Music Pirating by International Bellydance Teachers

Music pirating by international bellydance teachers -- appeal from Beata & Horacio Cifuentes
http://www.oriental-fantasy.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• bellydance
• belly
• oriental
• dance
• beata
• horacio
• cifuentes
• music
• copyright
• pirating

[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

[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

[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

[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!

[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 >:-| )

[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]

... 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.