Karaoke Forums

Can someone explain the laws concerning regular cds (mp3 music). If you own the cd music disc can u rip it to your computer and play it commercially. thanks

Fees paid by the venue, not by you.

ASCAP, BMI, SESAC all require that you as a DJ must own the original CD, Record, Tape for the music your playing at a venue.

that covers your (@$%&#!)!

now you don't have to pay any fee's to those company's, it's up to the venue to pay all performance fee's.

I've asked ASCAP about ripping disc to computer, they said that as long as I own an original album that I purchased then I was legal to use them.

that was several years ago, you will have call them and ask about purchased downloads.

downloaded music that you didn't purchase or have no proof of purchase is not legal at all.

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It's all good!

How would they know if you purchased the music?

you have the original cdg in your possession or receipts for your downloads.

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It's all good!

But that is none of their business and they have zero authority to see it or even ask about it.

There is also no reasonable cause to withhold the information if asked for it.

-Chris

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-Chris

While I agree with your statement Chris, I also believe that is the one thing that sets us a part from other countries, FREEDOM & RIGHTS. They are being slowly taken away from us and I for one am surely not just going to give mine away. You want to see mine without a warrant or a court order then you are just wanting because it isn't going to happen. It's not that I couldn't show it to you but why should I? Because you want to see them? You want me to prove to you that I have them? I say prove to me that I don't !!

I'm not quite sure why (some of) the karaoke community feels that these rights shouldn't exist. There are reasons why we have these protections in place in our country. Of course anyone who wants to just lay down their own rights and say "Oh yes sir, look at my personal property because you want too" most certainly can but I for one enjoy having the right to say "NO".

Can I search your car sir? "NO. Not without a warrant." Can I come into your house and look for drugs and/or stolen property? "NO. Not without a warrant." Just because you don't have anything to hide does not mean you have to prove you don't have anything to hide.

Can I see your karaoke & music CD's? "NO. Not without a warrant / or a Civil Suit" ... ahhh there's always that : )

I believe in and will do my part to protect the very rights you mention. But I also don't take a hard line approach to the examples you gave.

I have been stopped countless times in my driving life for traffic violations. I have only been asked to allow a search of my car twice. Once I agreed, once I did not. In neither case did I have anything to hide, but when I did not agree, I had my reasons and I stood up for my rights. They got their warrant, they found nothing, and I was able to be smug about it.

I agreed to let my house be searched once too. I had a great chat with one of the officers as they took a look around. He even came to my karaoke show a couple of times. It's been about 3 months since I last chatted with him so thanks for the reminder to drop him a line.

I voluntarily provided all of my disc information at the time of my Sound Choice audit. I just see no reason why showing discs to an auditor is any kind of an attack on my personal freedoms or rights. Especially when there are pirates and thieves undermining the very same freedoms and rights. If I can eliminate doubt by showing someone a bunch of discs I have stored in my basement, then that is a no-brainer for me. Not to mention the positive benefits I have enjoyed from doing so.

-Chris

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-Chris

As was your legal right. Anyone should also have this right when it comes to other things too ... without being judged first. I understand you were proactive in your pursuit of proving your legality. I may be wrong but you were also fresh off of being swindled and felt the need to prove your innocence and that your intent was not done in bad faith. That's as it should be. But wouldn't someone who has spent years building a reputation and being above board find having to all of a sudden prove themselves to be a little annoying? It's quite possible someone doesn't feel the need to get a "certificate" that holds no legal standing other than from the (un)legal provider of said certificate. It's great that it has helped you along the way and that it continues to build your business. That's a great business move on your part. There also may be others that don't have a need for it to keep their business going because they have a solid reputation already.

I'm not being argumentative Chris and I respect the passion you have taken in regards to your business but as you said ... "In neither case did I have anything to hide, but when I did not agree, I had my reasons and I stood up for my rights. They got their warrant, they found nothing, and I was able to be smug about it."

Fair enough.

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-Chris

I still view some of the actions as borderline collusion, since none of the parties involved have the authority to establish operational guidelines for the individual karaoke businesses. These businesses are not franchises; that fact may call into question the validity of some of the stipulations put upon use of product...

I suppose it bears repeating:

When your business is based largely upon your use of intellectual property belonging to others, you should expect to spend some time, effort, and money managing your relationship with those who own the intellectual property you're going to use.

Curious. I'd like to know what rights you no longer have that you had, say a year ago.

We still have the right to bear arms!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

I thought that meant arms with no sleeves? Very confusing!!

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

Now see, I thought he meant this:

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Mr. Harrington, the op was referring to MP3 content. Do you suggest that BMI or ASCAP have the right to come into a venue where I'm playing and inspect my hard drive? If so, where does that authority come from? Now if Prime Cuts asked me, I'd comply, but there is no need as they have records of my purchases since 2007.

The "right" to come into a venue and inspect your hard drive? Of course not. Neither does Prime Cuts, for that matter. Or SC.

But if BMI and ASCAP contracted with the music publishers to police unauthorized copies, and they formed a reasonable basis for believing that you were in possession of and using unauthorized copies, they could start a legal process that would enable them to force you to submit your hard drive for inspection. I'm sure you would prefer not to be embroiled in a lawsuit even if you were ultimately in the right, especially if you could spend a couple of hours satisfying the people who have an unquestioned right to bring a lawsuit to police infringement, if they asked you to, by simply showing what you have.

You understand that implicitly with respect to Prime Cuts. I'm not sure why those same principles wouldn't apply to other rights holders, within reason.

Principles are great, but when there is nothing of real value to protect, it's usually a better idea to save your resources to fight the fights that mean something.

(As for Prime Cuts, might I point out that unless you've bought everything they've ever put out, having a record of your purchases does not exactly give them everything they would necessary need to know?)