COPIED SOFTWARE

 

Software is the word that describes the karaoke tracks and also describes the software that a PC would use to play these tracks.

 

First of all the software on a computer to run a karaoke on a laptop needs to be licensed to the user.  If there is copied software then this is illegal which although you yourself did not copy the software it may cause you problems anyway.

 

Copying software comes under different categories.  Here is how the law is stated.

 

The KJ uses a laptop and buys all of their tracks from off a website in a digital format and play them on a laptop in a venue= LEGAL if the company that tracks were purchased from is legitimate and the cost also includes the licence to play them and there is only the same amount of copies as there are purchased.

 

The KJ uses a laptop and buys all their tracks on disk either in a store or on the internet and then they copy them across to their laptop and play them a laptop in a venue = ILLEGAL.  It is not legal to change the media of a song without a licence to do so.  If you buy it on disk you must play it on disk.  If you buy it in digital format you must play it in digital format.  (Changing media means if you copy vynal records to CD or to MP3 or if you copy a CD into an MP3 format, or onto a digital tape or any other format)

 

The KJ uses disks that were bought from a car boot without labels and are obviously copies but the KJ did not copy them so he plays them in a venue = ILLEGAL.  It is illegal to use copied tracks and you are not authorised to play them in public as they are legal.  Even if the venue that the karaoke is in has the correct licence, this licence means nothing if copied disks are played there.

 

The KJ has an MP3 player in which he plays music as well as karaoke.  He copied them from a CD.  = ILLEGAL you need a correct licence to be able to copy any media that holds a copyright to be able to change the media that the software is stored and played from

 

The KJ has copied disks he brings to a venue but says that he has the originals at home so that they are protected from theft. = ILLEGAL.  You are not allowed to copy disks unless you have the permission/licence to do so.

 

There are many more situations but the bottom line is….

 

You have to purchase from a legitimate company.

 

You are not allowed to change the media format without a licence (ProDub).

 

You are not permitted backups without a licence (ProDub).

 

So how do we run…..

 

We purchase all of our tracks legally.  We pay a large amount of money for a licence that allows us to have a back up of all the disks.  Also it permits us to change media.  It also gives us a licence to use them.

 

WHEN YOU BOOK ENTERTAINMENT MAKE SURE THEY ARE RUNNING A LEGAL SYSTEM.  FAILURE COULD RESULT IN PROBLEMS.