X-Cart forums

[JWait]

Good luck, and I'm interested to see how it turns out.

[fxdesigner]

Hi -

In reading your post in this forum, I visited your referenced web site shop.stitchesinbloom.com and while not trying to be a jerk, but offering some advice as a commercial (TV, film & radio) multimedia graphics designer, I am sensitive to multimedia deliverables on the internet and copyright law.

Apparently as one visits your site, they are entertained with audio recordings of current and past commercial artists including full music, lyrics and artist vocals.

I would suggest, that unless you can show you are paying licensing fees for the fair use and playback of these recordings, you might want to consider removing them from the site.

Without the licensing (and verified proof of the same) you are in serious violation of both U.S. and International Copyright Laws and someone may step in one day and you will be subject to some heavy fines and possibly worse penalties.

Again, I'm not judging or accusing, I am merely trying to keep you out of legal hot-water.

I do multimedia design for a living and we must have all of our ducks in a row regarding licensing, photos, video and audio content for general use and exposure on the internet.

(I also have to pay substantial fees for the use of these materials) and in some instances, releases are NOT granted and I have to look for alternatives, regardless of what our clients were initially wanting to include on their sites and promotional material.

Even if you are simply acting as a "relay" link to another site (i.e. a radio station, satellite, or another web site) while visiting your pages, you are violating these same copyright laws. On the surface, you are either violating individual artists, recording studios copyright compensation and/or FCC law regarding regulation of Broadcast Distribution by the simple fact you are "BROADCASTING' (delivering) this music no differently than a radio or online radio site.

Again, this is just an effort to make you aware.
IF this is none of my business or you feel you are doing nothing wrong, so be it and accept my apology.

regards,

fxdesigner

[Stitches In Bloom.com]

2 things:

1. The dynamic appearing / disappearing form fields do not work. At least, I couldn't get them to do it -- maybe someone one who is a lot better in php and java can do it.

Instead I had to get creative with some rewording and re-organize the options. Not what we wanted, but it works. Can't have everything, right?

2. Yes, I know about copyright laws. Everyone involved with this site has gone over them and knows the risks.

However, small loop holes let us get away with using that particular player and song list since it is a part of a community that allows us to add the player to any site we want. Basically, its a deferral of copyright responsibility -- or it's supposed to be.

In order to use the player we had to be: a small business or used on a personal site, cannot use it as a promotional material, and cannot use it to market or link it to any of our products.

We also do not have any control over the player, the licenses, or the songs available to us. We do have control over the volume, the shuffle, and can pick approved songs.

According to our agreement with the community that provides it, it is 100% legal and we are not violating any copyright laws. The community pays the licensing fees and royalties based on a songs number of use/play on their players from their community.

However, I know exactly what you are talking about, and not too sure if I believe / agree with the player and it's use/acquiring of songs. But, with that being said, the owner really wanted those songs on there, and that's what she got.

Thanks for your concern though. I know that copyright is a huge issue.