Stevie IS against File Sharing.

[dissention]

Yes, let's drop it. Because Miss glitter_fades said it better than I ever could have:

http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showpo...6&postcount=46

[strandinthewind]

On a different note and not involving other Legies in the conversation

Here is some info. on the legality of this:

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

Go to Jail for Downloading?

Downloading MP3's Could Be Stealing
Is it illegal to download music from the Internet? I mean, can you really go to jail for it?

Music industry officials have threatened as much. As early as 1999, some executives proposed that "a student or other individual found downloading illegal MP3 tracks (should) go to jail as a clear signal that piracy will not be tolerated in the US."

Some say copyright laws should be changed to reflect the new digital reality. Whether copyright laws and regulations should be revised or scrapped has been a hot discussion topic for several years. Still, the question remains: under current law, is downloading MP3's illegal?

First, we need to make it clear that MP3 is just a file format (see The ABC's of MP3 ), so you cannot make a blanket statement that all MP3's are illegal. Indeed, the vast majority of MP3 files found on the Web are perfectly legal, put up there by unknown bands who want to get noticed or by established artists promoting their current material.

What is illegal is unauthorized copying of commercial music. This usually means MP3's that are made from CD's and then put on the Net by individuals who haven't sought permission from the artist or music company. Most MP3 files traded with one of the post-Napster programs violate copyright law.

To put it simply, you may make a copy of your own CD for your personal use. That means you may record it to a cassette tape or rip it to MP3 files. You may not, however, give this copy to another person. Many people believe that if no money is involved, then no law has been broken. This is false. Whether you give the copy away or sell it, this is still a violation of copyright law. (See Ten Big Myths about Copyright Explained).

So, can you go to jail for this? It isn't very likely, but you could find yourself in court as the defendant in a nasty civil suit. The Copyright Law of the United States addresses "Digital Audio Recording Devices and Media" in Title 17, Chapter 10 (.pdf file) 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.

Chapter 12 of the U.S. Copyright law does call for criminal penalties for big-time violators. It states:

Any person who violates section 1201 or 1202 willfully and for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain —(1) shall be fined not more than $500,000 or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, for the first offense; and (2) shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both, for any subsequent offense.

You can find out more on the U.S. Copyright Office Home Page. Most countries have laws similar to those of the U.S., even if enforcement is sometimes laxer than in the States.

The bottom line? Distributing copies of commercial music is illegal. If you really want a band's music, and they aren't offering it free on the Net, show your support by purchasing the CD!
_____________________________________________________________

others:

http://encarta.msn.com/college_artic...ing_blues.html

http://www.whatsthedownload.com/what...ong/index.aspx

http://www.musicunited.org/

In the end, most people are cowards. They are not scared to steal on the net, yet would they have the courage to steal the music from Target. I mean the much ballyhooed but specious logic that "screw the band and indutry they make enough money" is the same. Yet, few have the sand to do that. Why? Well, because they would get caught. Thus, cowardice of commercial music file theft. Even greater is the hypocrisy of it. Again, I think all who download commercially available music lose the right to complain if such or similar action is ever done to them.

[Nixxxed]

I agree with

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

I agree with

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

In the end, most people are cowards. They are not scared to steal on the net, yet would they have the courage to steal the music from Target. I mean the much ballyhooed but specious logic that "screw the band and indutry they make enough money" is the same. Yet, few have the sand to do that. Why? Well, because they would get caught. Thus, cowardice of commercial music file theft. Even greater is the hypocrisy of it. Again, I think all who download commercially available music lose the right to complain if such or similar action is ever done to them.

That's bull****. I just don't know how to get the CDs out of the plastic security cases.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

That's bull****. I just don't know how to get the CDs out of the plastic security cases.

your tongue is sharp enough to cut that with

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

your tongue is sharp enough to cut that with

I used to steal CDs all the time from a K Mart I lived near when I was in my early teens. They had one of those horrific "K Mart Cafe's", but the entrances and exits didn't have the security detectors, so I'd just walk in and out with stacks of CDs.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

I used to steal CDs all the time from a K Mart I lived near when I was in my early teens. They had one of those horrific "K Mart Cafe's", but the entrances and exits didn't have the security detectors, so I'd just walk in and out with stacks of CDs.

you are sooooo going STRAIGHT to hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nixxxed]

Originally Posted by catinthedark

First off, there IS a difference between sharing commercially released music and sharing demos, outtakes, concert boots, etc. The latter would not be earning the artist any money, so the sharing of songs between fans only serves only to share the love. As soon as someone makes a CD of those demos and tried to sell it on eBay, then it's a different story. THAT'S illegal. But my downloading someone's crummy boot of a SYW tour concert and playing it in my car is not going to take money out of FM's pocket.

