[DECtalk] Vocal Writer

Sun Mar 5 16:08:39 EST 2006

Oh really?  Maybe this will change your  tune.

Sandi Patty, Donny and Maurie Ozmond, Tim Mchraw,  Cher, and Leanne Rhymes 
all have heard their own songs coming out of Dectalk,  even Joni Erickson.  Plus 
I personally sang in a Sandi Patty concert.   Not one of these people has had 
an issue with their songs being converted and  shared among the disabled.  
Sandi thought I was nuts for making a computer  voice sing like her, but didn't 
have a problem with what I was doing.  Come  to think of it a 9 year old sang 
the Anthem for President Bush at the White  House with no problem.  Donny and 
Maurie ended up buying a device for a  hospital after it sang Paper Roses as 
part of the dedication.  Joni  Erickson was excited when I personally met and 
told her I had some of her stuff  in Dectalk.  Shoot, there's a guy in 
Nashville who sings for every big star  he meets.  

The point is, if there was a legal issue, don't you  think one of these big 
stars would have said something?  Not one ever  has!  They all understand that 
this is how the disabled community sings and  that Dectalk is not a recording 
of any kind.

I have 2 CD's out and I paid royalties because that is  recorded stuff.  

But look at karaoke and how big that is.  Karaoke  is done publicly and no 
one pays royalties.  Well, some of my songs are  karaoke compatible so the 
disabled can sing karaoke just like any other  person.  I'm sorry but this is not 
an copy right issue, it's simply equal  access.

I think the problem with bluegrasspals is you all view  Dectalk as a fun toy. 
 But for people who can't talk, this is their  voice.  There is a Minsing 
quire, a group of adults that all sing in  harmoney with Dectalk.  Lots of people 
go Christmas Caroling using  Dectalk.  Kids who can't talk are able to take 
part in music class because  of Dectalk.

You guys are making me mad because by suggesting that  we are all breaking 
the law by programming Dectalk to sing, is like saying you  want to vanish 
singing from the entire disabled community.  So you may as  well put the [:phone 
off] command right into the speak button so no one can ever  sing ever sing 
again?

Make your mark in the world by taking away people's  only way of singing.  
(SICK)

SNOOPI

In a message dated 3/5/2006 12:56:51 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
tony at baechler.net writes:

As I  said, I don't wish to debate the copyright issue.  Personally, I  
agree with you.  You're probably right in some countries, but not the  
US.  The UK might possibly have such an exception, but the US  
doesn't.  If you sing in the shower or if a kid sings for the fun of  
it, it is not a public performance which is the key 
here.   Unfortunately, either Jayson's archive or planetmirror are 
public, so  either way it counts as a public performance and that's 
where the issue  comes into a problem.  It makes no difference whether 
you sell the  music or not, you or a computer is performing it 
publicly so it's illegal  in the US.  It makes no difference whether 
you're disabled.   Personally, I totally agree with you that this is 
bogus but that's the way  it is.  That also means that your CD 
violates copyright by putting  anything after 1923 on it.  The 
Schoolhouse Rock you sent to the list  might be OK since it's not a 
public site, but selling it on a CD is very  bad.  I would hope you 
don't get sued but plan on it if the RIAA or  ASCAP find out.  I've 
done a lot of copyright research so go ahead  and prove me wrong if 
you can find the law.  My understanding of the  actual laws, not just 
guessing, is the above.  Someone correct me if  they have a good 
knowledge of US law but I'm 99% sure I'm right.

At  10:40 AM 3/4/2006, you wrote:
>I have an argument on that.  First  of all, anyone can sing in the 
>shower without paying royalties.   Well, people who can't talk have 
>Dectalk in their communication  device, so what if they wanted to 
>sing in the  shower?
>
>Now, when I buy sheet music I'm converting it into an  alternative 
>format which is legal.  Alternative formats for the  disabled are 
>exampt from paying royalties which is why the library for  the blind 
>can put books and newspapers on tape, CD, oe the talking  book radio.
>
>A Dectalk file can not be converted back into sheet  music, therefore 
>I'm not copying anything.
>
>Now, to  record an album, yes, you do need to pay royalties.  But to 
>just  sing a Scout song, camp song, sing Happy Birthday to a friend, 
>or  whatever, I will fight to the death before I pay royalties.
>
>If  a 5 year old starts singing "THE WHEELS ON THE BUS" no one has to 
>pay  royalties.  So setting up a communication device so a disabled 5  
>year old can sing the same song is simply equal access.  Dectalk  is 
>nothing more than an external voice for many people.  It's no  
>different than walking with a wheelchair, seeing with a seeing eye  
>dog, or anything  else.

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