Question for ALL: Why should we not download songs or buy bootleg?

[OneOneTwo]

Originally posted by straightBOS
Were you aware that buying music has also become like buying software? Instead of "owning" a CD you have purchased, the companies wish to treat you as a licensee?

In other words, BUYING a CD is simply not enough. You break the law if you "rip" the CD and create an MP3 file in order to play it on your computer. You break the law if you transfer the MP3 file to an MD Player or MP3 player to listen to on the go. You break the law if you transfer the file to a mixed CD of artists that have a similar style. Even if you do not make it available for download or copying, you can still break the law.

So, at what point do you own the music that you have legally purchased?

In My PERSONAL Opinion, I feel that it is okay to make copies for your personal use. For example, when you buy a CD and you make a copy to play in your car or for your computer at work and it is YOUR PERSONAL copy then its okay. I know of people who burn a copy or two just to play around because they have a tendency to wear out CD's and with them priced at about $20 a pop, you can't afford to just buy new CD's everytime you wear them out. As long as you are using the CD for your personal use and you aren't giving/selling away, then that is fine. I think it becomes a problem when you illegally trade mp3 or other music files or you burn a CD and you give a copy to your friend (and not give them the original) or if you are a bootlegger. That is when it becomes a problem.

However, I would be wrong if I were to come on here as holier than thou because as much as burning CD's for illegal use is wrong, some record companies have benefited. When an artist is popular enough that people are doing anything to get the CD, then the record company does take advantage of that and release the CD early. In turn, if someone's CD is on the net and people aren't feeling it, artist are more likely to go back to the studio and re-record some songs and change their album.

Either way, its still wrong, but I thought I would point that out.