I totally agree with everything you said -- I'm just playing Devil's Advocate...

What about the people who don't buy a ticket for any show on the concert tour, knowing they can probably dl a show bootleg instead?

Also, I'm glad the industry has finally caught up and is offering more stuff for legal download, but I think 99-cents is still too high. Especially after seeing all those news report pie charts that show how the costs of a CD/DVD are really distributed. The actual music recording cost and artist royalty section is something like 25%. The other 75% is for production, marketing, and admin costs, which you're not even getting with a song download. I mean -- you don't get a disc, no booklet, and you're not buying from a store so no real distribution cost, etc...

[amber]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

you are sooooo going STRAIGHT to hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh, nice. He steals STACKS of CD's and gets smiley guy from you. My friend gives me one unasked for CD and i get the riot act and a big ol' frowny. I see. I see how it is. BTW, I have never stolen a CD.

[SuzeQuze]

It is stealing technically to make a copy of a CD and give it to someone or to take one. But is it "wrong"? Probably. Should someone fry for sharing a CD? I don't think so! A CD you weren't going to buy anyway? If people really like a band they're going to buy the CD to support them. Most are anyway, most people are honest. There will always be the few that really push it but they're not the majority.

The music industry was successfully sued and had to pay folks that were part of the class action money for price fixing. They jack the prices way up. Does that make it right to take music? No. Does it make you want to take some to stick it to them, you bet your *ss. But really, $15 - $20 for a CD? It's just crazy. Again, does that justify things? No.

I just think there's a lot of gray area here. I wouldn't hold file sharing against anyone but that's just me. I mean, someone who willfully distributed massive amounts of free mp3s of commercial music is different from sharing a few files with my roommate or coworker.

Copyright does get excessive too. Disney keeps on extending their copyrights somehow. They're supposed to run out after a certain number of years and then the material should be part of the public domain. I believe that early Mickey should be now, but they keep on getting the copyright extended. How long should they be extended? I know that this isn't directly related to the issue of current music being shared but it's an interesting fact.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by amber

oh, nice. He steals STACKS of CD's and gets smiley guy from you. My friend gives me one unasked for CD and i get the riot act and a big ol' frowny. I see. I see how it is. BTW, I have never stolen a CD.

Well, I figure I have to correct him so much that he needs an easy ride every now and then

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

. . .Copyright does get excessive too. Disney keeps on extending their copyrights somehow. They're supposed to run out after a certain number of years and then the material should be part of the public domain. I believe that early Mickey should be now, but they keep on getting the copyright extended. How long should they be extended? I know that this isn't directly related to the issue of current music being shared but it's an interesting fact.

The worst I have EVER seen was when the Olympics came to Atlanta in 1996. MARTA, the local subway/bus system, printed up tokens with the Olympic seal on then. The Olympic people wanted MARTA to assure them that ALL tokens would be collected and DESTROYED after the games because that is when the license to use it expired. MANY people here collected the tokens just out of spite and to give the finger to the Olympic big wigs

Related, the Olympics are fun to watch and the atheletes are stellar, but the people that run it on the international level are the biggest bunch of crooks I have ever seen They literally personally and professionally extort money from everyone and then the one that gives the most gets the games - then these jerks really go for the jugular. CREEPS!!!!

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

The worst I have EVER seen was when the Olympics came to Atlanta in 1996. MARTA, the local subway/bus system, printed up tokens with the Olympic seal on then. The Olympic people wanted MARTA to assure them that ALL tokens would be collected and DESTROYED after the games because that is when the license to use it expired. MANY people here collected the tokens just out of spite and to give the finger to the Olympic big wigs

Related, the Olympics are fun to watch and the atheletes are stellar, but the people that run it on the international level are the biggest bunch of crooks I have ever seen They literally personally and professionally extort money from everyone and then the one that gives the most gets the games - then these jerks really go for the jugular. CREEPS!!!!

I never heard that stuff about the Olympic peeps. I guess Salt Lake City must've paid a pretty penny. And now we have Romney as governor. Bleck.

[amber]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Well, I figure I have to correct him so much that he needs an easy ride every now and then

Wow! You actually found the only acceptable answer to that! Just kidding, sort of.