2006-10-31 05:05:41 · 12 answers · asked by aryanguenthner 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
MP3, (or Motion Pictures Expert Group Layer 3 Encoding) is a file format owned by RCA/Thomson Labs that is widespread and used almost everywhere. The file format itself is not illegal: it's a means of encoding music so it doesn't take so much space. In fact, compared to wave audio, optimally it offers up to a 12:1 average compression ratio. (Files are 1/12th of their original size.)
The CONTENT of an MP3 file, such as a copyrighted song can be illegal if the following doesn't apply.
-- You wrote, recorded or made the file as a completely original work, not reproducing any other copyrighted music.
-- You have a license from the content owner granting private use.
-- You are following the Fair Use act (A set of rules to allow academic, news, and archival organizations permission to use other people's content for objective reporting or review of an item.)
-- You received the file by legitimate means: from an authorized service provider, an agent, or the 'band' itself if it's music.
So, is your music collection illegal? This is the gray area that many in the legal and ethics field are traipsing everyday...
Industry: All music from us that we didn't sell is illegal. Regardless of how or what it is.
Legal: Distribution of illegal music is easier to prosecute than possession. If you have an MP3, enjoy it, don't share it.
Online Community: It's here, why the heck not?
Realistically, it's a watershed situation: like a 1900 chicken farmer suing an airport for building next to his farm and ruining his field, we can't unmake a technology once it's this widespread, and enforcing a law that makes everyone a criminal is very unlikely, as we've seen with the RIAA Lawsuits in the past which allowed $3000 settlements and seizure of your computer equipment in exchange for not being sued for an illegal music collection that could cost you billions of dollars if you have at least 20 songs on your hard drive that you copied illegally.
Yet to give sympathy to the devil, you see the resulting music industry that has resulted from it: the mainstream of all genres of music is full of 'one-hit wonders' when Music Industry execs decide to punish the bands and listeners. New bands are giving a greuling schedule of studio time, tours, festivals and appearances to promote their new CD they need to sell to pay back their Advances (money loaned in promise of a successful CD) or break up, pay their contract off and be broke for a very long time. Consumable 'emo' pop with limited music practice and overwritten lyrics, one-track minded rap stars that rise and fade like shooting stars, western music that uses samples and keyboards more than violins and guitars, the list goes on and on. Recording Industry spokespeople claim that musicians will not be able to put up with this and eventually new music will be as cheap as they can make it. Some say it's already happened.
Some think this will make the recording industry either tank completely for a new industry to take it's place, or evolve to allow more freedom with their music and to let more popular talented acts take center stage more than the 'pushed' acts that no one asked for.
Some think it's all a game and everyone's trying to get what they can while they get it. The execs get their money, the garage band gets popular, and the broke college student gets a new single he heard on MySpace a week ago. This is what I would agree with.
2006-10-31 09:32:28 · answer #1 · answered by Intentionality 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's copyrighted and you don't have permission, the it's illegal. Some artists put their songs on their websites or some stores give you like 5 free downloads, but those are downloaded with permission and are legal.
2006-10-31 05:14:11 · answer #2 · answered by Xander 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to legally download music, you have to pay for it unless the song isn't copyrighted. Sorry.
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2014-09-15 21:45:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both. In the U.S. you can use services like I-Tunes or Napster, which have licensed rights and are therefore legal. Other software, like Limewire, can typically be illegal.
2006-10-31 05:18:22 · answer #5 · answered by straightup 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well the way I understand the law is that it is legal to download them but it is very illegal to distribute them or let anyone else download them..
2006-10-31 05:16:05 · answer #6 · answered by lordshelbysf 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't pay for the music and it is copyrighted then it is illegal.
There does exist some public domain music (like old classical stuff) but most music has some sort of copyright.
2006-10-31 05:09:40 · answer #7 · answered by joeanonymous 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it really depends where you get it... like, if you download a song off of a myspace band page, that's perfectly legal. but if you use like limewire, and download them for free, sadly, that's illegal.
2006-10-31 05:16:27 · answer #8 · answered by Sarah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Now you know that's illegal dude. It doesn't stop me though.
2006-10-31 05:13:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is copyrighted and you didn't pay, it's illegal.
2006-10-31 05:07:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