Kazaa

[4thwatcher]

i use kazaalite ... kazaa is too commercialized already!

 

[Cozmo]

I've wrestled for a long time with this. I enjoy music, like so many people do and I also "usually" only like 1 or 2 songs from an artists album, with the exception of Steven Curtis Chapman, Keith Green, Third Day, Mercy Me to name a few, and if I really wanted to get the mp3s, there are so many sources other than Kazaa that I would peruse. However, as the Lord has lately been pulling on the strings of my heart to clean up my life, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to be able to justify the rational behind such excuses as to why it shouldn't bother me that I can, if I'd like, download music, games, applications, ect. The bottom line for me has been, has it fulfilled my life? Has it brought me closer to Him? Has it made me a better person? Most importantly again, has it brought me closer to Him? Not even close, unfortunately. Maybe I'm being too hard about it, but it isn't right.

 

[cjwsb]

I don't see anything wrong with downloading occassional files. Especially if you like it, you can THEN go buy the CD. After all, if the RIAA will not give consumers a "trial" period, we should take it for ourselves. Abusing Kazaa is wrong, though, I think.

 

[santaclaus]

But you have to share your things according to the bible, even if its copyrighted.

 

[Kepa]

Kazaa and grokster and all those p2p software aren't illegal, because it's p2p, Kazaa has no control over how it's used. Like a vcr, a tape recorder etc.

But I do think it is morally wrong to download copywrited material.
If you made a CD, and asked people to buy it... would you not expect money from every person that owned a copy?

Oh and to that DeaconNCharge guy... why do you so wish to make someone look silly?

 

[GivingMyAll4Him]

thanks for the input everyone
we talked about this in youth group the other day and i have made up my mind after considering your posts and our discussion in youth group to uninstall kazaa...its gone, i am done filesharing...no matter how we try to justify it, whether we say "the artists still make enough money" or express other opinions, it is still illegal and in that way still stealing. no more stealing music for me, the files on my computer are gone and i plan to gradually buy back all of the cd's that i stole (even though i didnt consider it stealing when i did it).

 

[Talented10th]

I just wanted to add some clarification to this subject.

1. Downloading MP3s to play/copy for YOURSELF ONLY is not illegal.

It is the same as renting a movie at Blockbuster, or borrowing a movie that a friend has bought, and making a personal copy for yourself. When VHS and Beta recordable video tapes first came out, the movie studios were crying foul just like the record companies are now. Same story, different day.

2. Downloading MP3s and allowing your downloaded files to BE SHARED with others on the network is ILLEGAL. Like a previous poster said, it's distributing the files that is illegal.

3. The reason why the RIAA and the record companies are suing people is because they CAN'T file criminal charges. The standard of proof for civil cases is different than criminal cases, and in many instances, less strict.

The SAME law (if I'm not mistaken) that said that making copies of movies for personal use only was okay, is the law that governs making personal copies of audio tapes and CDs. MP3 and file-sharing technology is relatively new. The laws haven't caught up with the technology.

So, to keep from doing something wrong just do this...

When you first download your file-sharing program, IT WILL ASK YOU IF YOU WANT TO SHARE YOUR FILES. Check the NO box. That way, anything you download to your hard drive STAYS on your hard drive for your personal use only.

One last thing, the record companies are really only targeting HEAVY downloaders and file-sharers...those with HUNDREDS of downloads or more. They are not interested in the occasional user.

Everyone should follow their own conscience on this, though. Because everything that is legal is not morally correct.

 

[Deamiter]

Here is a good article that deals with the legality of downloading copywrited material:

http://mp3.about.com/library/weekly/aa061200.htm

Remedies mentioned there are limited to civil judgments and violators may be forced to pay "actual damages." In other words, violators could be forced to pay large fines, but would not be sent to jail.

Both distributing copywrited material, AND downloading (or buying illegal copies willingly) is illegal. Currently the RIAA is only going after the big distributers as there are a LOT of downloaders out there - and suing millions is just not viable. However, the same technology used to catch the distributers ALSO grants the companies the IP address of the downloader. You are not safe by simply downloading - except that the RIAA is not suing everybody (for obvious reasons).

Copying a tape YOU BOUGHT or a CD or ANYTHING for your personal use is legal. It's covered under a 'backup' copy that the laws grant you a right to (in case you scratch your CD for instance). Copying a CD or a book or anything that you did NOT buy is illegal. Even if your friend gives you a burned CD of the latest band for free - you have BOTH broken copyright laws.

I do not have a problem with the RIAA. The reason they have a monopoly on the industry is that people are WILLING to pay $20 for a new CD with 2 good songs. I stopped buying CDs a long time ago as my personal protest. However, leaching money from the industry by stealing their music only makes it MORE expensive for new artists to get involved. Buy your local artists' music, go to their concerts - but as long as you listen to and buy the newest popular CDs, you're supporting the RIAA - who has a LEGAL RIGHT to go after those that break the law -whether you agree with the law or not.

