Disklavier

For the most part copyright law was written before email existed, but it
would still be blatantly illegal (not just immoral) to share copyrighted
performances like Pianosoft disks by email, snail mail or pony express.
It is no different than sharing current hit recordings in MP3 format on
a peer-to-peer network or burning a copy of a commercial CD for a
friend.  It is OK, however, to burn a CD so you can have one in the home
changer and keep the copy in your car changer.   You own it for your
use, but when you give it to someone else so they can avoid paying for
it, you have violated the law.  It's really pretty straightforward. 

Todd Muncy
http://MuncyFamily.com 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: weeds68 [mailto:weeds68@...] 
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 12:57 AM
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [disklavier] Re: Newbie with questions

thanks Todd,
I've been reading all night and I think I have it figured out for 
the most part.  Thanks for your patient reply. :)
I understand about the copyright thing, and your not posting 
copyrighted stuff from yamaha.  Does the copyright say anything 
about sharing via email?  I know I'm just searching for a loophole 
and it may not be morally right but...

anyway, thanks again
and thanks to all the people who have helped out in the past.  Your 
posts were very infomative.

Bill


--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, "Todd Muncy" <inbox1@m...> wrote:
> Download the dkvutil.zip suite of utilities from the group site and
> thoroughly read the documentation file included with it.  This will
> answer many of your technical questions and show you how to 
convert midi
> files to Yamaha format (e-seq) disks, read Pianosoft disks on your 
and
> how to back them up.
> 
> Making backups of copyrighted material you own, for your own use, 
is
> always legal fair use.  Files available from our site were all
> contributed by other members.  None of them are commercial 
copyrighted
> performances (major no-no to share this stuff).  Some are public 
domain
> performances of copyrighted songs (written since the 1920's), but 
since
> we are a private members-only group, they are still legitimate 
under the
> private performance exception to the copyright law.  
> 
> Basically that exception says you can play a Billy Joel song for 
your
> friends at a non-profit party and not have to pay Billy a royalty.
> Think of this group as a large private non-profit group of friends
> sharing and enjoying non-commercial performances.  
> 
> On the other hand, if you are hired by a restaurant to play on a
> Saturday night, you or the restaurant absolutely have a legal 
obligation
> to license the rights to play his stuff.  Similarly, you may not 
sell
> files of copyrighted songs or post them on web sites available to 
the
> general public, unless you pay royalties to the songwriter, even 
if you
> performed the music.
> 
> A great deal of pricing information about new and used disklaviers 
is
> available in our pricing database on the group site.
> 
> Please come back with any unanswered questions after checking all 
this
> out.
> 
> Todd Muncy
> Disklavier-owner@yahoogroups.com 
> http://MuncyFamily.com 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: weeds68 [mailto:weeds68@y...] 
> Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 7:14 PM
> To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [disklavier] Newbie with questions
> 
> Hi everybody,
> I just purchased a 1997 Yamaha GH1 w/Disklavier DKC100R in perfect 
> condition.  It can only handle the PianoSOLO disks.  No speaker.
> I paid $12,800.
> My first question is, is that a good deal?  I initially thought 
yes 
> till I read that some of you paid as low as $19,000 for a new 
> MarkIII.
> 
> My next questions have to do with recording and sharing and what 
is 
> legal and what is not.
> I just popped one of the floppy disks that were included with my 
> purchase and my XPpro machine just says I need to format the disk.
> I saw the posts regarding 2DD and 2HD and how to format an HD to 
be 
> a DD.
> 
> Does my inability to read these disks in XP have something to do 
> with the DD format? Would a win98 machine read the disks?
> 
> If a friend made a recording on his disklavier and emailed it to 
me 
> would I be able to copy it to a floppy and listen to it?
> 
> What format are the pianoSOLO disk files in?(since I can't read 
them 
> myself)
> 
> When I was looking to make the purchase I figured there would be a 
> lot of people sharing their own recordings for free.  Not having 
> much luck googling.
> I noticed people here posted a bunch of midi files.(I like the 
> blues, jazz, and ragtime midis).
> If I copied the files to floppy would it play on my disklavier 
even 
> tho I don't have midi capability?  I know the answer seems 
obvious, 
> but I'm hoping. :)
> 
> and my last question, for now ;),
> Is making backups of these floppies legal?
> 
> I have a bunch of old floppies that dont work anymore, I figured 
the 
> same will happen to these, so I'd like to back up the disks(since 
> they cost $30) and stick them on CD for storage.
> 
> Is it legal?  Is it possible?  Do I need to have a 98 machine?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@Y...
> 
> To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and
> moderator, send it to:
> disklavier-owner@Y...
> 
> To reach our group's web site go to:
> http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier
> 
> Todd's family web site was completely updated 012/22/03.  It 
contains
> some fun disklavier content and links to midi sites among many 
other
> things, The url is:
> http://MuncyFamily.com 
> 
> THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
> If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too 
much
> mail, go the the web site and change your email delivery option 
instead.
> That will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the 
group.
> If you insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
> disklavier-unsubscribe@y... 
> 
> Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
> disklavier-subscribe@e... or give them this link:
> http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join 
>  
> Yahoo! Groups Links




To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@...

To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and
moderator, send it to:
disklavier-owner@...

To reach our group's web site go to:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier

Todd's family web site was completely updated 012/22/03.  It contains
some fun disklavier content and links to midi sites among many other
things, The url is:
http://MuncyFamily.com 

THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much
mail, go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead.
That will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group.
If you insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
disklavier-unsubscribe@... 

Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
disklavier-subscribe@... or give them this link:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join 
 
Yahoo! Groups Links