Karaoke Forums

Came across this karaoke bar whos KJ was running his show off his laptop by going out on line to YouTube and then playing the music and video directly off
YouTube and onto the monitors.

As I recall there was at least one sound choice song played this way.

Id never seen YouTube used in this fashion...ie...to be the core source of a karaoke show.

Out of curiousity I asked him to put up a song for me to sing this way....as I looked, it showed it had only 31 seconds of play time for this song. He then told me sorry but that can happen with YouTube........which tells me it is a hit or miss proposition.

He then made the claim that his doing this was completely legal.

My questions are these:
1. Has anyone had any expereince with such a process?

2. What are the copyright legalities of operating in this fashion and this type of format shifting?

3. What sort of liscenes are provided within the YouTube TOS(terms of service) that might allow commercial usage/rebroadcast of such karaoke videos?

4. Does ASCAP/BMI provide for such an operation...along the lines of an online jukebox device?

5. Is this a new version of pirating?

6. Are not YouTube karaoke videos limited in use to HOME/PERSONAL USAGE only and specifically prohibited from commercial(ie in a bar for money) performance?

7. How would Soundchoice or Chartbuster weigh in on this??

Ideas, opinions????

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

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

It's not legal at all. It's willful copyright infringement.

Right now he's subject to civil suits and criminal charges. If current legislation in Congress is passed, doing this will be a federal felony.

This is the recommendation by Victoria Espinel:

"Ensure Felony Penalties for Infringement By Streaming and by Means of Other New Technology:
It is imperative that our laws account for changes in technology used by infringers. One recent technological change is the illegal streaming of content. Existing law provides felony penalties for willful copyright infringement, but felony penalties are predicated on the defendant either illegally reproducing or distributing the copyrighted work.

Questions have arisen about whether streaming constitutes the distribution of copyrighted works (and thereby is a felony) and/or performance of those works (and thereby is a not a felony). These questions have impaired the criminal enforcement of copyright laws.

To ensure that Federal copyright law keeps pace with infringers, and to ensure that DOJ and U.S. law enforcement agencies are able to effectively combat infringement involving new technology, the Administration recommends that Congress clarify that infringement by streaming, or by means of other similar new technology, is a felony in appropriate circumstances."

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Dave's not here.

In my opinion, the kj and the bar are both operating on the cheap and at the very least the kj is operating on the illegal side. I think the TOS (if there are any) will state something like "for home use only" or "not for commercial use"

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No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!

rumbolt: I would not worry about it too much, sounds like just what it is a show run on the cheap that would not be attractive to people that know anything about karaoke.

Name of KJ & Location please?

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"Just Say NO, To Justin Bieber & His Beatle Haircut"

WOS Why on earth would you think Brian Bell would know the name of the KJ and the location...he is not the OP or did you even bother to read the thread before asking your stupid question?

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Music speaks to the heart in ways words cannot express.

The question is not stupid but I did mistake the OP. Sorry.

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"Just Say NO, To Justin Bieber & His Beatle Haircut"

You are right, the question itself is not stupid and I should have left the word out. Sorry

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Music speaks to the heart in ways words cannot express.

Just curious here but would a private member club be considered a public venue?

A public performance [of music] is any performance at a place where persons “outside the normal circle of a family and its closest social acquaintances” are gathered.” For example, performances in places such as “private members” clubs or cinemas, discos, bars, sessions, clubs, restaurant or office (background music) are public performances.

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Dave's not here.

Kinda like asking "If I drove 10mph over the posted speedlimit and no one saw me, did I break the law?"

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No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!