Karaoke Forums

To answer the second part first...there are no "local publishing organizations" in the U.S. that cover distribution licenses. Licensing for distribution is done by the publishers themselves directly.

As to the first part (the quote from the website) SelectaTrack's distribution license comes from MCPS. That license does NOT cover worldwide distribution. (As has been posted many times, and as is verifiable on the PRS for Music website, the licenses cover distribution worldwide EXCEPT the U.S. and Canada.) In order to distribute tracks to the U.S., SelectaTrack would need a distribution license from the owner of copyright in the underlying musical work (the music publisher). They may well have those licenses--their website is silent on the question. Anyone in the U.S. who purchases downloadable tracks licensed by MCPS for distribution is running the risk that those tracks are not properly licensed and could be the subject of a copyright infringement suit. How likely is such a suit? No one knows. Probably not very likely, but if it were filed, the purchaser is unlikely to prevail.

We don't ordinarily have enough information about the licensing status to make a report to anyone about unauthorized downloads. After all, it is pretty much impossible to tell the difference between a track that has been downloaded and one that was purchased as an MP3 on a disc. So, no, there would be no report.

Because of the relationship between SC and Stingray, however, we do have enough information about licensing status to know whether a Karaoke Channel track was appropriately licensed when we see one in a show. So we report.

It's quite sad that you do that. You just make it harder for us to run our shows, and more expensive. You aren't the karaoke police. You are the SC police is all. The thing that needs to change is that as KJs, we should be allowed to use ANY Karaoke tracks that we purchase from legitimate sources, without worrying who is keeping tabs on us and who is trying make a buck off it.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

You can use any track you legally purchase. The problem is when you want to copy it. I'd like to know what other product out there (other than IP) that one can buy and copy it for virtually free, using the copy an saving the original. Heck for a small fee (call it an audit, call it a copy fee, or whatever you want) they will allow you to copy to your hard drive and use it. I bet you couldn't get that deal anywhere else.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Every single track on every single disc i purchase from primecuts every month. How's that for an example?

Rick that would be IP.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

outside of IP is not within the scope of this forum. allowances within IP is where the problem and discussion lies. no other music besides SC music is under that constraint in any company. that IS the point.

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

Timber seems to think that ALL karaoke companies are making people get audits to shift their stuff, or something. He doesn't seem to understand that it IS ONLY SC that expects it's customers to go through that BS.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Your actually saying this after saying all along that it is easy to tell when someone is using a computer rip verses a CDG?

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I like everyone when I first meet them. If you don't like me that's not my problem it's YOURS!
A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet

I other words, if your favorite download site refuses to supply a license.txt with each track, than you have absolutely no liability protection- and probably because they are NOT working in partnership with the publishers....

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

which even acording to Harrington is not necessary to make a track legal

no less than if you run discs, the license is the same, just different verbage according to the assistant licensing supervisor at Universal music group, a download is just as legal as a disc, just a different license for PDL vs Physical product.

did you drop your tin foil hat? they are working with publishers any less than Karaoke Kurrents who is only sold on e-bay and craigs list....remember.....UMG gives a license for disc and one for download, same coverage, same rights, different delivery method.

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

I'm confused.
http://www.karaokelocker.com (a branch of PCDJ) sells karaoke channel downloads. They also sell Gem series. (http://www.pcdj.com/products/karaoke-content/). They are based out of St. Petersburg, Florida. So you are telling me, as Sound Choice's attorney, that the Karaoke Channel downloads I purchase from PCDJ are not legal to be used commercially?

Haven't you learned yet??? Unless you buy a brand new Sound Choice CD, or lease the GEM series you are not a legal KJ. ALL other brands are taboo and evil. ONLY the Sound Choice brand is legitimate and legal. How many times does Harrington have to tell you this???

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Singyoassoff,
If you do the research yourself and hunt for the disclaimers you will find that with the apparent exception of the Digitrax downloads none of the others are legal for use in the USA and Canada. It is easy to email the publishers and ask if they have authorized tracks for digital use. I myself sent emails for a sampling of tracks and was surprised by the answers. Then again if you are ever sued for using them you could always sue the sales company for lying IF they are still in business. Not worth it to me personally.

I believe that was even stated by Ryan from PCDJ not too long ago

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

The terms of service at KaraokeLocker appear to be exactly the same as those of KaraokeChannel except for the name changes. And according to the terms of service for KaraokeLocker not just KaraokeChannel tracks, but none of the tracks are eligible for commercial use and they are all only licensed to the purchaser, so you won't own anything from them either.
KaraokeLocker is not a KJ friendly operation.
Ironic isn't it?

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KNOW THYSELF

Let's try this again:


From Selectatrack's site:
Licensing & Usage
1) All the tracks we supply are fully-endorsed by THE MANUFACTURER and are sold with THEIR permission to use at home or commercially in any public venue worldwide

Note: the word 'Manufacturer"- not OWNER/PUBLISHER- the ONLY people who CAN license the product.

2) Both Selectatrack and the MCPS are based in the United Kingdom, anyone ordering from outside the UK does need to check with their local publishing organisations on local terms of use regarding public performance.

Even Jim Harrington- my strongest debating opponent on these boards- will tell you that MCPS licensing is EXCLUDED here in the U.S.

As for liability: Someone said that I posted to the effect that if one uses discs, the mfr. is 100% liable.

I don't state that, I never have stated that, and never will state that. Whoever posted that either fabricated the statement completely, or merely repeated someone else's error.

HOWEVER, a disc based host LIMITS liability far better than download or shifted hosts. If the publishers get involved ( and I'm starting to think anything is possible after SC's debacle), the worst a disc based host will probably receive is a Cease & Desist. Others are open to more liability, or lacking that, a longer process due to shifting and/or downloading.

A shifter will not only have to go through an audit, but will probably have to wait out a supplier audit as well.

A downloader, lacking ownership of factory original product and no licensing text.docs from the site, will probably run into more problems.

Please keep in mind that I am only repeating what my business counsel has told me. Do as you please, and enjoy....

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Just the act of paying for something that you bought in good faith doesn't make it legal or licensed. Sorry.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

I didn't say good faith, I said legally.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

MCPS has been absorbed into PRS for Music as a joint organization, and their license for onlione download allows for use in the U.S.
http://www.prsformusic.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Online%20and%20Mobile/LimitedOnlineMusicLicence.pdf
they still need to get the sync license just as U.S. manus do......direct form the owner which is valid worldwide.













yes you have, many times.

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