Internet, downloading, and karaoke

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Originally Posted by BloodyLegend

Does this mean that anyone using discs produced by these companies could find themselves liable for prosecution? After all, even though the discs were bought in good faith, the fees/royalties haven't been paid.

It also raises the question of whether or not these producers have the right to refuse permission to anyone that wishes to rip these discs to hard drives.

To my understanding, if you buy a disc in good faith from a factory authorized dealer/distributor (versus an illegal copy or making a copy yourself from a disc you don't own), then you havethe right to use the songs on that disc. If the producer hasn't paid royalties and licenses, then the courts are going after them for their illegal actions. The $19 million of suits against one producer were settled out of court for about $5 mill. That opens up the Licensing companies to suits now from those producers who have paid the licenses and royalties all along. Interesting times ahead.

It has never been tested in court, but research done indicates that the legal owner of a disc can "format shift" the contents by importing to a hard drive. However, rest assured that copyright law doesn't change by the whim of a producer. Most of the discs you own now probably have an incredible statment like "not for public performance". If producer's statments like these are legal, then why hasn't someone been sued for hosting a show in public?