Stealing? Or simply taking advantage of how a web browser works?

SilverBlade

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Here's a technical situation that I would like to know..if it's 'stealing'..or simply taking advantage on how web browsers work today.

Some websites which sell music (not iTunes, but actual websites), also allow the user to stream the song before they decide to buy. In the background, what *really* happens is that when the user 'streams' the song, the server sends the mp3 file directly to the computer requesting the stream (this is basically the simplest/easiest/fastest method). The majority of people do not know how to get access to the file as it is hidden within the browser's cache. There are ways to get access to the files, though directly through the browser, so the user can literally take the file and save it elsewhere on the computer - having a complete perfect copy of the song without purchasing it.

No laws are broken, no 'hacking' is required, just knowing how to access the song is all that is needed.

Stealing? or "Since this is how the browsers/servers are programmed, no laws are broken here" ?
 

Gregory Thompson

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Technically it is stealing because you're doing a free trial but then you effectively walk away from the store with the goods without paying for it .

so it's like going to a game store .. asking if you can see the game .. then walk away when they're not looking . same concept .
 
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SilverBlade

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Technically it is stealing because you're doing a free trial but then you effectively walk away from the store with the goods without paying for it .

so it's like going to a game store .. asking if you can see the game .. then walk away when they're not looking . same concept .

That analogy doesn't work 100%.

Most game boxes have an electronic tag on it, which would set off the alarm, alerting everyone that a theft has taken place.

Those music websites I'm talking about have literally no locks on it, as they simply don't want to spend the time hiring someone to program security in it, and instead rely on most people not being nerds.

But the fact is, they are sending the song to you fair and square (you're not forcing it out of their servers with hacking), as it was programmed that way.
 
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Colleen1

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Sounds like they are trusting the user to be honorable. So if that is the understanding along with their policy then they have expectations and if people are downloading these files under those conditions then I would say it would be honorable to agree to that policy. I would say this is something I would go over between myself and God and go from there.
 
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Gregory Thompson

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That analogy doesn't work 100%.

Most game boxes have an electronic tag on it, which would set off the alarm, alerting everyone that a theft has taken place.

Those music websites I'm talking about have literally no locks on it, as they simply don't want to spend the time hiring someone to program security in it, and instead rely on most people not being nerds.

But the fact is, they are sending the song to you fair and square (you're not forcing it out of their servers with hacking), as it was programmed that way.

well if you want to justify yourself . it's obviously your conscience talking . was just saying . it's technically still stealing because the vendor was still charging for the product that you walked away with .
 
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Joykins

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Here's a technical situation that I would like to know..if it's 'stealing'..or simply taking advantage on how web browsers work today.

Some websites which sell music (not iTunes, but actual websites), also allow the user to stream the song before they decide to buy. In the background, what *really* happens is that when the user 'streams' the song, the server sends the mp3 file directly to the computer requesting the stream (this is basically the simplest/easiest/fastest method). The majority of people do not know how to get access to the file as it is hidden within the browser's cache. There are ways to get access to the files, though directly through the browser, so the user can literally take the file and save it elsewhere on the computer - having a complete perfect copy of the song without purchasing it.

No laws are broken, no 'hacking' is required, just knowing how to access the song is all that is needed.

Stealing? or "Since this is how the browsers/servers are programmed, no laws are broken here" ?

It's a violation of copyright law to copy a song without permission. Legally--you are still required to keep the law even if the item is poorly secured. Just because the car doors aren't locked doesn't mean you are allowed to open its door and take someone else's GPS. Copyright, however, is a civil violation and theft is a criminal violation, so the penalties are different and the analogy to stealing is not precise.

If you wish to download songs for free, there is freegal. I have used it, but for me music discovery is more of an issue than trying to get free music illegally.
 
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