Is it legal to DL music you own?

[Phaeton]

I just bought a new CD and after only a few hours I put a scratch on it and ruined two tracks.

Since I own the CD can I legally download a copy?

I've already done it and I'm not worried about any repercussions, just curious to know the legality of it.

 

[McRocket]

That's an interesting question.

I would like to know that as well.

I imagine it would be hard to prove piracy if I could produce a receipt for the music originally, but I do not know.

 

[free4440273]

it used to be the case (i read somewhere??) that, when you purchased a CD of any sorts, you were permitted to make a duplicate copy for yourself in case of damage to the original. that doesn't help you here but i just thought i'd mention anyhow

 

[Jonny82]

It's not legal, technically. It's morally acceptable, though, if that makes you feel any better.

And I've done if, if I own something on vinyl, it's a pain in the ass to convert it all to MP3 myself. I'd rather just locate the files somewhere.

 

[om3ga]

According to the following link "in most countries you are legally allowed to make a backup of a CD which you legally own."

http://www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/cd_protections.shtml

There's also ye olde wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD/DVD_copy_protection

However, I would do a full search on the subject first (just to be on the safe side)...

 

[Jonny82]

Making a backup and downloading a pirated copy are completely different things, though. If Phaeton had ripped the CD to his hard drive as soon as he got it home, that would have been fine.

 

[Phaeton]

It's not legal, technically.

Because it's not my back-up?

While the data is still identical, the sources were different. Therefore my new copy isn't "mine" and is still illegal?

Almost philosophical really, but it shouldn't be a felony, just a misdemeanor.

 

[poggy]

It is legal as you bought the rights to own the CD.

So no matter how you came by the back up copy. For all they know you made the back up before you original was scratched. Hence you rightfully still have the right to the CD. Just don't mention when questioned how you made your back up. Just say you copied the original for a back up.

It's like I can keep and play anything I have in itunes and on my ipod. As I own the rights by owning the CD.

Well that's how it works in the UK.

 

[sputnikgirl]

I have a question related to this topic: can a library loan cds to patrons without getting in trouble? Basically that's how I get all my music these days. I go to the library, check out a cd, and import it into my itunes library. ITunes thinks I own the cd, but I don't. I was wondering how my library gets away with it. I thought they'd be subject to copyright lawsuits, because you know people just go home and burn the cd to their computer.

 

[marquis2]

I understand that libraries pay fees for lending books, CDs etc.

 

[poggy]

I have a question related to this topic: can a library loan cds to patrons without getting in trouble? Basically that's how I get all my music these days. I go to the library, check out a cd, and import it into my itunes library. ITunes thinks I own the cd, but I don't. I was wondering how my library gets away with it. I thought they'd be subject to copyright lawsuits, because you know people just go home and burn the cd to their computer.

As you don't own the CD it's you that can get into trouble. Because itunes has burning capability. So you can make copies of a CD you don't own. Which as we all know is copyright theft.

The library cannot be held responsible in anyway for what you do with it. It all falls on you.

 

[AFA]

I just bought a new CD and after only a few hours I put a scratch on it and ruined two tracks.

Since I own the CD can I legally download a copy?

I've already done it and I'm not worried about any repercussions, just curious to know the legality of it.

How you would scratch it beyond it's ability to play I have no idea. This whole question seems hypothetical at best.

Try polishing it with car wax and a soft cotton sock. In more extreme cases, if that doesn't work, light rubbing compound from the center axis to the edge, clean it all off same spoke orientation and try the wax again. They also sell repolisher kits at WalMart for one that will do basically the same thing at a bit more intense level.

Like sanding a wooden surface you are trying to remove a small layer with the imperfections to get a smooth surface underneath.

 

[Phaeton]

How you would scratch it beyond it's ability to play I have no idea. This whole question seems hypothetical at best.

I'm not even sure how it happened, I put it in my trucks CD changer, it played, then stopped, I tried to eject it, it wouldn't eject, I finally disconnected the battery and when I reconnected it the CD finally ejected.

The scratch looks like it came from a high-speed buffer, it's small but very wide and deep.

I know how to polish a CD to make it play, this thing is beyond repair. I've tried all the tricks. And I never asked how to fix it, it was a legal question.

 

[AFA]

I'm not even sure how it happened, I put it in my trucks CD changer, it played, then stopped, I tried to eject it, it wouldn't eject, I finally disconnected the battery and when I reconnected it the CD finally ejected.

The scratch looks like it came from a high-speed buffer, it's small but very wide and deep.

I know how to polish a CD to make it play, this thing is beyond repair. I've tried all the tricks. And I never asked how to fix it, it was a legal question.

Call the manufacturer and tell them you want to return it for a replacement.

 

[Jonny82]

So no matter how you came by the back up copy. For all they know you made the back up before you original was scratched. Hence you rightfully still have the right to the CD. Just don't mention when questioned how you made your back up. Just say you copied the original for a back up.

That's what I mean, though. What he's asking technically isn't legal, but it's splitting hairs.

 

[thepornguy]

I have a question related to this topic: can a library loan cds to patrons without getting in trouble? Basically that's how I get all my music these days. I go to the library, check out a cd, and import it into my itunes library. ITunes thinks I own the cd, but I don't. I was wondering how my library gets away with it. I thought they'd be subject to copyright lawsuits, because you know people just go home and burn the cd to their computer.

Legally speaking, libraries can argue they don't expect people to rip their CDs, that they are just lending it out for people to temporarily borrow. I used to work in a library for a long time as a student assistant and during the whole time the thought never occurred to me that people were ripping the music. I may have been naive, but since people also were checking out books and DVDs, CDs were just one more thing people checked out, nothing to give much thought.

 

[gt rider]

I didn't read everything above but this is what I've seen on the news...

It is LEGAL to download music.
It is ILLEGAL to upload music.

Therefor, you can download as much as you want but the people you are getting it from are doing something illegal...so are you if you are sharing those songs back to others.

 

[juballs]

legally... its illegal to make a legal back up disk of illegally downloaded music that you legally purchased from a legal establishment.

now if that establishment was illegal.... hmmm?

 

[bigbadbrody]

If you are able to download a cd from the internet, why would you go out and buy it in the first place?

example: water is free from the tap, yet people buy bottled water

 

[poggy]

How you would scratch it beyond it's ability to play I have no idea. This whole question seems hypothetical at best.

Actually this can happen a lot. It's not as hard as one would think. I've done it to a few CD's before now. But just don't know how.



BBB it's called copyright theft and is illegal. It would cost a lot more than the price of a CD if caught.