Effect of SOPA, PIPA, and ACTA

[BennyB]

I think everyone is familiar with these things (SOPA, PIPA, and ACTA).

So, to begin with, my goverment and Copyright keeping associasons started a huge serie of razzias, during parties all across the country.

Only this year, 5 DJ-s were cought for not paying the copyright usage for parties (3 were cought in the same town, in the same time).
These razzias were arranged mostly on places that were not checked for the long time, but Associacion Agents are still very active all across my country.

I think there are situations like this in every country, and also checks every day.

So my word calls for people who don't pay the copyrights:

Start paying, or stop working. This is not fair for DJ-s who pay, and perform legally.
You WILL be cought, no matter where you live, they will catch you, and this is not a joke.

The Hungarian DJ Fedration is maintaining a website, on which Club managers can find legaly working, honestly paying Dj-s, so they can find one to employ, and make the good business go.

I hope my words have reached anyone who yet not legaly work, and start paying, for the good reasons.
Belive me: It is much better, if you don't have to worry about checks during night

[Blackbrook]

In Germany the GEMA is responsible for this b*llsh*t. So I have checked what I have to pay for or writing it down differently: Which of my records and artist's works are part of the GEMA, so that I have to pay. The result is that it is just about 2% of my entire collection (analog & digital). Due to the fact that I am playing a lot of international stuff which does not appear in the GEMA's database they can s*ck my b*lls!
If I am totally wrong with what I am writing down here because the payment consists of totally different aspects someone has to correct me urgently - Thank You!

[BennyB]

In hungary, there are different companies.

MAHASZ, and Artisjus. You got to pay both of them, if you pay before you gig.

However, there is a General Yearly Copyright Payment, which means, that you pay about 450€. Then you get a plastic card, which is valid from January 1, to december 31.

Whit this card, you can have unlimited copies of any record or video, and you can DJ legaly everywhere in hungary. You only have to make shure, no illegal Software is on your cumputer.

[christiankoopmann]

Hey Steve,

at Germany not the DJ is paying the GEMA. This is the job of the organizer of the party. Clubs should have a contract with the gema and pay a bill for the size of their club and it not depends on what you are playing.
Open Air or bars and so on is a bit difficult and I think not interesting for the rest of the forum so I will not write all the aspects down . (I worked 4 weeks for a government department and worked there at the city party managment... and I have a friend how is study German Law.)
Generall I pay for my music because I hate this youtube sounds. The funniest trip to a club was last year on a big party the DJ played songs and they were corrupt and not complete or had some broken bits that there where funny sounds like "BIEEEPPPP". That was realy funny and I laught enough . I asked one of the securities if I could speak to the organizer and asked how much he got for that and I was surpriesed that it was as much that he could buy them all legaly and would have enough to live a month. After the show I asked him where he got his music and he told me that Youtube is his platform .

So but back to ACTA/SOPA and so on. It is okay for movies and so on but music is difficult. Some of the songs are uploaded directly to the community for free and this would be not allowed at the SOPA contract.
When we share our mixes would also not allowed!
I'm also in contact with some bands and they say everytime: "We love music and are willing to share it with the crowed but we need money to do that so pay a little fee and you are allowed to use it."

With this statement I will close my little exposé.
regards
Christian

[Hannes]

I never had to worry bout that, cause the clubs i played in paid a fixed gema-rate, asking club owners doesnt hurt