posted on June 29, 2001 03:09:14 AM
Sounds to me like she's just being anal.
It's not like someone is going to buy the karaoke version INSTEAD of her licensed official recording. I just don't see where this is causing her to lose any money, unless she also has a karaoke version of her song for sale.
I would hope that she wouldn't be able to sue unless she could prove that somehow this company has harmed her by producing a karaoke version of her song.
Of course, I personally think that anyone who actually sings karaoke should be locked up, but that's just me.
posted on June 29, 2001 10:24:20 AM
She'll win the suit. The copyright is not just for the original song as performed by the artist, but there is also publishing rights to the song in any form or even its performance by another artist. Remember Whitney Houston's hit "I Will Always Love You"; Dolly Parton, the writer of that song was paid for the use of her song. Even using a part of a song requires permission and fees, as many rappers learned when they "sampled" other music and incorporated it into their songs, and had to pay.
Before recording technology, the publishing rights to music was where the money was made. Instead of buying a record, one would buy the sheet music.
There is an organization called ASCAP that collects license fees for music creators for any public performance of the creators songs. It is paid by Jukebox companies, radio stations etc.. Net broadcasters tried to say they didn't have to pay the license fee but found out differently.
posted on June 29, 2001 10:47:45 AM
monkeysuit, of COURSE it is hurting her. She is not getting paid for the use of her MUSIC. It is not just song lyrics that are copywritten. It is the music as well.
No one should have free use of the music in a sellable format, such as Karaoke. They SHOULD pay fees.
On another note, when you go to a restaurant, and the waiters/waitresses sing happy birthday, why do you think they do not sing the happy birthday song? Because it is copywritten, and is not yet in the public domain. They would have to pay FEES to sing that song in their restaurant, so they make up their own.
