Your friend has e-mailed you the URL of a new Web site that permits free music downloading. The site maintains a central database of thousands of the most current and popular music tracks. You vaguely remember that the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) issued thousands of subpoenas to Intrnet service providers across the United States in an attempt to get the names of people offering music on file-sharing networks, such as KaZaA and Grokster. But this is different, isn't it? You are simply downloading from a central database; you're not sharing your music with others. Are there any legal or ethical issues that would keep you from accessing this Web site?
2006-10-31 10:36:46 · 2 answers · asked by student 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Most definitely.
I have actually been given access to a friend's home server (with about 3000 songs on it), and haven't used it.
I must admit that my concerns are more related to being arrested (or fined!), than they are to the ethical issues. But I still don't go there.
Besides...I know I work hard for a living. Why should I take away from musicians' (not to mention all of the other folks employed in the music industry) abilities to do the same for themselves?
2006-10-31 10:46:10 · answer #1 · answered by abfabmom1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes! I would think that, even if I were doing it just for my household, The law or others might think I was doing it illegally. It is just like saying you wouldn't care if or you wish someone was dead and then they died from a murder, You would be a suspect! Although there are risks I will take I would not take those kind of risks.
2006-10-31 18:58:05 · answer #2 · answered by no.#1 Mom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