Is It Illegal To Share Music With Family?

Question

I know it's illegal to share music, but what if you are sharing with family, like, you give for example, a parent owns a CD but allows their child to rip the music to his/her computer? That sounds pretty legal to me, they are family and live together. But if that is legal, how about sharing music with family you don't live with? Like, what if a cousin had legal music that he/she purchased from CDs, and then let you rip on your computer? Would that be illegal, or legal because it is family?
I'd like some good info with hopefully good links if possible. Thanks for all answers and help.

Answer 1

A parent can allow a dependent minor child to have a copy of the music -- because technically just about anything the child owns is actually owned by the parent, so the parent is (by the law) copying the music onto their own computer, which their child is using.

Other than that -- it doesn't matter if the copies are being given to cousins or complete strangers -- the copying itself is the violation.

Answer 2

Technically, a CD is for one user. Allowing someone else to rip it to their computer and then listen to it without being in possession of the CD itself is illegal, regardless of whether or not it's your family.


Copyright law doesn't make any distinction between family and non-family. Each person is a separate legal entity (unless of course you purchased a family license or something).

Of course, no one is going to bother prosecuting you for letting a family member rip music.

Answer 3

I think the people that prosecute are pretty lenient. In fact the only cases where I've heard of them going after downloaders, the downloaders are of the obsessive aggressive sort who literally download thousands of files.

Here, this is a decently informative link.

http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2004/music_downloading.asp

Answer 4

i find it rather odd that just because its a computer that is downloading.. aka recording
is against the law
and VCR taping shows off the TV
or taping music off you stereo isnt
how come its ok to do one and not the other
when the outcome is exactly the same
i dont see the difference

Answer 5

if the music companies had there way it would be

I'm surprised they haven't made Cd's that self destruct after one playing

Answer 6

I believe inside your household is ok, but sharing to different locations is not allowed.

I say burn it all, if they consider themselves a real artist, they should want you to share it. But sadly, most are hypocrites, like the liberals they probably are.