

Fair use under direct attack in Atlantic v. Howell








Comments     Threshold


By walk2k on 12/17/2007 8:33:43 PM , Rating: 2
I should say, it's legal to share the music, so long as only 1 copy is being used at any one time. Technically I guess if two people are listening to the same album in different rooms that might be infringing, but of course nobody would actually prosecute that... As long as you own the CD you can share it with your immediately family/household/etc.

Sharing with the entire world on the internet is quite different.

Doesn't matter what the RIAA says though, copyright law allows (1) backup copy for archival purposed AND format conversion for the sake of convienence (was originally meant to refer to things like putting your 12" records on cassette tape to listen in the car, but surely would be interpreted to mean ripping a CD to listen on your ipod/etc)

By Christopher1 on 12/18/2007 8:34:15 AM , Rating: 1
Well, they should make it very clear that sharing music and making copies for personal use with family members in your own home or a home you own and live in is fine, but NOT allowing people to download music over the internet.

Personally, I think that it is just time to have a base levy on internet service like they have in France (I think that is the country) where the media makers are compensated for any 'illegal' sharing that occurs.

I also have to say that I do not share my music folder in Vista, in fact I have DELETED Sharaza, Limewire, EMule and a few other applications from my computer because I didn't trust that they wouldn't share those folders without my permission or have a virus that targets them and makes them share my whole 'My Documents' directory.

By 1078feba on 12/18/2007 10:42:47 AM , Rating: 2
Normally don't buy into the "slippery slope" argument, but when it comes to government attempts to gain access to my wallet, I make a universal exception.

Allow the gov to levy such a, uuhhh, levy, and within picoseconds, you will have legislators drafting bills to tax all purchases on the web. Slippery slope indeed.

Was recently reading an industry mag that relates how Radiohead is doing with their totally free download of their latest album. States that the band has already made significantly more by doing it this way than through a label. As of the printing of said mag, the "price" paid, you can donate when you download if you so choose, was $6.00, or rougly a third of what you would expect to pay at any store or through iTunes, etc. Really goes to show you how much goes to ensuring that the label execs continue to be able to drive Bentleys and Aston Martins.

Can anyone help me out here? The moratorium on internet taxation was recently extended, IIRC. To when, exactly?


Related Articles
