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I am surprised that no one mentioned the obvious answer to the question of legality of copying.
You would need to look up the actual copyright law information, but it goes like this:
You are allowed to make one copy of your original software (and Karaoke is considered software) and cannot be used simultaneousl (or installed) on another machine. This is allowable under the personal use clause of the law, not sure if this includes businesses, most likely it does. You cannot sell, or give away this copy. If you sell the software, you are required to destroy (or, I suppose the law would be satisfied if you gave it to the purchaser of your software) the duplicate copy.
By the same token, you are allowed to do the same with the songs you own (different law, same principle). Even if it is written on the lable of the disk, that you are not allowed to copy it, it falls under the "Fair Use" clause, which in effect, states that you can copy it as long as you are not making a profit from it.
"Fair Use" is also where you are allowed to make a recording of a publicly broadcasted image, or music via video tape or audio tape (the audio tape was what was available at the time, dunno if it also applied to a digital copy, which in essence is a "perfect copy".)
Basically, it would be safe to say, that you ARE allowed to make a backup copy, as long as you own the original. In fact, it would be stupid not to make a backup copy, as long as you don't use the backup for anything other than a backup. If you have two KJ setups, and you only have one original of a disk, you cannont, by law, use the backup in your second system.
As far as the ASCAP and other groups that collect money for the PERORMANCE of songs, you [or the venue wherer you are working] ARE required to pay a Performance License for Public display.
I exclusively use copies of my CDG's, I only have one system, and my originals are put in a safe place, so that I can go back to them in case something happens.
One other thing to think about, I have quite a few discontinued CDG's. You cannot purchase some of them any more, and damaging them would make it difficult if not impossible to replace them. Think about that.
Well anyway, I guess I am done with my orator's pedestal, so I will relinquish it for now.
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EM
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