Lonman wrote:
No they didn't have KIAA (Karaoke Industry Alliance of America) back then, it was SPIN (Stop Piracy Internationally Now) - their were a couple more organizations formed tryingt to kill piracy and illegal copying - this was all around 1998 when it was really first tried to be dealt with and that was just with CD copies, computer wasnt' really an issue at that point, that came a few years later. But the many of the SC Spotlights had copy warnings, $1000 rewards to those with info on successful conviction of pirates, no copying even to hard drives. CB had the same kind of warnings in theirs.
So their stance has always been don't copy. They could never have put any kind of disclaimer that their would be future audits because they didn't know they were going to do them. They decided MUCH later down the road (what 3 years ago) that they would finally allow people to copy their stuff to computer WITH a proper audit - making in an 'authorized' copy instead of an illegal copy. And the unauthorized copies have always been stamped on every disc from day one. Investigations they have been looking for illegal copies for quite a while now.
Again, the point that was being discussed is their practice of suing first and asking questions later and with little or no proof and without first providing notice of inquiry or, with VALID proof, notice to cease and desist. I did not know of SPIN either. I would not have known they were even doing anything close to what they are doing had I not scratched my head over not seeing anything new (as far as product) and reading some stuff in a forum, which is all second hand news by the way.
The points being discussed had to do with the motives behind the lawsuits based on how they are executing them, not their past stand on how they felt about copies. If I remember correctly, they also state that the discs were not for public performance, but we used them every week for shows. I must now admit that I HAVE removed the tags from mattresses as well. I feel strongly they have zero rights to claim whether the songs are used in public performance as those rights are handled elsewhere. I also feel strongly they have very limited rights with regard to copying as those rights would fall to the original artists unless SC was granted rights to the audio and lyrics. So far, from what I've heard, I am pretty darned close. I am all but certain they have zero grounds to come back "after the fact" and demand audits. An employer can not demand a non compete after an employee is hired and, in general, no one can demand a nondisclosure after information has changed hands.
My point in all of this is with respect to the over all perception that SC is on a witch hunt and they are using the courts as their dipping tank. Yes, they may get a witch or two along the way, but they are also getting a lot of others and they don't seem to care which witch is which.
I really never wanted to get into this. I just wanted to keep up with what's going on in the karaoke world. To find THIS being what's going on is sickening and it all but makes me want to get out. All I wanted in the first place was a decent place to go sing a song or two on the weekends and ended up being the one to provide it. It sure isn't worth all this and it's not even close..
I'm done talking about this bull {add the ending yourself}.