New SC Lawsuits Hit Ohio - CAVS & HD Sellers Named & Dan Sterns Raided By FBI

[JoeChartreuse]

Would it kill you to admit that the SC " witch hunt" that you crusade about has caught LOTS of witches?

Not at all, and I'm sure it has! However, my points remain valid:

1) Not enough ( if any) "investigation"- and innocents can be caught up with the guilty- not acceptable.

2) Pot calling the kettle..... http://dkusa.com/pdf/SC_Fed_Complaint.pdf


3) Though "witches" may have been caught, I'm still waiting for a list of LOTS ( your word) of them either being put out of business, or raising prices dramatically to the point of having legal hosts compete at the same level. Neither happening. Also since these suits take so long, it WON'T be happening in the near future. Add to that that if and when it DOES happen, there will be plenty of replacement pirates.

In other words, I'm still waiting for the BENEFITS that those who claim that SC was going to make a dent in PIRACY keep espousing.

Keep in mind, Kurt didn't make the claim, the KJs did.

However, and again APPLAUDING SC, busting the HD distributors with the FBI involved WILL make a dent, and with less chance of erroneous busts.

 

[SoftJock Rick]

I'm still trying to find out if this is real...

I've been unable to substantiate anything from the District Court and/or FBI as yet (still trying), and find it odd that a warrant is posted on a DJ forum, yet not available to the public/media at large... :dontknow:

 

[truthteller]

I too, applaud this type of action to go after pirates. I am in complete agreement with Joe that there is no comparison to this suit, and SC's prior dragnet approach. In fact, I plan to post this on our site, recognizing it as a good thing for the industry.

I do take exception to the quote attributed to Kurt Slep stating that "Any mention of either case in press releases, chat rooms, etc. should stick with the facts as mentioned in either the Search Warrant or lawsuit filing."

Where does Kurt Slep get off making such demands on chat room communities?

Also - I am quite confused. Kurt has repeatedly posted here that KJs cannot legally transfer SC CDG tracks to a computer, but they are "willing to look the other way", so long as they are within the 1:1 standard. Now it appears that he has contradicted himself in one of the lawsuits (or maybe I read it wrong). Am I the only one who is more confused than ever about this?

 

[jokerswild]

Yes you are the only one confused.... It's pretty clear to me and the community at large that although in the strictest conformity of the copyright laws, and this goes not only for karaoke but any other media used for commercial gains, it is illegal to format shift and then use in a commercial environment. However, SC and many others are already in agreement that if a strict 1:1 file to disc is maintained they are satisfied that you have purchased their music and have simply choosen a different medium for playback and that at no time are you using both disc and their associated files thereby only using one disc or file at a time.

 

[KjAthena]

happy to see theese SCUM being busted...BTW prepairing for the audit now will keep you updated

 

[JoeChartreuse]

Also - I am quite confused. Kurt has repeatedly posted here that KJs cannot legally transfer SC CDG tracks to a computer, but they are "willing to look the other way", so long as they are within the 1:1 standard. Now it appears that he has contradicted himself in one of the lawsuits (or maybe I read it wrong). Am I the only one who is more confused than ever about this?

Nothing to be confused about, as long as you don't read it the wrong way- and many will.

It isn't up to ANY karaoke music mfr. to decide what's legal and what isn't. Al, Kurt can ( and probably is) saying is that SC may not
give you any difficulties if you media shift ( which doesn't stop them from changing their mind later)- it's still, at best, a legal gray area.

 

[truthteller]

"21. Slep-Tone only sells its recordings in CD+G format. Slep-Tone authorizes
its customers to “format shift” and transfer the contents of a genuine SOUND CHOICE
CD+G recording to a single computer or MP3 player, provided that the customer keeps
the original copy of the CD+G in his possession as an archival copy that is not used."

Didn't Kurt spend a whole lot of time and energy explaining why they weren't allowed to do this?

