Downloading Music

[Theologian in Training]

cmom and CAF, Agreed. I don't say I agree with everything the RIAA and MPAA do, rather, it is a law, and until there is another law, that doesn't rule in their favor, there is not much that can be done.

[morostheos]

OK, I've done a bit of research on this myself, and here's the laws that I came up with:

Copyright laws originally did not allow private copying of any copyrighted materials. When tape recorders, etc. came out they ended up working out a deal where the companies that create any devices to copy copyrighted work pay a set amount of royalties to the industries to cover copyright costs for personal use. However, computers were not considered copying devices, so the computer companies don't pay these royalties.

So, technically, it is illegal to make copies of anything copyrighted using a computer, whether or not you own the CD, etc. HOWEVER, it is not a punishable crime unless you share it with others on a broad scale or profit off of it.

So the question becomes, is it is sin if it is against the law but still unpunishable?? I honestly don't know....

Why does copyright law have to be so complicated???

[Paladin D]

So if I were to grab a CD from my collection, place it into my CD-ROM, copy the music from it...and use it for personal use...it's illegal and a sin?

What really erks me, is this... WHY WOULD Microsoft HAVE A MEDIA PLAYER WHERE YOU CAN COPY MUSIC OFF OF A CD, IF IT'S ILLEGAL?

I just don't get it!

[CatholicAndFanatical]

We need Father pontifex's opinion..im interested to see what a Priest has to say about this..

Fadda Where art thou!

[Pontifex]

I think it is safe to say, that whatever the laws of copyright are, we must follow them as Christians. Regardless of the situation financially or the lack of interest in a group, if it is illegal, than we are crossing a line that we are called not to in the scriptures. We are called to obey the laws of the land. Ask yourself this question, is dowloading a song worth potentially offending God by breaking one of the commandments?

Peace to all,

Fr. Pontifex

[CatholicAndFanatical]

Thank you Father, glad you could make time to post your comment.

well, that seals it for me. Im uninstalling Emule and Kazaa and wont touch it anymore. Also, this goes into my novel I have to tell father when I confess saturday..lol

Thanks again Father P, you da best.

CatholicAndFanatical

[Paladin D]

Would it be perfectly fine though, if I were to copy music from a CD I own onto my PC to listen to myself? I don't use Kazaa anymore, nor do I plan on sharing it over a P2P system.

Btw, is it wrong to send a clip of a song to 1 friend once in a while? I'm not sending full albums or anything.

I just don't understand how copying music from a CD onto a PC, for personal use would be illegal and/or a sin, if Microsoft allows it on their Media player.

[morostheos]

The thing with that law, is it was created before computers existed, and computer originally couldn't copy media, hence their not being classified as recording equipment. So the whole law is very blurry, no one actually knows what it means. No one is interested in prosecuting those who copy music that they own onto their own computer, so it becomes hard to decide what the law actually is. There are also (vague) rights attached to buying copyrighted material, so it's hard to tell what those rights are and what the law actually applies to. <_<

[Paladin D]

The thing with that law, is it was created before computers existed, and computer originally couldn't copy media, hence their not being classified as recording equipment.  So the whole law is very blurry, no one actually knows what it means.  No one is interested in prosecuting those who copy music that they own onto their own computer, so it becomes hard to decide what the law actually is.  There are also (vague) rights attached to buying copyrighted material, so it's hard to tell what those rights are and what the law actually applies to.   

So it won't be a sin?

[Aloysius]

so wait..

you're allowed to copy a tape with a tape recorder cause the taper recorder companies pay royalties to the music industry?

so you'd be allowed to copy a CD onto a tape using a tape recorder and share it with your friends?

but you can't copy a CD onto a CD with a burner since burner companies don't pay royalties? or DO THEY? cuz i bet when burners were invented it was pretty evident THEY, not the computers but the burners, were a copying tool, right?

i'm gonna invent a new phrase right here, right now. it's called non-profit commercial sale. it's like what they do at Kazaa, which is like opening up a store with all copied versions of your own CD's and putting a big sign out front that says "Free CD's" that's non-profit commercial sale. that is what should be immoral/illegal. however, copying a CD and letting a friend borrow it, is that illegal? or is it only legal if you copy it with a tape recorder like the previous questions?

anyone know enough to answer that? :rolleyes:

[_bc]

On a more general level: Some laws are not expected to be strictly followed. What are we supposed to do with those?

Copyright laws are an example of this; it may technically be illegal to copy your cd's onto the computer, but the intent of the law is almost certainly not to force you to put the cd into the cd drive every time you want to listen to it through computer. It's just common sense; who could possibly care if the cd is in the computer or on the shelf ? Surely we're not supposed to be _that_ fundamentalist in interpreting the law?

[Theologian in Training]

Here is a perfect example, and not one that I have done, purely hypothetical. What if, after getting my new Massmatics CD, some of my less affluent seminary brothers wanted a copy, am I justified in copying it for them?

Something to think about ;)

[Paladin D]

Here is a perfect example, and not one that I have done, purely hypothetical. What if, after getting my new Massmatics CD, some of my less affluent seminary brothers wanted a copy, am I justified in copying it for them?

Something to think about

I wouldn't think that's justified.

However, I did send one song from the Massmatics cd to Anna, as a preview of what she'll get. Since at the moment, the samples are not up.

[Theologian in Training]

I wouldn't think that's justified.

However, I did send one song from the Massmatics cd to Anna, as a preview of what she'll get. Since at the moment, the samples are not up.

So, now is it starting to make a little more sense? You say that hypothetical situation is not justified, yet what about all the other CD's from which we do the same?

[Paladin D]

So, now is it starting to make a little more sense? You say that hypothetical situation is not justified, yet what about all the other CD's from which we do the same?

I never have supported people copying entire (or even half of) albums. I always believe one or two songs (max) from a cd, to get a taste of how good a CD is, is "OK".

Though I can be wrong...?

[Theologian in Training]

I never have supported people copying entire (or even half of) albums. I always believe one or two songs (max) from a cd, to get a taste of how good a CD is, is "OK".

Though I can be wrong...?

How is that any different though? One song or ten songs are still copyrighted.

[foundsheep]

I was looking at my knights of columbus confession guide and it specifically ask if you have pirated music you should confess. its under the thou shalt not steal commandment.

[Paladin D]

Darn, another sin to confess. :(

[Guest jrob8503]

fight the powers that be

[hyperdulia again]

:( man... i love kazaa