Music Ownership Laws

[Dream]

I used to download music all the time and burn CDs, but I have since changed my ways. Now, I am trying to do everything the legal and the moral way.

My question comes about music copyright laws. When I purchase a CD, I have purchased the ownership rights. I have the right to put that music on my computer, or burn a backup copy for myself.

Now my father has some old records that he never listens to anymore. Since he has already purchased the ownership rights to that music, is it morally and legally acceptable for us to burn that same album onto a CD or put mp3s of that album on my computer? Is that considered stealing or is it permissible since the rights were already purchased?

Thanks in advance for the responses.

 

[Western Deity]

"When I purchase a CD, I have purchased the ownership rights. I have the right to put that music on my computer, or burn a backup copy for myself."

Do you?

 

[Dream]

Do you?

Yes. US law allows you to make one backup copy.

 

[Western Deity]

Ok. I had no idea, that's all .

 

[wgjones3]

You're entilted to fair use on anything you buy. Fair use is basically anything you want to do that doesn't involve distribution or public performance. Right now, under fair use, it's still legal to give copies to friends or family, basically because there's no way to police that.

Now, if you're talking about hooking a phonograph up to your computer and ripping the music off those old vinyls, then it's legal. If you're talking about going on Kazza and downloading the songs that are on those vinyls, it's not so legal. Actually I've heard interpretations of the law both ways but the RIAA doesn't seem to think it's legal since you're not obtaining a copy from a medium that you physically possess.

From a moral standpoint, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[DMBfanLongliveStrongBad!]

i agree. Go for it. I used to download/burn cd's from my friends. I don't do that anymore, but i still have alot of cd's that i never paid for. I keep my eyes open, and eventually i'll see a scratched up copy at a thrift store, or in a used cd bin. then i buy it. so i have a legal copy.

 

[Western Deity]

.

 

[MetalBlade]

A friend of mine once, bought a cd and when he opened it there was no cd in it. lol So he burned the album. He owned it, since he bought the album, its not his fault the cd wasn't in the case!

But as to your topic, I am not for sure. But I think if you buy the album, then you can back it up. Not for sure though.

 

[DMBfanLongliveStrongBad!]

i think legally, you cannot make a copy without permission from the record comany. They own the rights to the music. Basically, no one ever gets permission to copy cd's.

whenever i buy a cd, i always make a copy to carry around. my cd's get thrown around the car, left in piles, borrowed, whatever... i'm not going to throw around a $15 piece of plastic. So i make a copy. Without permission. Technically, it's probably illegal. But i really don't have a problem with it. i've given the artists their money.


and yes, there are probably "fair use" exeptions to the copyright laws.

 

[absolutely_lost_86]

all 100 of my cds are legelly owned