I'm a total music junkie and always want to get the latest tracks and albums as soon as they become available. Anyone that knows me knows I have a slight CD obsession (Yes, I still by the actual hard copy of the album) and would probably die for my collection. I also enjoy when friends share discs or digital music files with me to introduce me to new jams or artists I haven't heard before. Honestly, I'm probably within the minority, but I almost always legally purchase music after it was "illegally" introduced to me via the internet. I like to have the album artwork, and I just like to have something tangible in my collection.Most of us know that illegal file sharing is well- illegal, but I think it's safe to say that almost everyone does it anyway. The RIAA has been cracking down on copyright infringement since the birth of Napster, but now the Washington Post is saying they're taking it one step further.
When I buy a new CD, I will almost instantly put it into my computer and upload to my iTunes so that I can play via my computer and sync up on my iPod. Fairly standard practice for people who buy CDs. I mean, what else are you supposed to do? Well now the RIAA is saying that uploading legally purchased CDs onto a personal computer violates the copyright laws and counts as making illegal duplicates of the music. Seriously? From the article:
RIAA's hard-line position seems clear. Its Web site says: "If you make unauthorized copies of copyrighted music recordings, you're stealing. You're breaking the law and you could be held legally liable for thousands of dollars in damages."Read the rest of the article here.
They're not kidding. In October, after a trial in Minnesota -- the first time the industry has made its case before a federal jury -- Jammie Thomas was ordered to pay $220,000 to the big record companies. That's $9,250 for each of 24 songs she was accused of sharing online.
Whether customers may copy their CDs onto their computers -- an act at the very heart of the digital revolution -- has a murky legal foundation, the RIAA argues. The industry's own Web site says that making a personal copy of a CD that you bought legitimately may not be a legal right, but it "won't usually raise concerns," as long as you don't give away the music or lend it to anyone.
Of course, that's exactly what millions of people do every day. In a Los Angeles Times poll, 69 percent of teenagers surveyed said they thought it was legal to copy a CD they own and give it to a friend. The RIAA cites a study that found that more than half of current college students download music and movies illegally.
So what do you think? Is it a legitimate claim that copying discs onto your personal computer counts as an "illegal copy" or should you be able to do what you want with your purchases once you purchase them? I think I definitely understand both sides of the story, but seriously... is the music industry hurting so much that you can't upload songs to your computer without paying an additional fee?
What about when you record something with your VCR or DVR? Does that count as illegal copying, too?