But as i frequently point out, I'm not a lawyer, maybe it means something else in reference to their suit.. *shrug*

I also find it kind of interesting that the conclusion is called a "prayer for relief"

I don't think I am the only one. Now, SC is including what "they" allow in part of their lawsuits? Seems confusing to me.

 

[jokerswild]

I don't think I am the only one. Now, SC is including what "they" allow in part of their lawsuits? Seems confusing to me.

Ya I'd say your the only one confused...

 

[Guest]

I don't think I am the only one. Now, SC is including what "they" allow in part of their lawsuits? Seems confusing to me.

I believe that is what was said by everyone so far except for you and Eric!

 

[DJ Auntie M]

Sound Choice has also been authorized by other manufacturers of karaoke accompaniment tracks, including Chartbuster, Stellar, Pocket Songs, Priddis Music, and others, to perform a simultaneous audit on their behalf; your audit may include those manufacturers.

This seems like more than a Sound Choice audit. I have spoke to many KJ's that I know and they are removing all of their legal owned SC tracks from their karaoke library and refuse to purchase any in the future. I can't blame them really, who wants to be called a thief first and then have to prove it. And they are concerned about the venues reaction to this as well.

The drama continues.....

 

[JoeChartreuse]

Sound Choice has also been authorized by other manufacturers of karaoke accompaniment tracks, including Chartbuster, Stellar, Pocket Songs, Priddis Music, and others, to perform a simultaneous audit on their behalf; your audit may include those manufacturers.

This seems like more than a Sound Choice audit. I have spoke to many KJ's that I know and they are removing all of their legal owned SC tracks from their karaoke library and refuse to purchase any in the future. I can't blame them really, who wants to be called a thief first and then have to prove it. And they are concerned about the venues reaction to this as well.

The drama continues.....

Heck, I'm disc based and I'm trimming them. I carry a very small amount of SC anyway ( a couple of percent), and due to the current situation, I've done some research. I can almost commit to memory the songs that I actually use my SC discs for- they would probably fit on one disc.

As for future buys: Though most here would assume that I wouldn't be buying anymore SC due to my feelings on the current situation, that would only play the smallest part of my decision. I'm one of those who can hear the differences between MP3 files and discs- and don't like them. It's another reason I'm not PC based.

If SC is only going to produce MP3 discs in the future, I simply can't use them.

All that aside, I wanted to share the following. If they can do it with videos, maybe they can eventually do it for karaoke files...:

http://www.gizmag.com/nec-video-con...aign=62de853cf3-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email

 

[Wall Of Sound]

I was just at a disc based show that had maybe 10 SC discs & the show really sucked...

Crappy U-Best, SGB, & All Hits mainly...

Roadhouse Blues by The Doors was a U-Best that was edited, as well as the key was wrong, & it had an up-tempo for time.... Horrible....

I can't wait for the coming storm to hit so everyone will delete their Chartbuster & Pop Hits Monthly as well. That will make my shows so much better than the competition!

Hi-de-ho, hmmm, hmmmm.... la, de, da

:sqwink:

 

[VJ Justin Allen]

I'm one of those who can hear the differences between MP3 files and discs- and don't like them. It's another reason I'm not PC based.

A) You should look into the newer lossless formats that are out there. On any system that you would take into the field there would be no noticeable difference between that and your disc.

B) Your encoded files can be wavs or aiffs...no encoding with those formats, therefore no loss (Just transcoding).

C) DJ's who have their songs on a computer that you CAN hear the difference in the song quality have no clue how to properly encode their music.

 

[Bazza]

If SC is only going to produce MP3 discs in the future, I simply can't use them.

I am beginning to wonder if they are coming at all. They have been "Coming next month!" since last October.

 

[Loneavenger]

I was just at a disc based show that had maybe 10 SC discs & the show really sucked...

Crappy U-Best, SGB, & All Hits mainly...

Roadhouse Blues by The Doors was a U-Best that was edited, as well as the key was wrong, & it had an up-tempo for time.... Horrible....

