Karaoke Forums

I realize burning copies of CD+Gs is not legal, and many people still do it.  I know of at least 4 people who run computer based karaoke shows against this policy.

Question:  Is there an organization out there actively searching for violators, or is this a myth?

Thanks.

Just cause they choose to use new technology that is available for them does not make the PC karaoke Host a pirate.
Now if they don't have the cdg discs they bought from like a karaoke dealer, that makes them a pirate.

Best say nothing, to no one, about anything.

Unless you know for FACT they are pirating!

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even running copied media... if you own the discs, it's not stealing.

it's breaking copyright. not piracy.

unless they're using tracks that they flat out don't own.

I've heard of this on the software side.  Microsoft and Adobe head up an effort to sweep through cities and bust companies who use unlicensed software.

I recently read somewhere that some of the karaoke companies fund a similar effort.  True?

They have tried with very little success which is why it's so alluring to the scumbags who download their library for free or buy a preloaded hard drive off of ebay.  They figure, what the hell, who's gonna catch me?  Someone who rips their legally owned library to computer - I have no problems with, it's the others that are going to DESTROY this industry on everyones side - manufacturers, kj's AND singers alike!

Chartbuster is recently trying to do something, but how far they will go we'll just have to wait & see.  Sound Choice tried without much success.

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And it is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black.

There are some karaoke mfgs that have never gotten the right to reproduce some of the songs in their selection, and then they try going after the pirates for illegally copying thier discs.  I am not condoning piracy, but it is a bit hipocritical of the manufactures of CDGs.

One of my competiors buys some of thier CDGs off Ebay, and about 1/2 of the ones thay have bought are illegal copies.  Paper labels and all.

And the same competior bough a custom CDG from a website (no longer in business) and when he got the disc there were songs form 3 differnt manufactures, and a paper label.


As far as turning someone in, you can try, but be careful who you tell.  Don't want to get in your vehicle after a gig and find your tires slashed.

for bad ebayers, you can give them negative feedback, and alert Ebay to their ILLEGAL behavior. Ebay can usually get you a paypal credit if you use paypal.

By the same token, copied illegal discs, even those you pay for, you still can't use!

If you think you can put an "illegal" KJ put of business by turning them in, you better think real hard about it.    If you drop a dime and the "Busters" come to your town to get them, they will check out everyone for miles.     That means you better be super clean 100% of the time because you won't know when they are coming.   I'll repeat myself.     Best say nothing, to no one.      Deal with it.     I don't like it but......   You just might start something that they will finish for you.     You might go down with them.

That's right, just bury your head (Ostrich syndrome) & ignore the problem & never do a thing about it.

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[shadow=deepskyblue]I'm impressed, I've never met such a small mind inside such a big head before.[/shadow]

The pathetic aspect of this forum and threads about problems of piracy as you all call it is that there is so much bickering and egos involved. There are trolls here that with a simple scheme totally destroy any newbies desire to participate, agitate everybody here with an enimic ego and why the moderators dont do something is beyond my comprehension.  I have seen very few threads here (I only read when we are in port) that actually resolve anything.

 Should we work on real solutions or live in a internet fantasy land. A real KJ here told me that a local bought a system with a hard drive with Soundchoice on it with no cds He called Soundchoice they told him OK since you are honest you agree to pay us so much a month and we will send you a letter of legal authorization for anybody that asks.

I have been all over the world it is not the bands or cheap entertainment that  determine the success or profit for any club. It is the local economy, law structure, and many other factors. In a atmosphere like Vegas do you think an entertainer that works for less will prosper? Dont think so...Provide quality and gradually that philosophy will prevail. I can imagine a thread where some hookers are are complaining about 5th and Grand ave where they only charge $50..

  If you dont think the singers and karaoke nuts dont realize who is cheating who and who are the assholes then you are totally caught up in the fantasy of this forum. So let the trolls jump in with their egotistical comments but lets come up with some solutions and positive ideas . Bury your head in the sand yank? I been in the Sahara desert...

