I LOVE Ms. Espinel's white paper. I think she got it right.

_________________
Dave's not here.

I got a response! Didn't even take an hour!

Robert,

This appears to be a copyright issue which would be difficult for us to investigate. However, Mike Nguyen who handles business issues in our office, will conduct a preliminary inquiry to find out what we can. He will be in touch with you by the end of the week as he is out of town now.

I am so sorry that this confusion is threatening your business.

My best to you,
Meri

So look folks,

We really need to send the same message to each congressmember. Are we breaking the law? Are we not breaking the law? Who's right?

Enough posturing, get to writing.

_________________
Living my life as Robert Cortese, 162 E. Jackson St, San Jose CA.

It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
-me

I have been writing to my senators and representatives about this for five years in that time only two have bothered to even respond with a form letter thanking me for my concern and asking me for my support at the next election.

I still write them about this and government waste!

Hey moonrider! Thanks for that tip earlier! My bloods not even boiling now!

_________________
Living my life as Robert Cortese, 162 E. Jackson St, San Jose CA.

It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
-me

Oh I should also let you know moon, that screenshot was taken from my home desktop, which runs ubuntu

_________________
Living my life as Robert Cortese, 162 E. Jackson St, San Jose CA.

It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
-me

That's nice Toger, perhaps it will help you some!

I don't know what you said, but I don't have to see you say it. I'm cool now.

_________________
Living my life as Robert Cortese, 162 E. Jackson St, San Jose CA.

It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
-me

You will!

hooray for linux. now if only there was a decent karaoke program for it.

on a separate not, an more on topic,
one of my regs is a state legislator, gave him the cliffs notes version of the issues and he wants to help out. we will sit down at his office, he has 2 other guys there that he wants to sit in with us who may help as well (not sure of their roles, but we spoke during a show, was kinda busy)
so next week we head to his office and have his ear, he is ready to help guide us from here.

not as cool as congress, but at least it is something, better than nothing.

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