Publishers Join Attack on Copyright Infringement in Karaoke

Publishers Join Attack on Copyright Infringement in Karaoke

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Music publishers have joined Sybersound Records Inc. in a federal lawsuit significantly widening the attack against copyright infringement by karaoke record manufacturers.

The lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Central District of Los Angeles alleges that many karaoke companies infringe on copyrights by using unauthorized songs, failing to secure proper licenses or underreporting sales. The federal court action cites more than 25 copyrighted songs, including such popular titles as "Yeah!" "Cry Me a River," "Miss Independent," and "Let Me Blow Ya Mind." The suit alleges that these songs were used on albums without the permission of copyright holders.

"With karaoke becoming more mainstream, songwriters have to take a stand against infringement of their copyrights," said Carol Vincent, the owner of Carol Vincent & Associates, a Nashville-based music publishing firm active in the suit.

"Since Sybersound filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court, there has been an outpouring of support from publishers," said Robert S. Meloni, counsel for the publishers joining the action and Sybersound. "Publishers are now pursuing direct copyright infringement claims and we are expecting many more songwriters to take up this fight."

Sybersound produces high-quality recordings for home-market karaoke use and obtains karaoke synchronization licenses from publishers for songs released on its albums and pays royalties based on units sold.

The artist-run record company, based in Malibu, California filed suit in state court in May. "With publishers joining the legal challenge, Sybersound has dismissed its case from state court and is filing the new action in federal court, which has original jurisdiction of the copyright claims," explained Peter L. Haviland of Kaye Scholer LLP, trial counsel for Sybersound.

The companies named in the federal lawsuit are:
* UAV Corporation ("Karaoke Bay") of Fort Mill, South Carolina.
* Madacy Entertainment ("Karaoke Party") of Montreal, Canada.
* Audio Stream, Inc. ("All Star Karaoke," "Keynote Karaoke" and
"Best Karaoke") of Hilliard, Ohio.
* Top Tunes, Inc. ("Top Tunes") of Hilliard, Ohio.
* Singing Machine Company, Inc. of Coconut Creek, Florida.
* Compass Productions, Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
* BCI Eclipse Company of New Hope, Minnesota.

About Sybersound

Sybersound is a privately-held record company based in Malibu, California, that produces fully-licensed dance remixes, karaoke content, and original records. Sybersound is known for its top-quality production of music tracks. The company's products are distributed in the U.S. by Universal Music & Video Distribution, the U.S. sales and distribution arm of the Universal Music Group. In Canada, Sybersound is distributed by Sony BMG. The company's products are sold in most major retailers in the U.S. and Canada. Information about the products is available at www.partytyme.net.

About Peter Haviland

Peter Haviland is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Kaye Scholer. Named a Southern California "Super Lawyer" by Los Angeles Magazine and "One of America's Top Black Lawyers" by Black Enterprise, he won a $132 million jury verdict for TVT Records in TVT Records v. The Island Def Jam Music Group and Lyor Cohen (now on appeal).

About Robert S. Meloni

Robert S. Meloni is the founding partner of the boutique entertainment litigation firm Robert S. Meloni, P.C. He has specialized in intellectual property and entertainment litigation for 25 years, handling matters for major recording artists, songwriters and producers, music publishers and record labels. He is recognized nationally as the leading expert in copyright and related issues in the karaoke music field. He is the author of a number of published scholarly articles on copyright, internet, and music industry related topics and a former Adjunct Professor at New York University.

Source: Sybersound Records Inc.

CONTACT: Mark Saylor of Sitrick And Company, +1-310-788-2850, for
Sybersound Records Inc.

Web site: http://www.partytyme.net/

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