Illegal Song Downloading.

Lovesick.:

Yes but you don't ask money from your friends for the movie, you don't sell it.
Contraband cds on the other hand, are sold.

Those are two seperate issues though, and they certainly don't justify each other. Just because you're not profiting doesn't make it ok to take someone elses profits they have the legal right to.

Mrs. Melting Crayons:

I illegally rip most of my songs from myspace, youtube, etc.
I don't own Limewire.

I think it's fine. I only pay for it if I think the band deserves the money, and I'll only consistently legally download four bands.

So if you think someone doesn't deserve the money you won't pay them?
I'm sure you don't do that when you go shopping, or when you owe someone money, so why is this different?

I agree with a few songs to try them out. Not downloading full albums. I did that when I was getting into Peaches. I got a few songs from her albums off lime wire and I decided she was pretty good, so I went on Amazon and bought her stuff. The reason I do this is because Philly radio sucks. There is no alternative rock station that plays the music I listen to. They try to tell us they do, but they got rid of my favorite station 4 years ago so I don't listen to the radio. My only portal to listen to music is the TV or the internet cause my family refuses to get XM.

I used to download off of Limewire, but then I deleted it just because I didn't want it anymore.
Now I'll download songs off of Myspace from time to time...o_O Does that count as illegal downloading?

so.CONTAGIOUS.:

I used to download off of Limewire, but then I deleted it just because I didn't want it anymore.
Now I'll download songs off of Myspace from time to time...o_O Does that count as illegal downloading?

It depends, some artists put songs on their myspace because they want people to download them. It isn't illegal with permission. Then, some people create unofficial band pages have have songs for download that really shouldn't be.

Toro_Sex:

I agree with a few songs to try them out.

If you didn't have the internet, would you think it would be ok to steal "a few" things if you were trying them out? Shouldn't you pay for what you get regardless of the amount?

Kurtni Reznor:

Toro_Sex:

I agree with a few songs to try them out.

If you didn't have the internet, would you think it would be ok to steal "a few" things if you were trying them out? Shouldn't you pay for what you get regardless of the amount?

I don't see what's the point of buying two songs off of i tunes just to test it, then going off and buying all of the albums. I'm still supporting the band/musician, I just don't have a ton of money right now. It would seem more practical to test out an album before taking the plunge and buying something I don't like. Also, most of the stuff I download is heavily radio played singles from artists, they are making money off of that, or at least there record company is. I'm not downloading the whole thing. If I liked it enough, I'd support them and buy the album, but most of the time I don't like there other stuff, so I don't bother.

Toro_Sex:

I don't see what's the point of buying two songs off of i tunes just to test it, then going off and buying all of the albums. I'm still supporting the band/musician, I just don't have a ton of money right now. It would seem more practical to test out an album before taking the plunge and buying something I don't like. Also, most of the stuff I download is heavily radio played singles from artists, they are making money off of that, or at least there record company is. I'm not downloading the whole thing. If I liked it enough, I'd support them and buy the album, but most of the time I don't like there other stuff, so I don't bother.

It's unfortunate that you don't have a lot of money right now, but that doesn't justify stealing music. Regardless of if you like a band or not, they have the right to the profit off those few "test" songs you downloaded. If you want to test an album, listen to the songs the band has on their myspace or Lastfm. Watch videos on youtube, ask friends for their opinions, turn on Fuse, but don't steal. That isn't supporting the music industry; its breaking it.

^ Well that is what I do, and that is what you do. We don't see eye to eye. I don't think I am stealing. Stealing would be getting the whole album and giving it out to my entire town free of charge. I am just downloading three little measly songs and deciding if I like the musician enough to give them my money. I am pretty sure they will live without my 2 cents, cause that's all they really get from i tunes or whatever the hell site the band/person advertises on. I really don't care if some label fat cat can't buy a 5th home in the Hollywood hills cause I refuse to buy some shitty bands album after not liking what I hear. I'd rather give to a more reputable cause.

You're obtaining songs illegally. That's stealing, if you were caught you would be fined as if you were stealing. You can choose to look at that however you please. Regardless of what you take or how much, you're still taking it illegally, may it be 1 song or 100.

You're not realizing that you are just one person, when there are millions doing the very same thing as you. You downloading three little songs doesn't do much, but when it becomes you, plus millions of other people it does make a big dent. It's up to you to choose if you care about label executives or not, but I'd at least hope you care about the bands. When their lable can no longer afford to keep them and they get dropped, those three little songs you downloaded might seem more significant than you realize now.

And you're not "giving" anything to a reputable cause. It isn't as if buying music is charity, and stealing it certainly isn't. If you want to do other things with your money that is certainly your choice, but that doesn't justify stealing the things you deemed unreputable.

