I know this is a long shot but...A few years ago I had a massive collection of CDs and cassettes that I had collected throughout my life. More than 1000. While visiting with my parents someone broke into my home and stole just about everything of value that I had, including my CD/Cassette collection. Almost every last one. Do I have any legal right to download music pre-1999 (when my collection was stolen) due to the fact that I had purchased this music in the past? The only proof I have is a state police report which of course does not detail the names of the individual CDs but does state that the 1000+ collection was stolen.
2006-12-28 15:59:00 · 10 answers · asked by just me 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I doubt it is legal, but consider these facts:
1. You do have the right to make copies of music you do own as backups.
2. You did in fact pay the music companies and artists for the music.
In your case, I would say screw the law and go ahead and download anything you had previously purchased.
Coincidentally, this has been my approach as well. If I've purchased music at some point, but no longer have it because it was stolen (some was) or because it was on cassette, I go ahead and download it for free. I've paid the artists and record companies already for it. However, when I download a song I've never purchased before, I buy it.
2006-12-28 16:25:19 · answer #1 · answered by Uncle Pennybags 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
The law does not give you the right to commit a crime in order to benefit from a previous crime that may have happened to you (Alden v. Maine)
Any actions you take now, regardless of you previously owning the music, is legally considered stealing.
Anyhow, remember that downloading music is a federal crime.
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I just read some of the answers you received.
Fair Use does not give you the right to download pirated songs. When you download you are directly affecting the artist, production company with a profit loss. While Fair Use does guarantee the use of copyrighted items it does not guarantee the right to steal property, music is considered property for sale.
2006-12-29 01:20:25 · answer #2 · answered by RR 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you have no legal right to do so. Although, just because the laws say you can't do it doesn't mean it's not morally right to do so. To hell with the RIAA, their whining about losing billions in profits is pure lies anyways. They only calculate losses from possible profits from each download/copy and don't take into account the fact downloading encourages people to buy albums to support the artist.
2006-12-29 00:02:47 · answer #3 · answered by eatmorec11h17no3 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is called knowingly conceling stolen property. It is a felony in some states. Music industry likes to come down hard on people that do this because they might lose a $1.00 or two.
2006-12-29 00:03:36 · answer #4 · answered by jameskidd2009 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow...Sounds just like me....I lost everything in a house fire and lost EVERYTHING and I missed my music, but there are legal ways of downloading CD's!!! I would suggest looking up how to do it, because I have not a clue....I joined Colmbia House and got my nearly free music and then cancelled immediately!!!!
Good Luck and sorry for your loss!!!!
2006-12-29 00:06:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
under the fair use law, you can make a copy of it and then archive the original for safe keeping.
in your situation you no longer have the originals, therefor there is nothing to archive and no reason to have a copy to protect and archive the original
2006-12-29 00:26:18 · answer #6 · answered by mhp_wizo_93_418 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If someone steals your car, can you just go take a different one? No, it is not legal.
2006-12-29 00:09:19 · answer #7 · answered by CharmedTeri 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
JUST DOWNLOAD IT ONLY IF YOU RESELL THE SONGS CAN YOU GET IN TROUBLE.iF THE SONGS HAS BEEN PLAYED ON ANY RADIO STATION.OR PERFORMED LIVE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD IT LEGALY SOLONG AS YOU DONT SELL IT
2006-12-29 00:34:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I Think Its Fair Use!
2006-12-29 00:23:23 · answer #9 · answered by Chris W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you are asking is: Is it OK to rip someone else off because you were ripped off.
2006-12-29 00:05:12 · answer #10 · answered by Paul K 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