Karaoke Forums

Hello! I own a ton of karaoke CD's. I was quite fortunate actually - I found a local music store that was selling Sound Choice... but they were going out of business, see. So they sold me like 200 disks for like 150 bucks.

Back to the question - I have all these disks but I do not want to spend time ripping. Is it piracy if I download these exact disks to my hard drive through a pirating site? I mean, I know I can get caught and taken to court... (probably wont happen). But if it did happen, would I be safe if I show that I actually owned all the songs I was downloading?

Keep in mind, The Sound Choice Gustavo have an original copy of each song they sell which is then "Copied" to multiple disks and distributed throughout the world. So I am in fact downloading THE EXACT COPY of my disks, right? And it would be... shall I say... licit?

Also, I know you like sound choice for their quality, but why are we paying so much to these people per disk, really? The artists who created these songs only charge 1.50 at MOST for their hit songs while sound choice charges well over any reasonable rate! No wonder they are getting pirated!

So is it Piracy to download pirated songs I already legitimately own?

I suggest you call Sound Choice & ask them directly. 1-800-788-4487

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

I recommend ripping them yourself. You will have complete control and will be able to rip to a much higher quality.

Should you go the download pirate route you won't know for sure what you have downloaded unless you play every individual song and watch carefully. That's almost more work than ripping your own.

Also many of the pirated songs have distinct characteristics (flaws) that makes them easily identified as pirate versions as well as lower quality audio.

I wouldn't do it. I like to know exactly what I'm going to be playing in my show before it ever hits the screen and I like knowing my stuff will always be better quality than the pirate down the street.

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KNOW THYSELF

Take the time and rip them - you'll have superior audio quality and if you use a good program like Power Burner you will have nice graphic rips as well. Don't be lazy.

I agree with the above: Rip them yourself and you won't have any question on whether or not you're legit or not.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Rip Em Danno..

Agree with doing it yourself. With downloads you never know the quality nor graphic issues that usually accompany.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Having actually done this myself before I cared or new any better, I can definitively say that I spent more time dealing with crappy karaoke graphics and music, than the time I spent ripping the discs i owned.

the only exception was when I couldnt get a clean rip off of my disk then I tried to find it online for the graphic file.

-James

To the OP question:

Yes.

Supporting a pirate site is Bad. Ripping your own discs, Good!

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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!

Suggest you rip 'em.

Vacuum your carpet or mop your floor, do laundry, watch a movie, this is one task you can multi task and in the end you will have gotten almost as much done as if you hadn't done the discs. Just check in on the discs every 10 minutes or so (different computers will have different ripping speeds.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

defiantly rip-um yourself it now takes much less time than 5 years ago and you can control the quality. Would not recommend supporting a pirate site and if you download them you change viruses and porn inserted in the files( HAHA saw a pirate fired recently because porn came up in the middle of a song.....wonder how many people are filling these downloads with viruses and porn what a great idea )

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"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

"Good?"
Why hasn't any of the "certified KJ's" informed this person that what he is doing is ILLEGAL without "written permission" from SC or CB to "transfer the trademark" from the original media to his hard drive?

Are you trying to get this person sued?

Because your posting your knowledge is so much more persuasive.

So what does it take to prove willful infringement again? Oh, yeah evidence that shows the infringer knew that their actions were illegal and did it anyway.

TO red_idol : Wall of Sound gave you SC's phone number and Chartbuster's is on their website as well as Stellar's on their own. 3 phone calls and you could obtain permission to transfer your CD+G's to computer without fear of a lawsuit from the karaoke mfr's.

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Never the same show twice!

And WallOfSound's post said nothing of it being illegal, or that SC has and is still suing KJ's that have "ripped" their discs to their hard drives. It simply said:



My point exactly... Why did it take this long for "certified" folks to let him in on the fact that SC was SUING those KJ's that rip their discs?

Lead generation?

Why is there a sudden silence from the "protectors of the SC trademark?" You folks go 'round and 'round about "transferring the trademark without permission".... trademark this and trademark that.... but when a newbie posts about doing exactly that... you folks clam up?

Amazing.

It might take a little more than just a phone call to aquire that permission.

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KNOW THYSELF

......

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

no need, you handle that just fine for us.
He is a KJ from Cali, if he was unaware of the law suits, he must live under a rock. he was informed to call SC and ask them, if he does not, his own fault.

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

Hey Everyone! Thanks for all the posts. I think it has been about 24 hours since I posted and at least 18 posts appeared. It sounds like everyone is saying that the all mighty and Omni Present Sound Choice is out to do harm to those who wish to do it harm, even if unintentional. So I don't want to cause problems for myself. I will just continue to buy disks and rip them onto my own hard drive after I get permission from sound choice and the like.

But I am not sure you or I know what we are talking about... especially you!

This is part 2 of sound choices Gem Series Liscensing.

OWNERSHIP. You acknowledge and agree that the ownership of all Media, including all right, title, and interest therein, belongs to Sound Choice and will remain with Sound Choice throughout the term of this Agreement. You also acknowledge that all rights in the Media and the Content not specifically granted to you by operation of law or expressly granted through this Agreement are reserved to Sound Choice or to third parties, as applicable. You further acknowledge and agree that the ownership of all Content—including the entire right, title, and interest therein, including copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights—belongs to Sound Choice or the respective rights holders of the Content. In particular, copyright in the underlying musical works (the composition rights) belongs to the original authors or their assignees and are reserved to them. This Agreement does not grant you any rights with respect to those copyright holders. We are unable to grant you any particular license or resolve any claim on behalf of those copyright holders or any other third party. You are responsible for obtaining any necessary licenses or permissions prior to any public performance of the underlying musical works.

Does this mean that by purchasing sound choice products, that not only do we not own the product we purchased but we have no right to play publicly unless we get the written permission for each individual song from the respected liscensing companies?? Does this mean that perhaps sound choice will "Allow" us to play to play their music with no repercussions from SOUND CHOICE... but THEY CAN'T allow us to play without possibly getting in trouble from BMI, RIAA, ASCAP or anyone else?

Just wondering...