[DECtalk] Vocal Writer

[Dectalk at aol.com]

Lets just drop this issue and agree to disagree.   This will eventually take 
a Court ruling because there are other things to add  in to this.  It ain't 
black and white.
 
 
SNOOPI
 
 
In a message dated 3/6/2006 12:50:34 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
tony at baechler.net writes:

Hi.  That's all very interesting, but that doesn't change the  law.  I 
have no special "tune" here.  Really, I don't.  I  agree with 
you.  However, the US law doesn't look at it that  way.  I can tell 
you a story too.  There was a country music  star who wrote a 
book.  She wanted the book up in Braille.  She  was refused because it 
was against US copyright law.  Unfortunately,  and here is where we 
get into things like Creative Commons and the new  music revolution 
gradually taking place, it isn't up to the stars.   Often stars have 
no say.  They have to do what agents tell  them.  Often they report to 
RIAA which is very controling.   There are musicians unions and 
recording artist unions, all of which want  their piece of the 
pie.  Therefore, it makes no difference what you  think, what I think, 
or what the stars think.  I understand that you  aren't selling songs 
on the CD, however it is still public performance so  it still falls 
under the law.  As I said before, find the actual code  to contradict 
me in USC Title 17 and I'll apologize and shut up, but I'm  99% sure 
that I'm right.

Now, I'll address your other points.   About singing in public bars, 
etc.  They probably pay ASCAP  fees.  I'm almost sure of 
it.  Obviously if you go to someone's  house and sing, they aren't 
going to pay royalties.  However, that  isn't a public performance 
since it is a private person's house.   Even though say 20 people are 
invited over for a party, it isn't a public  establishment that anyone 
can walk into and sing.  Therefore, while  you have a fine argument, 
it doesn't really apply.  Look at most  Internet broadcasters.  Yep, 
they have to pay ASCAP and BMI fees  also.  Ask restaurants.  I bet 
they do or maybe there is a  provision I'm overlooking but 
doubtful.  Heck, they have to pay to  play recorded music so I don't 
see why letting the public sing should be  different.

For your third point, I would say that you're mixing apples  and 
oranges.  You say that people who can't speak use synthesized  speech 
as their voice.  OK, granted.  I have two arguments on  that.  First, 
even at that, it is you who wrote the files, not the  person who 
doesn't speak.  that's no different than saying that I can  share a 
book by Tolkien with the world because I can't read.  Sorry,  the law 
doesn't work that way.  Second, you're right in that it might  be 
overlooked since the person couldn't sing otherwise, but how many  
people on this list and who download from the archive or buy your CD  
really fall into that classification?  I know there are deaf people  
who are blind but they can generally speak.  If there are people here  
who don't speak except with a synthesized voice, please don't be  
offended.  My point is not at all to pick on you, but rather to show  
that the law still applies to everyone else.  I suppose if you had a  
disclaimer that your CD was only for people who can't speak that 
might  work, but how would you enforce it?  Sorry, but most of your  
arguments don't hold water.  For the final time, please look up  
U.S.C. Title 17 and read the law for yourself.  Show me where I'm  
wrong.  I will not discuss this further on list, it's off topic and  
only results in people being upset.  I'll leave you with one final  
link.  http://www.copyright.gov/

At 01:08 PM 3/5/2006, you  wrote:
>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)

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