Copyright Law, the interpretation of Options

[sadolakced acid]

Alright, let's keep this a debate, not just stating opinions. that's important.
don't just state your opinion, support it

alright. here's some background

Copyright law prohibits the copying of Digital audio for commercial use. Copying of audio for personal use is allowed, but only first generation copies may be made (copies of the original) second generation copies are illegal (copies of copies). however, computers allow this, and thus the RIAA has said that using your computer to copy digital audio, no matter first or second gen. copies, is illegal. this was ruled as incorrect and not what the law says by a court.

First off, the obvious, is whether or not ripping your CDs to MP3s is illegal

also, is downloading music from online illegal? (copyright law only mentions distributing, not taking)

and, do new CDs that prevent ripping to MP3s, and DRM (digital rights management) WMAs violate the user right to copy?

[mai_z]

First off, the obvious, is whether or not ripping your CDs to MP3s is illegal

Ripping CDs to MP3s for your own use is not illegal, as long as you are still in possession of the CD, when you are using the MP3s. Now, i don't mean that you need to carry the cd around everywhere you go, you just need to own it.

also, is downloading music from online illegal? (copyright law only mentions distributing, not taking)

Downloading from a legal, try-before-you-buy, or pay-per-song site is obviously not illlegal. Downloading from Kazaa, etc, technically should be illegal, but there are many catches to it. First of all, many people download music that they would not otherwise pay for, and there are also people who hear music they download, and develop a liking for that artist, leading to their purchase of a CD.

One of my friends is an artist in HK, and says that he has nothing against people downloading music, because it lets them hear his work, and music is his passion. However, the big thing is that the producers and music companies have little to no passion in music, their love is money. Downloading music to them is one less sale, and as those sales add up, in their minds, their profits go down. (which however is not true because cd sales go up with increased downloads). Morally, downloading is wrong, but in the eyes of an artist, it's just another way to spread their work.

and, do new CDs that prevent ripping to MP3s, and DRM (digital rights management) WMAs violate the user right to copy?

No, because on the back of the CD, it will say that the CD is protected. If you specifically asked if it was, and you were informed that it wasn't, then you have the right to a refund. Otherwise, you don't.

DRM is just another way for management companies to protect their investments, and you willingly buy their cds. You can just as easily not buy the CD, and they could do nothing about it. The format they choose to distribute their music in, is up to them, and there is nothing wrong with that