I challege Deacon to find his sources and MAKE me look silly. The courts have been ruling as I've described - yes downloading is illegal (you don't go to jail for all crimes) and precident is MUCH stronger than your interpretation of the laws. I just feel that this thread has gone on too long with people saying it's OK because you won't go to jail. I break laws every day - but I know that I could be fined or go to jail for them. You shouldn't be mad at the RIAA any more than you should be mad at the cop who fined you for going 5 over. It's illegal even if all your friends get away with it!

 

[Deamiter]

On a different note, if you MUST download a sharing program try to stay away from Kazaa. Kazaa not only puts adware on your computer, by using it, you agree that the creators can use your computer in any way they like and at any time. Of course they haven't used Kazaa to attack the CIA systems or anything - it would be too obvious. However, if you read the EULA, it does say that they can change the program to run however they like, whenever they like. It's this kind of blind use of a program that grants OTHERS rights to your computer that scares me.

 

[Pseud]

Blargh.

Illegal..legal.. doesn't matter.

If you take something without permission for free, when it was made to be sold, what are you doing?

 

[Montsecuellar90]

OK I deleted everything I downloaded from Kazaa. it was a couple of Christian songs but better safe than sorry

 

[Deamiter]

Well... you're not breaking laws any more - but to be honest, you are safe if you simply uninstall Kazaa. Even IF by some freak coincidence you were arrested for further computer crimes (after the fact) and they wondered where you got those files, you could alway lie, and there'd be no way to prove you wrong. However, morally, I salute you. You are no longer stealing.

 

[HeatherJay]

Well... you're not breaking laws any more - but to be honest, you are safe if you simply uninstall Kazaa. Even IF by some freak coincidence you were arrested for further computer crimes (after the fact) and they wondered where you got those files, you could alway lie, and there'd be no way to prove you wrong. However, morally, I salute you. You are no longer stealing.

And she has no need to lie about anything, either. Lying and stealing are sins on the very same level. Good for you, Bullheadangel.

Love, Heather

 

[Priest]

I use Kazza to DL my tv shows I miss, which I generally buy on DVD anyways when they come out. If you miss a show it's hard to keep pace with the series, what's the diffence if I tape it then downloading it? NONE. They only problem I would have if someone is selling them ripped to DVD's.

 

[Dracil]

Blargh.

Illegal..legal.. doesn't matter.

If you take something without permission for free, when it was made to be sold, what are you doing?

Infringing someone's copyright. NOT stealing (see Dowling vs. United States). A civil offense. NOT a crime (unless you're doing it in massive quantities, in which case, it will become a misdemeanor, and eventually a felony).

 

[Pseud]

Infringing someone's copyright. NOT stealing (see Dowling vs. United States). A civil offense. NOT a crime (unless you're doing it in massive quantities, in which case, it will become a misdemeanor, and eventually a felony).

I don't know about the law, I'm not a lawyer or a barrister or anything. Much less American law, but that's not the point.

It's not a crime to do a great many things, but it would still be wrong to do them.

It's not illegal to be a racist. It's still very wrong though!

 

[ChristsChick]

I used to struggle with this issue, I had literally thousands of downloads on my computer, they were just for personal use, but boy did they build up! Basically God started to put pressure on me to delete all these files, throw out the cds I'd burned of them and delete Kazaa. I'm really glad I did, I don't have to worry about the whole illegal/legal thing now, but it wasn't about that for me, it was more a moral thing than worrying about getting caught.

Also, if you used Kazaa to check whether you'd like an album or not before you bought, there are literally thousands of sites for different bands that allow you to listen to tracks off a new album. So maybe you should try that instead, a good place to start is usually the bands official site, but if they don't have them there there should be some in the sites they link to.

 

[Pseud]

Also, if you used Kazaa to check whether you'd like an album or not before you bought, there are literally thousands of sites for different bands that allow you to listen to tracks off a new album. So maybe you should try that instead, a good place to start is usually the bands official site, but if they don't have them there there should be some in the sites they link to.

http://www.cdnow.com very often does this

 

[Dracil]

I don't know about the law, I'm not a lawyer or a barrister or anything. Much less American law, but that's not the point.

It's not a crime to do a great many things, but it would still be wrong to do them.

It's not illegal to be a racist. It's still very wrong though!

I'm not disagreeing that it's "wrong", but I also want to clear up the ignorance and myths surrounding this issue.

 

[Pseud]

I'm not disagreeing that it's "wrong", but I also want to clear up the ignorance and myths surrounding this issue.

Ohhhhh, ok, sorry I misunderstood ya.