Karaoke Forums

With DTE continuing production of CB material under their own Trademark and the removal of the CB logo from that product; does this mean the CB trademark itself will drift into the freeware status zone? PR is supposed to be protecting the old CB trademark, and they have not to my knowledge resumed the audit process for this product. Without a proper audit system in place PR cannot determine which product being used is legal or illegal. Unless they are going to follow the SC example and maintain the use of the product on a PC opens the operator to investigation. I have always thought the job would be much harder for PR since CB allowed both downloads and SCDG's to be made of their product. The decision of DTE to switch trademarks of the same product indicates to me that they feel it would be easier to protect their own trademark. Just my opinion of course.

I think if they start enforcement, everybody is going to wipe out the inventory of the SCDG Chartbuster discs on Ebay.

I agree with you rick, to me the first step towards enforcement would be to set up some type of audit system for CB product. Without that first baby step, how are they going to determine who to go after? Have a blessed day.

DT never owned the CB trademark or planned to produce music under it- that logo belongs to their sister company Piracy Recovery.

Although it seems that this company was originally created to follow in SC's litigation footsteps ( hence, their owning of the CB trademark- they don't plan on producing music), it doesn't look like they are showing much interest in doing so.

I think that PR was created to keep the negative feedback that SC is experiencing directed away from DT, who is trying to build a customer base, something that no longer matters to SC.

However, I believe PR has seen the court results, noted that KJs are becoming more educated in the matter, and might feel that the rate of success is not worth the cost.

Either way, since the CB logo IS owned by PR, I don't see it falling into freeware status until or unless they give it up.

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

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There is also a difference between "freeware status" and companies that just choose to do noting about it. Pioneer is still around. DK is still around. Others are still around. They just haven't shown any interest in pursuing litigation. This could possibly be because they have other revenue streams and letting the karaoke side go doesn't harm them. In the case of Sound Choice, karaoke would seem to be the primary karaoke stream so they may be more interested in pursuing legal actions to stay alive.

-Chris

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-Chris

Are you speculating Chris? If that is the case. It could be these other manus did a cost analysis and determined that the legal cost would far out weigh any material advantage they might achieve. Maybe in the case of SC they only say they want to get back in the production end of the business. SC maintains the reason for no new product is licensing problems, part of licensing is paying for the right to use the product in question. Maybe they can't afford the licensing fees to make new product. Speculation is fun isn't it Chris? Have a blessed day.

P.S. Chris I see little difference between a freeware status product and one in which the trademark holder isn't interested in pressing for their rights. Practically speaking it boils down to the same thing no one is going after you for using the product for shifting or anything else.

Freeware status?
What the heck is freeware status?
Freeware only exists in a situation where the owner/creator decides to offer up his product to the general public without charge, with his consent. I don't know of a single instance of this in the karaoke world. Even the free midi files available out there for those who wish to sing to a 1990's ring-tone are not given away by the rights owners.

The closest thing I can think of to "freeware" karaoke would be a song in the public domain (and in that case those who reproduced it would still have rights to it) which would largely be songs of the 1920's.

Normally when I hear someone refer to freeware in a karaoke context I think of someone who is avoiding acquiring their music through proper payment. I can't think of the word for that at the moment, but I wouldn't want to associate myself with that practice.

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The term freeware was used by Kurt at one of his meetings quite awhile back earthling. I think Chris commented on it in one of his articles. I think the context it was used in is that there is little or no risk for using the material, since the company who owns the rights is either out of business or not enforcing it's rights. At the time Chris thought it was a poor choice of words on Kurt's part, but as he said "the pee is in the pool". Have a blessed day.

Well, if you are going to use the term, you might consider giving credit to the author of the term as well. Otherwise, the uneducated reader like myself is going to misunderstand you the same way I did. I have seen you use the term many times without explanation, and it has always left me wondering. It might be best if you wish to get your point across, to drop that term and say what you mean. If you are using that term as a dig or slam on Kurt Slep, I suggest it may be having the opposite effect without further explanation.
Of course, this means you would have to explain every time you use the term and I suspect you wouldn't want to be redundant in your postings.

P.S.
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=27833&p=361137#p361137

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KNOW THYSELF

It is not meant to be a dig or slam on Kurt. It is simply a phrase used by him to describe a situation that exists in the karaoke industry. The free in freeware is not to mean that the product is free, although in many cases that is the fact. The way I see it is, you as the person that bought the product have the freedom to use the product as you want. If you want to make a backup disc you can, if you want to shift it to a computer you can. Currently there is only one company saying you don't have that freedom, and using the legal process to enforce it's rights. Have a blessed day.

@earthling - Sorry, I took for granted that the majority of people would make the association. Thanks for calling it out.

There is actually another term from the software industry that is a dead on description for this, it just doesn't roll off the tongue as smoothly.

abandonware - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abandonware


-Chris

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-Chris

Thanks Chris here is another phrase that will need explanation if I use it. Have a blessed day.