Copyrights ?  Lets talk about then the laws that directly apply to the KJ business and what we need to do to do to to inform the lawmakers what we need.. Adult procedures ahead procede with ego lrft at the door and trolls not apply

Bigdog said: Am I the only one in this forum that doesn't used burned cds? Maybe I'm behind the times, but I wouldn't be able to burn a cd+g on my computer, even if I had to. I tried it once, and the audio came out fine, but no graphics. I worked at a bar that was buying burned cd+g's from another KJ here in Topeka. They were paying him $10 a disc, and I could've gotten most of those discs, new, for less than $10 each. The problem was, that he was copying them at too high a speed, and, most of the time, when you played them, there was a lot of "confetti" on the screen. They were pretty much unusable.

I can understand backing up your original cds to protect your investment, (if I could only figure out how to do that with a 660 mHz Celeron II processor, 64 megabytes of ram, windows ME and a five year old cd-rw drive). I can't understand using cd's that work like crap, or cutting corners and putting your livelihood at risk.

Sea.eng1 said:I don't understand this response at all. What does piracy or illegal copying have to do with egos?

How do the trolls do this and in what way? Who, specifically, are you referring to as a troll?

Then you need to read more threads.

That actually sounds like a reasonable solution to a real problem.

I'm missing the point here. Please elaborate.

"the fantasy of this forum?" Again, I'm lost. In what way is this forum a "fantasy?" You seem to show a lot of disrespect for this forum, and the people on it, yet you choose to post anyway. I'm wondering why.

Do you have any? if so, I'd like to hear them.

Your point being?

"... what we need to do to do to to inform the lawmakers what we need?" Good idea. (I think.) Let's.

Again, I'm lost. I don't even know what this run on sentence means. (lrft at the door???)

Please clarify. I'm sure you have something to contribute. I'm just at a loss to figure out what it is, mate.

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[highlight=purple]The Truth is out there. ... Way, way out there![/highlight]

I usually ignore all these "discussions" concerning "piracy". The way I see it unless you have a mutiple duplicater in your basement and distributing and SELLING 100's of copies ..who cares......  The best way to GET and KEEP a gig is to be professional , have a decent system, selection and run a good fair show.

I'm not worried about a "pirate" taking my gig by undercutting.  I maintain a good repoire with the manager and practice good business ethics.  Not to mention all of the above.    NOW if you are on ebay offering NEW discs and selling COPIES

Thats just fraud and those are the people who should be turned in

I'm only going to address this part of your posting. You talk about cutting corners, yet you don't even have what most of the online world uses as an adequate system!

Who really is cutting corners here?  Besides, even for online usage, how much are you able to do with 64mb of ram? Guess I just do more online than you do!

as for the karaoke copying/burning:
You DO need more of a computerized investment than what you have to be able to reproduce the karaoke tracks.

Yes the KAPA is in effect and is slowly cracking down on the piracy. Therefore with the help of real karaoke companies we can put a stop to people ruining our income by turning th ones in who get everything that we have paid for for free. When i see Bars running karaoke with burnt disc's I leave the bar owner a copy of the KAPA copyright infringement laws, which states that he as a bar owner is equally liable for pending charges. If you want our business then do it legally. I didn't invest $25,000.00 for some welfare bum to get a cheap system using his or her welfare cheque and not pay for the disc's. to go in and run a show for a freaking bar tab of $60.00 a night. as for just home use we couldn't care less what you do but if  you're on the road with it earning a living,you will get caught and the fines are huge

KAPA that is funnier than pirates whining about piracy...

OH SO TRUE....

KAPA=SOUND CHOICE=SLEP-TONE

Didn't they got sued a couple years back for copyright violations?

Karaoke roy just go to the guitar center and buy a duplicator for a hundred bucks. That how I archived my 15,000 cdg's. Takes about 2 minutes a disc. leave the computer for more important things like porn...ha ha

Yeah VERY slowly....their last known attempt was in 2004 with their last successful attempt in 2002.  You don't keep up much on them hmmmmm?  They haven't even updated their website since 2004 & their only contact info on reporting piracy is the manufacturers of karaoke discs only.  Fill out our reporting form & snail mail it to the manufacturer.

Sound Choice admitted that kapa didn't work...nice concept, but...., they ended up spending more money to fight it than they lost in theft of their products.

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[shadow=deepskyblue]I'm impressed, I've never met such a small mind inside such a big head before.[/shadow]