Jump to content

RIAA'S latest stance


Recommended Posts

RIAA Claims Ripping CDs for Personal Use is Illegal

Posted Dec 11th 2007 9:50AM by Terrence O'Brien

Filed under: Audio/Video, Computers, iPod

Just as it seemed as though the record industry was starting to figure this whole thing out, here it goes and does something that makes us at the Switched offices shake our heads. The RIAA has filed a brief in an Arizona U.S. District Court against Jeffrey and Pamela Howell, an average Joe and Jane couple who have ripped their CD collection to MP3s for easy sharing throughout their home and -- presumably -- iPods. The brief claims that ripping CDs to MP3s is a violation of copyright laws and the fair use doctrine.

The audacity of the RIAA's claim wouldn't be to surprising, given its penchant for overzealous attacks of digital media, if it weren't in direct contradiction of arguments made by RIAA lawyers in a case filed in 2005. In the case, MGM Vs. Grokster, representation from the RIAA explicitly said that making digital copies of music for personal use was protected.

Atlantic Vs. Howell is scheduled to have its first hearing on January 24. Here's hoping that this case gets tossed out, because if the courts find in favor of Atlantic, it will place all of us with digital audio devices on the RIAA's hit list.

[Addendum: Looks like the RIAA has also included language about the fact that the Howells put their files on file sharing networks, which could give the RIAA a leg to stand on here. That said, this case remains interesting due to the language the RIAA is including regarding one's rights to rip his own CDs.]

What a Country!! :cool:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[Addendum: Looks like the RIAA has also included language about the fact that the Howells put their files on file sharing networks

actually that looks like the core of the case the me; read the brief, the part about the unauthorised copies is on p. 15.

This makes sense.

It would be interesting to know if the laws about software copyrights are similar. Let consider this case: I am a private citizen that has two computers at home, I buy one copy of a program and install it on both computers, am I violating any laws?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I buy one copy of a program and install it on both computers, am I violating any laws?

Depends on the license.

I know that when I had a company and I used a program for my job I had a contract of licensing and manteinance for every systems, (AVID editing suites), but as private citizen that doesn't use software for working, is it the same?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I buy one copy of a program and install it on both computers, am I violating any laws?

Depends on the license.

I know that when I had a company and I used a program for my job I had a contract of licensing and manteinance for every systems, (AVID editing suites), but as private citizen that doesn't use software for working, is it the same?

If there's no explicit exception for private users, yes.

(Usually I don't have that "problem" because I almost exclusively use FOSS)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

RIAA Claims Ripping CDs for Personal Use is Illegal

The brief claims that ripping CDs to MP3s is a violation of copyright laws and the fair use doctrine.

What a Country!! :cool:

Worth noting that in the UK, ripping your own CDs for MP3s, even without sharing/uploading them violates copyright law. This is never enforced, and there is serious discussion about changing the law there, but worth noting that it could be worse ...

MP3s in Britain

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Buying and listening to secondhand vinyl remains the best way to stick it to the bastards...

You might be sticking it to the RIAA, but you're also sticking it to the artists. For the most part, I avoid secondhand recordings these days because I want to make sure the artists get something, especially if it's a less popular artist.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[Addendum: Looks like the RIAA has also included language about the fact that the Howells put their files on file sharing networks

actually that looks like the core of the case the me; read the brief, the part about the unauthorised copies is on p. 15.

Thanks for posting that. The brief outlines the particulars of the case. It doesn't look like this has anything to do with sharing music with the guy's spouse, but rather on Kazaa. Makes sense--I was wondering how the RIAA would have figured out that he was only sharing the files with his wife if it was on a closed/private network, and it kind of had me worried since I share files with my wife over our home network all the time. That apparently was not the case.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I buy one copy of a program and install it on both computers, am I violating any laws?

Depends on the license.

I know that when I had a company and I used a program for my job I had a contract of licensing and manteinance for every systems, (AVID editing suites), but as private citizen that doesn't use software for working, is it the same?

If there's no explicit exception for private users, yes.

(Usually I don't have that "problem" because I almost exclusively use FOSS)

Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Buying and listening to secondhand vinyl remains the best way to stick it to the bastards...

You might be sticking it to the RIAA, but you're also sticking it to the artists. For the most part, I avoid secondhand recordings these days because I want to make sure the artists get something, especially if it's a less popular artist.

Hasn't the RIAA been sticking it to the artists for years? This organization was never set up for the benefit of the industry's creative member, just the record companies--and we all know how they have treated the majority of artists.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Buying and listening to secondhand vinyl remains the best way to stick it to the bastards...

You might be sticking it to the RIAA, but you're also sticking it to the artists. For the most part, I avoid secondhand recordings these days because I want to make sure the artists get something, especially if it's a less popular artist.

Hasn't the RIAA been sticking it to the artists for years? This organization was never set up for the benefit of the industry's creative member, just the record companies--and we all know how they have treated the majority of artists.

Perfectly true - but it doesn't mean that, in all cases, the artists get nothing. Mostly, they get little. But a little bit on top of that little can't be unwelcome - and doubtless wouldn't be willingly foregone.

MG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...