Copyright Fight Hits Karaoke Scene Hard
An office worker, identified only as Kim, was disappointed when she visited a karaoke bar in Sinchon with her colleagues after work Saturday.For co-workers, she was planning to sing "I Need You," a new release by the group "god." But she could not find the tune on the list in the karaoke machine.
The owner of the establishment explained the new release was not included in the repertoire because the Korea Music Copyright Association and the manufacturers of the song machines are at odds over copyrights.
Customers have been unable to sing new releases in karaoke-style entertainment rooms since the beginning of the year. This is because the copyright association has stopped distributing new songs to karaoke establishments nationwide.
According to a copyright association official, the equipment makers have been putting new releases on the karaoke machines without paying for the copyrights.
The copyright association is now planning to demand compensation.
However, an official with the association that makes the machines disagreed. He said that "the copyright association is demanding unfairly that we pay for the copyrights. We're experiencing a huge loss because the copyright association has just stopped distributing new releases to singing rooms."
by Jung Hyun-mok
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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