I can't wait for the coming storm to hit so everyone will delete their Chartbuster & Pop Hits Monthly as well. That will make my shows so much better than the competition!

Hi-de-ho, hmmm, hmmmm.... la, de, da

:sqwink:

Not trying to offend anyone here, but to be honest, there used to be a few disc based shows around here, and i believe all but one has been let go by their venues. I've never been to even a half decent disc based show. I understand the argument for running on the discs but the customers notice things like that and they don't see still running on cd's as a good thing, no matter what your argument is.

 

[Wall Of Sound]

A disc based show can be run very well if done right... I used to run 2 machines & not miss a beat. I would go back to running discs if absolutly necessary but now being a member of KIAA, I won't have to since audit procedings are under way...

My point is that this KJ obviously had no real investment in music or technology. (All of the discs were original as far as I could tell.) They were plugged into the house system which actually wasn't half bad so it sounded good but the quality of the versions is what sucked. At least the show was legal!

So when CB & PHM start their lawsuits, (Wake up people, they are coming!) all these folks claiming that they are pulling all their SC content because of the tactics used by SC, not necessarally because they have been named in a lawsuit, will have to do the same with CB & PHM as well, leaving them with the cheesy versions making their show crummy... However, they may have a somewhat decent show with pirated SunFly & QuickHits stuff I guess...

IMHO, 85% to 90% of the folks making these statements of no longer using SC products are probably pirates anyway & are trying to justify their history of commentary on public forums on the woes of piracy & now they are in fear of possibly getting caught... Kind of hypocritical, yeah?

Just for the record, I have over $30k invested in original karaoke content, which I have personally transfered 1:1 to computer format, most of it being Sound Choice, which gives me a pretty rockin' legal show baby!

 

[possumdog]

If anyone would like to make a statement and get rid of all their SCs, I will sacrifice and accept them from you (legal discs only, please). We will play them fearlessly. We may even flaunt them. Any singers out there who want us to play their original legal SC discs are also welcome. I'm willing to be a guinea pig and see what happens.

 

[JoeChartreuse]

I am beginning to wonder if they are coming at all. They have been "Coming next month!" since last October.

Interesting that you mentioned that. At this point SC is out of the karaoke music production business, with their prime business plan built around income from settlements. They're not involved in the the karaoke music field at all.

It is only my personal opinion, but I don't believe SC will be re-entering the field- at least not under the Sound Choice label. Despite the opposition to my position here, in several OTHER forums they have turned their name to mud. Many are posting that they are dumping SC tracks just to avoid any hassle ( including disc based hosts).

They may very well have become their own biggest victim.

 

[Wall Of Sound]

Interesting that you mentioned that. At this point SC is out of the karaoke music production business, with their prime business plan built around income from settlements. They're not involved in the the karaoke music field at all.

It is only my personal opinion, but I don't believe SC will be re-entering the field- at least not under the Sound Choice label. Despite the opposition to my position here, in several OTHER forums they have turned their name to mud. Many are posting that they are dumping SC tracks just to avoid any hassle ( including disc based hosts).

They may very well have become their own biggest victim.

I guess that is going to be Chartbuster's & Stellar's business plan too here in the next few months, eh Joe?

I'll have to go over to the OTHER BOARDS and try to pick up some deals on SC Discs for possumdog to use in her shows then!

 

[JoeChartreuse]

Not trying to offend anyone here, but to be honest, there used to be a few disc based shows around here, and i believe all but one has been let go by their venues. I've never been to even a half decent disc based show. I understand the argument for running on the discs but the customers notice things like that and they don't see still running on cd's as a good thing, no matter what your argument is.

I'm disc based, and I'm not offended, Avenger. From what I've been able to determine, it's a regional thing. In my area, it's the PC based shows that are taking the hit, mostly because of activity here from a few artists' orgs, and SC publicity, even though they haven't been here yet. I have a feeling that the PC shows thrive in areas that haven't run into these problems in a big way yet.