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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>Oh really? Maybe this will change your
tune.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>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. <BR></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>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.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>I have 2 CD's out and I paid royalties because that is
recorded stuff. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>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.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>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.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>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?</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>Make your mark in the world by taking away people's
only way of singing. (SICK)<BR><BR><BR>SNOOPI</DIV></FONT></STRONG>
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<DIV>In a message dated 3/5/2006 12:56:51 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
tony@baechler.net writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>As I
said, I don't wish to debate the copyright issue. Personally, I
<BR>agree with you. You're probably right in some countries, but not the
<BR>US. The UK might possibly have such an exception, but the US
<BR>doesn't. If you sing in the shower or if a kid sings for the fun of
<BR>it, it is not a public performance which is the key <BR>here.
Unfortunately, either Jayson's archive or planetmirror are <BR>public, so
either way it counts as a public performance and that's <BR>where the issue
comes into a problem. It makes no difference whether <BR>you sell the
music or not, you or a computer is performing it <BR>publicly so it's illegal
in the US. It makes no difference whether <BR>you're disabled.
Personally, I totally agree with you that this is <BR>bogus but that's the way
it is. That also means that your CD <BR>violates copyright by putting
anything after 1923 on it. The <BR>Schoolhouse Rock you sent to the list
might be OK since it's not a <BR>public site, but selling it on a CD is very
bad. I would hope you <BR>don't get sued but plan on it if the RIAA or
ASCAP find out. I've <BR>done a lot of copyright research so go ahead
and prove me wrong if <BR>you can find the law. My understanding of the
actual laws, not just <BR>guessing, is the above. Someone correct me if
they have a good <BR>knowledge of US law but I'm 99% sure I'm right.<BR><BR>At
10:40 AM 3/4/2006, you wrote:<BR>>I have an argument on that. First
of all, anyone can sing in the <BR>>shower without paying royalties.
Well, people who can't talk have <BR>>Dectalk in their communication
device, so what if they wanted to <BR>>sing in the
shower?<BR>><BR>>Now, when I buy sheet music I'm converting it into an
alternative <BR>>format which is legal. Alternative formats for the
disabled are <BR>>exampt from paying royalties which is why the library for
the blind <BR>>can put books and newspapers on tape, CD, oe the talking
book radio.<BR>><BR>>A Dectalk file can not be converted back into sheet
music, therefore <BR>>I'm not copying anything.<BR>><BR>>Now, to
record an album, yes, you do need to pay royalties. But to <BR>>just
sing a Scout song, camp song, sing Happy Birthday to a friend, <BR>>or
whatever, I will fight to the death before I pay royalties.<BR>><BR>>If
a 5 year old starts singing "THE WHEELS ON THE BUS" no one has to <BR>>pay
royalties. So setting up a communication device so a disabled 5
<BR>>year old can sing the same song is simply equal access. Dectalk
is <BR>>nothing more than an external voice for many people. It's no
<BR>>different than walking with a wheelchair, seeing with a seeing eye
<BR>>dog, or anything
else.<BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>DECtalk
mailing
list<BR>DECtalk@bluegrasspals.com<BR>http://jaybird.no-ip.info/mailman/listinfo/dectalk<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
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