Music Pirating by International Bellydance Teachers

[shirocaine]

good video - why you two REALLY PROFESSIONALS dont put this in here with the correct format? please take care of yourselfs! professionality means to care about every single vid. or flyer u produce. good work costs money - especially YOU do know about it.

[LADYSHIPMISSVON]

I'm sorry that this happened to you! One of my friends on Facebook posted your video. You shouldn't stop doing anything that brings you joy! Then they won. Exposing them was the right thing! Words travel fast & bad reputation travels even faster! Please don't give up something you love because of them!

[SerpentineVideo]

Once pirating is proved in court, that person's entrance / exit visa can be revoked to the countries where they have been convicted. I have had our lawyers look into it. Workshop teachers cannot sell pirated music if they have no workshops...

The costs of producing quality music are high. Which is why hiring a lawyer is sometimes a good idea.

[CarmineGuida]

...continuing my story....

Eventually we got the site taken down, but the owner of the website wrote this first (you can see that they think the problem was letting english speakers on the site, not the whole idea of having 80 dvds/cds on it)

"Btw, I knew this would happen, told you guys how to do things, but it seems you didn't listen. Of course we get complaints this way! I am starting to regret letting non-hungarian speakers on the forum very much...we haven't had any trouble before."

[BeataHoracio]

@CarmineGuida

Hi Carmine, this is a crazy story!!! why do often times people agree that stealing from a purse is wrong but stealing someones work is not?! Professionalism ist not only wearing a pretty costume but also understanding professionell behaviour. Lets hope for more brains and hearts!! Keep dancing! Beata

[Maatdrummer1]

@CarmineGuida Wow, Carmine. That is just crazy. And they can't put the shoe on their foot and imagine if a bunch of crazy Americans started stealing their stuff? (which I know a few already do >:-| )

[CarmineGuida]

... I also mentioned that one of our band members was pregnant during the recording and now they are actually taking money way from her and her baby. Absolutely no one sympathized or changed their mind. Instead I got attacked with everything from "well it's not available from itunes here" so I mentioned they could get it from CD Baby, but they didn't want to pay shipping. They also told me that my band member with the baby should have thought about that before getting pregnant.

[CarmineGuida]

About a year or so ago I found a Hungarian message board with ENTIRE CDs and ENTIRE DVDs of bellydance stuff on it. There were about 10 CDs and at least 50 DVDs on this website that everyoen was sharing and downloading. People were even making requests "Can someone upload this, that, etc." I logged onto the site and wrote to the people and mentioned that I was an actual person and not a gigantic corporation with deep pockets...

[Maatdrummer1]

WOW! Horacio and Beata, that's sad. In my part of the world, I know of several musicians that have quit playing and recording because of this. I've warned people the big names would, too, if the dancers and listeners didn't start respecting the muscians. And now, you put your names to it. My highest respect to you. DON'T QUIT.

[durrahbellydance]

I'm so sorry this has happened to you and Beata, Horacio, and I hope this unscrupulous thief will come to his senses and stop stealing from you. I always buy original, and encourage my students to do so as well. I sincerely hope this horrible experience does not discourage you from continuing to produce beautiful music.

[bellyrach]

In Australia, teachers are required to purchase a license merely to play music in their classes... and another one to perform it. Then there's a third license that permits the reproduction of music for their students, to permit students to practise at home (and at home only). This music must be supplied to students at cost, not for profit. Also, the teacher keeps a record of the details of all the music reproduced. If the music producer is represented ...

[BeataHoracio]

@RubyBellyDancer

Hi Ruby, we tried to talk to Khaled. He did not feel he did anything wrong "because "the others do it, too". To our offer to buy the DCs whole sale at a cheap price he replied that he still has 500 more copies that he needs to sell first. ....This is when we decided to publish this to raise awayreness. Sigh. Thank you for your interest and input, Beata and Horacio

[Melyah1]

I shall do the exactly the same... I will spread the word forward through my facebook account and through my bellydance-contacts. I'm extremely shocked about this and I'm happy that you, dear Beata and Horacio are making this issue public and bring it into widespread conversation. Thank you from all the wonderful music you have produced for the bellydancers all over the world. The credit should be given to those it belongs!

[FreelanceFool]

I'm not shocked by this by this because I know it's common practice but I'm shaken and saddened by the names mentioned. I expected a greater degree of professionalism. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Horatio and Beata, I'll share the link with my Facebook contacts, most of whom are dancers.

[BeataHoracio]

@FreelanceFool

Thank you for your kind words and the support!

Keep dancing!

Beata

[bleuamber]

i am sureit is not only those teachers...i am sure its a common thing i was shocked when i saw this in a school where i was visiting...but the host of the workshop seems to be ok! no problem ,nothing was said...so i think its aswell the fault from people that host workshops they must not allow to let ,,teachers,, sell stuff like that...i think they also dont care as long money comes in its fine...this is terrible for treu artist that are trying to do the correct thing ...just no morale how sad

[zhanata]

how can we, the students, control what we buy at workshops? we pay for the WS, we learn a choreo, we video-record it if we are lucky, and of course we want to have that song! It has become a norm and despite my sympathizing very much to what Horazio is saying, i doubt u can stop people buying CDs with pirate copies of music... but at least u spoke up. I respect u for that. chapeau!

[BeataHoracio]

@zhanata

you can ask the teachers to sell you originals and not contribute to theft by not buying stolen music. Ask what is the original and get it! Also if you buy the stolen compilation you buy lousy quality, and most likely songs that you already have. Dont help the thieves, do the right thing, even if it is not the most convenient. Sometimes we have to make choice in life and decide what we are.

But most of all, keep dancing and enjoy,

Beata

[shereenraks]

I am very sorry to hear this message, but it is necessary that the people realize, that making a cd is not for free. Your music is fantastic and I am proud to have used it on my DVD and I hope that paying for the rights helped at least a bit to encourage the decision of making another great cd. There is not enough good music and we really do need your experience and initiative. Please dont give up.

[thesamardahab]

I hope you still continue to make music. Your music is the best. I actually only found out about your music because I bought a cd at a workshop (I won't say which star) and the song I loved best turned out to be pirated from one of your cd's. I searched for a long time to try to find out who's song it was and who was the singer. I am acutally dancing to it on my page. I'll link your website now that I know. So sometimes even the bad can turn to good, you now have a lifelong fan because of that.

[latanyasdance]

I hope for you that the common "ethics" will turn out for better! This kind of digital theft is something I always point out also on Youtube, where many users ask other to send them music, because they like it when hearing on YT. I am being insulted by people for pointing out their wrong behavior, but I don't care. This mind set of the global society must change, for sure! Love, Tanja/Munich

[hinde2310]

I think you are very right, it's awfull working this way. I am a student of Hossam and Serena Ramzy and because I am very near to them I know how much time,stress and money it takes to create a cd. I would never,ever, sell copies of their cd's or anyone elses in class or workshop because it really really hurts the artist. xxx from Holland, Petra