Chartbuster Karaoke Closes Their Doors!

[Lonman]

Quote from Gretchen at Chartbuster,

To all our loyal customers and fans:

Chartbuster Karaoke is closing the doors after 24 great years. Folks who have purchased our digital products are legal and will remain so, as the time of purchase is the only relevant factor.

We’ve had a great run, and truly appreciate each of you who have supported us over the more than two decades we’ve been serving you.

Thank you for singing, thank you for being our customers, and thank you for the love you have shown us through what has been a difficult time.

[Skybird74]

Originally Posted by Lonman

Quote from Gretchen at Chartbuster,

WOW! Where did you find that? I can't even pull up their old website any more.

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by Skybird74

WOW! Where did you find that? I can't even pull up their old website any more.

They made an announcement on Karaoke-Scene about an hour ago.
Their existing library is going to acquired by DigiTrax Karaoke - no one is exactly sure what that is going to be about yet.
HDMedia Pro is now going to be owned & under "the competition" control which (rumor & speculation at this time) could include other manus being available on it since no new CB tracks will ever be available for it to update - or DigiTrax might actually make music as well & will be the new supplier for that system - they do sell tracks at karaoke.com but at $5 each for custom discs.
CB will continue to sell the digital SD cards at the discount prices and any orders up until then until May 10, after that they are done.
Certified digital users are still safe. Uncertified there are new rumors that uncertified CB users will now be targeted in lawsuits as well.
They have renewed under a new "Piracy Recovery LLC" corporation & are filing suits along side Sound Choice starting in Arizona. So their business model may have just shifted to a new direction!
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/ari...v00298/695367/

[Musicman51]

Chartbuster is going to refund money to those people who have paid in advance for a yearly subscription of monthlies...right? Or they may just be facing a small claims lawsuit themselves.

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by Musicman51

Chartbuster is going to refund money to those people who have paid in advance for a yearly subscription of monthlies...right? Or they may just be facing a small claims lawsuit themselves.

Haven't heard about that, may want to contact them. May 10th is when all operations will cease. So do it before then.
They were 'forced' to shut down (according to a release from a competitor now in charge of the HDMP drive) from a resulting loss with a lawsuit from CAVS.
Filed April 24th... in Federal Court:

Quote:
CAVS USA has presented competent evidence to support its claims for
damages and good cause having been shown, the Court hereby GRANTS CAVS USA’s Motion and ORDERS the following:
1. Entry of judgment by default in the amount of $278,370.20 against Tennessee Production Center, Inc. for breach of contract and breach
of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
2. Prejudgment interest in the sum of $111,348.08 calculated at the rate of 10% pursuant to California Civil Code § 3289(b).
3. The total default judgment amount, including prejudgment interest, is $389,718.28.
4. Post-judgment interest at the rate of 0.18% pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1961 beginning on the date of the entry of judgment.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

[KenKelley]

Originally Posted by Lonman

Certified digital users are still safe. Uncertified there are new rumors that uncertified CB users will now be targeted in lawsuits as well.
They have renewed under a new "Piracy Recovery LLC" corporation & are filing suits along side Sound Choice starting in Arizona. So their business model may have just shifted to a new direction!
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/ari...v00298/695367/

Lonman,

What is considered "Certified" and "Uncertified"?

Thanks in advance!

[Lonman]

Certified users were the ones that went through their audit program and showed their discs to correspond to the tracks on their computer OR bought one of their digital libraries either via the HDMP or their SD cards. Uncertified are ones that have their discs, but have not went through the audit and are using the computer to play them (media shifted).

So for anyone interested on CB's demise, here are the legal docs on why - SCDG related.
http://www.pdf-archive.com/2012/04/2...review/page/1/
and obviously the final outcome
http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal...?ts=1335336067

[Rockrz]

What's the best way to avoid any possible audit in general?

I'm thinking buying originals discs and save proof of purchase, and if you do buy an MP3G download, print and save the receipt.

That oughtta cover any claim by anyone wanting to challenge the legality of your collection, right?

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by Rockrz

What's the best way to avoid any possible audit in general?

Use original discs only and no computers and you shouldn't ever have to worry. Sound Choice & Piracy Recovery (for Digitrax & Charbuster labels) are the only ones suing - more SC at this time.

I'm thinking buying originals discs and save proof of purchase, and if you do buy an MP3G download, print and save the receipt.

That oughtta cover any claim by anyone wanting to challenge the legality of your collection, right?

The publishers claim that downloads for karaoke are not legal for kj use. So I would make sure you keep any and all receipts, and buy from reputable sources.