Oprah Karaoke Challenge...

[ddouglass]

The legal issue here is that they have to bring their own disk and sing from it for you to legally record them.

[billyo]

i once read on an entertainment news that Ellen Degeneres was sued by a co. for using some of the songs in her show w/o a permit, that might be the same case with you if you sent in a video of someone singing ,using somebody elses song w/o a permit, especially if it's a national contest and that might be considered as promoting your singer.(s) i might be wrong

[Musicman51]

Chad here's a little Tort 101. First, you're not recording an illegal act {no matter how bad the singer sings} although with some singers it comes close to murder of a song. It's not against the law for someone to record themselves, your song or theirs period! Now....what they do with the song is what is the problem. And that you have no control over. The "Fair Use Law" has many grey areas, but this is crystal clear. You are allowed to record yourself for your own use, you are entitled to one copy of that recording, not to be given away or sold thats how it reads black & white. They are doing the recording, you're not. So don't loose sleep over it. As long as it's not for money and you're not making a dime off of this, so no laws are being broken. And believe me oprah and her production company don't do things to get themselves sued, they have powerful lawyers who must have given her their approval right before they gave her their bill. Chad if it makes you feel a little uncomfortable pass on it. You certainly wouldn't want to open up others dragging their cameras and recorders along to your show all the time either expecting you to be Allan Faunt {you have to be old to know who he was}. Now, on the brighter side...Oprah has given away a free car to everyone in her audience, don't worry chad, this gal is loaded..she'll spring for your bail.

[bryant]

Originally Posted by Musicman51

Chad here's a little Tort 101. First, you're not recording an illegal act {no matter how bad the singer sings} although with some singers it comes close to murder of a song. It's not against the law for someone to record themselves, your song or theirs period! Now....what they do with the song is what is the problem. And that you have no control over. The "Fair Use Law" has many grey areas, but this is crystal clear. You are allowed to record yourself for your own use, you are entitled to one copy of that recording, not to be given away or sold thats how it reads black & white. They are doing the recording, you're not. So don't loose sleep over it. As long as it's not for money and you're not making a dime off of this, so no laws are being broken. And believe me oprah and her production company don't do things to get themselves sued, they have powerful lawyers who must have given her their approval right before they gave her their bill. Chad if it makes you feel a little uncomfortable pass on it. You certainly wouldn't want to open up others dragging their cameras and recorders along to your show all the time either expecting you to be Allan Faunt {you have to be old to know who he was}. Now, on the brighter side...Oprah has given away a free car to everyone in her audience, don't worry chad, this gal is loaded..she'll spring for your bail.

here we go again

[Musicman51]

here we go again? don't understand?

[ddouglass]

I really debated on wading into this but to clarify I will.
"You are allowed to record yourself for your own use, you are entitled to one copy of that recording, not to be given away or sold thats how it reads black & white." This does not say you can have them use your music to record themselves. Thus they would have to supply you with the music and then record it themselves.
As far as the contest goes I am sure there is a disclaimer that protects them from illegal recordings sent to them. As you say her high-priced lawyers would have made sure that they would not be responsible.

[Musicman51]

And the debate continues.....