Music Piracy - When is it legal to burn a CD and when is it not?

Question

I am needing help with this question! I have heard that is it NOT illegal to burn a copy of a CD that YOU have purchased, ie, burning the CD to your personal computer. I have also heard that you can burn a CD that you've purchased and give the copy as a "gift" to someone. I have heard that you CANNOT burn the CD and charge for it even if it is to collect funds for the blank CD.

CD's are now being given out as wedding favors or in dance classes for students to practice to. What's legal? What isn't? Where did you find your information? If you can post a link, that would be wonderful.

Thank you so much for your help!

I've now found this link which actually disputes SEVERAL of the points made in some of the answers I've received. Read on!

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10165_7-5798512-1.html

You can't back up on PC's, you can't burn on PC's, "personal use" okay, blah, blah, blah. To much room for individual interpretation . . .

I think as one person said, "getting caught" is going to be the kicker here!

Answer 1

It is illegal to distribute music even if it is for wedding favors or for students to practice to, because the musician does not profit from it. The only person allowed to use the files contained on the original CD is the customer who originally bought it. If you were to legally hand out CD's, you would need to purchase licenses by contacting the original author/musician (not exactly easy, but that's the law) or purchase multiple copies of the song for each cd made. You are however, allowed to transfer your music that you legally purchased to your mp3 player/computer/etc. as long as you are the only one using it. If you were to play it publicly, you would need to be a member of SOCAN, the organization that makes sure that musicians are paid for their material.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

If you listen to the major labels, it's against the law for you to make a copy of a CD - which is hogwash.

If you buy a CD, you have the legal right to make one archival copy as a backup. That doesn't mean you can just hand out that copy to friends, in the strictest sense of the law.

You should be aware, though, that the "Content Protected" CDs that got Sony Music in trouble in 2005 are STILL ON THE SHELVES, and major chains like Borders are refusing to pull them off the shelves. These CDs are the ones that, if you put them in your computer, they will install software without your permission or knowledge, and if you try to remove the software on your own, it can trash your computer. Look on the spine for a circle with a triangle in it - if you see it, put it down and walk away.

Answer 3

its only illegal if you're standing on a street corner selling copies for profit. As far as making copies and giving/selling them to friends and charging only for the price of the blank cd? No. And if you share music online, its only illegal if you get caught. I personally like to share the entire metallica collection.

Answer 4

basicly it implies you cannot get anything for free.. unless of course the artist gives you it... in which case .. i don't think anyone who recieves a gift from someone would exactly be worried about the artist making a lawsuit against them.

you can download any song you have purchased as many times as you want, and give proof of ownership if they give you any troubles (cd, receipt, credit card statement .. etc). you are aloud to make any amounts of personal copies for backup aslong as you share none of them.