Copying CDs onto your computer is theft
January 1, 2008
While Mikey G and I were discussing the intricacies of US Copyright Law and duplication rights, it seems the RIAA was busy contradicting us. According to Marc Fisher at the Washington Post, the RIAA is now arguing that it was illegal for an Arizona man to copy music he legally owned onto his own computer.
The industry’s lawyer in the case, Ira Schwartz, argues in a brief filed earlier this month that the MP3 files Howell made on his computer from legally bought CDs are “unauthorized copies” of copyrighted recordings.
“I couldn’t believe it when I read that,” says Ray Beckerman, a New York lawyer who represents six clients who have been sued by the RIAA. “The basic principle in the law is that you have to distribute actual physical copies to be guilty of violating copyright. But recently, the industry has been going around saying that even a personal copy on your computer is a violation.” [ Record Industry Goes After Personal Use ]
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January 1st, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Okay, the whole point is that YOU OWN THE CDs YOU BUY. You can use them how you want. This is why I want to buy a desert island somewhere and leave the stupidity of the government behind. Grrr.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:54 pm
As my better informed, better half pointed out to me, years ago the RIAA wanted a tax imposed on every blank cassette tape sale. Their argument was that people were dubbing tapes and sharing them, so the record companies were losing revenue. Of course, the tax would go right to the RIAA though.
I guess, based on that information, I’m not overly surprised the RIAA is arguing you can’t copy your own CDs for personal use. RIAA seems to be the PETA of the recording industry.
January 2nd, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Sounds like they need a headline in the news…
poors guys…
ps. love the new look!