Copyright etc

[Brian Gaff]

I have found it time saving to grab good quality mp3s from torrents of
albums I have on vinyl to save me the hassle of copying them over so I can
hear them away from home etc. Noting the hissy fit of the music industry
again (much like home taping is killing music back in the day), about
illegal downloads, I wondered how this stood up in legal terms.
After all, one never used to go out and buy the same music on a cassette,
one copied the vinyl. So where is the problem. The fact that it may have
come from other people's illegal copies meant for anyone to pinch is not
anything to do with me.
However, there is one thing I guess that is a problem.
While you are downloading the torrent, you are also uploading it as well, to
whoever is on the same torrent as you. Thus in effect you are aiding piracy.
The big problem with all of this is that people who nick music this way,
would probably never buy it, so its not a lost sale. Indeed, when I were a
lad, some compilations I made for friends did convince them to buy a
product, so I sometimes wonder if the real reason for low sales is that
there is just crap on sale, and crap on radio and thus nobody would actually
pay for it.

Hmm.

Brian

[Mark Goodge]

On Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:21:32 GMT, Brian Gaff put finger to keyboard

Post by Brian Gaff
I have found it time saving to grab good quality mp3s from torrents of
albums I have on vinyl to save me the hassle of copying them over so I can
hear them away from home etc. Noting the hissy fit of the music industry
again (much like home taping is killing music back in the day), about
illegal downloads, I wondered how this stood up in legal terms.

As the law stands, it's an unauthorised copy and hence a breach of
copyright. The fact that you already own a legitimate copy doesn't
change that.

Post by Brian Gaff
After all, one never used to go out and buy the same music on a cassette,
one copied the vinyl. So where is the problem. The fact that it may have
come from other people's illegal copies meant for anyone to pinch is not
anything to do with me.
However, there is one thing I guess that is a problem.
While you are downloading the torrent, you are also uploading it as well, to
whoever is on the same torrent as you. Thus in effect you are aiding piracy.
The big problem with all of this is that people who nick music this way,
would probably never buy it, so its not a lost sale. Indeed, when I were a
lad, some compilations I made for friends did convince them to buy a
product, so I sometimes wonder if the real reason for low sales is that
there is just crap on sale, and crap on radio and thus nobody would actually
pay for it.

You may well have a very good argument, from a moral perspective.
However, you should bear in mind that intellectual property law is not
written with morality in mind, and if you do get sued (unlikely though
that may be) then the law will determine your fate, not your moral
arguments.

Mark

[Brian Gaff]

Oh I know that the law often has to be a blunt instrument as otherwise there
would be so many loopholes organised pirates would just hire a good lawyer
and carry on.

The problem is a moral one though. Its even more gaoling when you find that
isps are sending individuals warning letters but you still find pirated
dvdes at boot sales etc. Seems the commercial pirates can get away with it.

Brian
--
Brian Gaff - ***@blueyonder.co.uk
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Post by Mark Goodge
On Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:21:32 GMT, Brian Gaff put finger to keyboard

Post by Brian Gaff
I have found it time saving to grab good quality mp3s from torrents of
albums I have on vinyl to save me the hassle of copying them over so I can
hear them away from home etc. Noting the hissy fit of the music industry
again (much like home taping is killing music back in the day), about
illegal downloads, I wondered how this stood up in legal terms.

As the law stands, it's an unauthorised copy and hence a breach of
copyright. The fact that you already own a legitimate copy doesn't
change that.

Post by Brian Gaff
After all, one never used to go out and buy the same music on a cassette,
one copied the vinyl. So where is the problem. The fact that it may have
come from other people's illegal copies meant for anyone to pinch is not
anything to do with me.
However, there is one thing I guess that is a problem.
While you are downloading the torrent, you are also uploading it as well, to
whoever is on the same torrent as you. Thus in effect you are aiding piracy.
The big problem with all of this is that people who nick music this way,
would probably never buy it, so its not a lost sale. Indeed, when I were a
lad, some compilations I made for friends did convince them to buy a
product, so I sometimes wonder if the real reason for low sales is that
there is just crap on sale, and crap on radio and thus nobody would actually
pay for it.

You may well have a very good argument, from a moral perspective.
However, you should bear in mind that intellectual property law is not
written with morality in mind, and if you do get sued (unlikely though
that may be) then the law will determine your fate, not your moral
arguments.
Mark
--
Blog: http://mark.goodge.co.uk
Stuff: http://www.good-stuff.co.uk