MP3's...

XVII · #1 4th September 2003, 10:49 PM

I really dont even know if you would consider downloading MP3's that would normally be on CD's that you'd have to buy, and downloading them for free.

If not stealing, why not? (Also wondering if the RIAA [recording company] is doing something they should by trying to illegalize MP3 downloading)

If stealing...how so?

A Taffer · #2 4th September 2003, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by XVII

I really dont even know if you would consider downloading MP3's that would normally be on CD's that you'd have to buy, and downloading them for free.

If not stealing, why not? (Also wondering if the RIAA [recording company] is doing something they should by trying to illegalize MP3 downloading)

If stealing...how so?

It is electronic theft using the internet. By downloading those songs or software over the internet there is no way for any money to reach the people who make the software or songs because you haven't paid for it. You just simply took it. Now if you went to a pay website and paid first and then downloaded the money gets sent to the people who made the music. That wouldn't be theft. As far as the RIAA I know they are taking a lot of people to court for songs at least....software makers I'm not sure what they are doing. The internet is hard to regulate so I doubt this will be fixed anytime soon that works for all countries.

mala · #3 4th September 2003, 11:06 PM

it is stealing
see my comment on the other thread

however what the riaa is doing by going after kazaa and other file sharing programs is equally evil

if some drunk gets in a car and runs people over you dont go and tear up the highway they used now do you

and mp3s are not just about brand name music here
the mp3 is just a format of media
it's what in the file that is important.

btw the riaa isnt a recording company

mala · #4 4th September 2003, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by A Taffer

It is electronic theft using the internet. By downloading those songs or software over the internet there is no way for any money to reach the people who make the software or songs because you haven't paid for it. You just simply took it. Now if you went to a pay website and paid first and then downloaded the money gets sent to the people who made the music. That wouldn't be theft. As far as the RIAA I know they are taking a lot of people to court for songs at least....software makers I'm not sure what they are doing. The internet is hard to regulate so I doubt this will be fixed anytime soon that works for all countries.

realistically the riaa is only going after, as far as downloaders go, the bigtime people
who download 100's of gigs
them going after johny 10mb isnt worth theyre time/money/image

as far as stopping mp3s more realistically they are looking into two things

1 is getting filesharing programs banned, read about their legal fights over kazaa (they lost last i heard, prolly in appeals though)

as well as hardware methods
one which is very worrisome is that when you buy a computer in the next couple of years it might come installed with special tracking chips that see what you have on there and then transmit that info back to whoever owns the rights.

other things are cds that cant be read with a computer cd device
mp3s/movie formats that cant be burned to disc
dvd burners that refuse to read certain formats
etc...

doofus125 · #5 4th September 2003, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by mala

realistically the riaa is only going after, as far as downloaders as well as hardware methods one which is very worrisome is that when you buy a computer in the next couple of years it might come installed with special tracking chips that see what you have on there and then transmit that info back to whoever owns the rights.

I find that to be a violation of my rights and my privacy....that will basicly tell them all of my business that is none of their business.....

ashibaka · #6 5th September 2003, 11:44 AM

I download foreign music through filesharing programs. I don't think it's stealing... the person I would hypothetically be stealing from is the artist, and he's not going to get a cut if I spend $50 on an import CD.

Which is worse...
- paying someone $50 to buy a secondhand CD, and the artist gets nothing
- paying someone nothing to download an MP3, and the artist gets nothing

C'mon

SqueezetheShaman · #7 5th September 2003, 12:38 PM

Well, ashibaka, they do get more than nothing. They get like a whole couple cents.

Most artists I like support file sharing, if they do, I do. There are many groups I wouldn't be aware of without it. Groups i will spend money on at concerts (where they actually make money) and possibly even buy their CDs also.

Kelly · #8 5th September 2003, 01:35 PM

What about if you download a few songs from an album to preview before purchasing said album (deleting them after a few listens)?

Edge · #9 5th September 2003, 02:37 PM

It's not stealing. It's copyright infringement.

If I go to a new car lot in the middle of the night and drive off with one of their cars, I've stolen the car. However, if I go to a car lot in the middle of the night, wave my sparkly magic wand, duplicate one of their cars and drive off in the copy, what crime have I committed?

doofus125 · #10 5th September 2003, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by ashibaka

I download foreign music through filesharing programs. I don't think it's stealing... the person I would hypothetically be stealing from is the artist, and he's not going to get a cut if I spend $50 on an import CD.

Which is worse...
- paying someone $50 to buy a secondhand CD, and the artist gets nothing
- paying someone nothing to download an MP3, and the artist gets nothing

C'mon

Both violate copyright laws.....secondhand cd's are just as bad if not worse because you paid for pirated music, allowing someone else profit from something that isn't theirs in the first place....