It should be about the music rather than money. I'm aware that it will cut out of the musician's profits, but I'm sure that they can deal with it.

Leonore Paisley:

It should be about the music rather than money. I'm aware that it will cut out of the musician's profits, but I'm sure that they can deal with it.

It is about the music, but it takes money to make music. It takes money to run a label, provide recording equipment and studios, produce and promote CDs, and touring certainly isn't cheap. If you truly cared about music, you wouldn't mind funding something you cared about.

At any rate, regardless of the industry, you never have the right to steal another person's product, and music is legally a product. You cannot justify taking it without paying, that's a crime.

When do we not steal on the internet, to be honest. Taking a song and putting it in a player of some sort then putting it on a profile somewhere. Isn't that stealing? You didn't pay to put it there? You don't own the right to have it. Youtube, watching videos of the band, not put up by the band. That's stealing. You didn't pay for that. The band isn't getting paid for every time you click the play button. That's stealing. Going on a website and not clicking the links to help pay for the site, that's stealing. Going on a fan site, that's stealing, that site is not putting money in the bands pocket and that fan stole pictures from magazines and other places. Stealing. To be honest, there is no fair ground.

Some record labels have given permission for youtube to use their vidoes, what myspace does with "profile songs" and such isn't illegal because there is no downloading or transfering media. You do have the right to put it there. When you go onto a website you have no legal obligation to click the advertisements. Find me one law to verify anything you just said. You seem to be confused on the laws regulating internet media, because none of the examples you gave are anything like downloading a song illegally.

At any rate, lets say that those things were illegal, which they aren't, how does that justify stealing music? Just because other things are done illegally doesn't mean its ok to promote the practice. If I went into a record store and stole an album, would it be ok just because they do it on the internet? Of course not. Two wrongs certainly don't make a right.

The only way "stealing" pictures is considered theft is if it's copyrighted...just like everything else, which music is.

I download music but I paid for mine >.o

Fentoozler:

I download music but I paid for mine >.o

Yeah, so do I. I wouldn't go into a store and steal an album just because I couldn't afford it, why would I on the internet?I just don't see how anyone can logically think being on the internet gives them the right to take whatever they want whenever they want.

Me neither. Plus, when I have the chance I do buy CDs. I have a collection of over 500. I almost lost them when I moved home and I spazzed. I lost my clothes too but I was more concerned about my CDs. (I got them all back and my clothes too). But, where I live, I'd have to pay 40 dollars for the CD and I'm friggin lucky if they even have it. Don't even get me started on ordering because I'm still waiting for my "Good Will Hunting" movie that I ordered 12 years ago. But when I go to the city, where I'm moving, I spend 100s of dollars on CDs (if I can afford it at the time). But if I can't, I download and buy the album later. I prefer the sound quality on a CD anyway.

Kurtni Reznor:

Some record labels have given permission for youtube to use their vidoes, what myspace does with "profile songs" and such isn't illegal because there is no downloading or transfering media. You do have the right to put it there. When you go onto a website you have no legal obligation to click the advertisements. Find me one law to verify anything you just said. You seem to be confused on the laws regulating internet media, because none of the examples you gave are anything like downloading a song illegally.

At any rate, lets say that those things were illegal, which they aren't, how does that justify stealing music? Just because other things are done illegally doesn't mean its ok to promote the practice. If I went into a record store and stole an album, would it be ok just because they do it on the internet? Of course not. Two wrongs certainly don't make a right.

Well, I don't have cash to go out and by shitty music to find out it is shitty. I'm not going to pay for three little tracks only to go out and buy the whole thing. I'll buy the whole thing if I am interested. Your making it out to sound like downloading song is like going to the bands house and killing there live long dreams along with there pets. They'll live, and get over it. I've burned CD's for friends, why? Cause they can't afford them and they are into the music. You don't just go to a store and buy a chair without sitting it in to see if you like it, I don't go out and buy a CD without testing out some of the other tracks to see if it is worth it. And with that, I am done.

Kurtni Reznor:

Some record labels have given permission for youtube to use their vidoes, what myspace does with "profile songs" and such isn't illegal because there is no downloading or transfering media. You do have the right to put it there.

Artists are also able to put their own songs up for download on MySpace. Is this legal?

It's not illegal to photo-copy a book or to write down quotes or even larger fragments from it. It's also not illegal to take a picture of a painting. I'm sure Mozart didn't get paid for everytime someone listened to his songs.
I think downloading is illegal not for the sake of art or author's rights, but just for the profit.
I don't think music should be a product, it should be just art. But it's not.