Copyright Discussion

[UOMaddog]

Ok, so I'm going to start with a scenario and we will let the discussion flow from there!


Let's start with some naming conventions: (for fun)
Artist/Band: The SUO Scripters
Recording Studio: Can You Hear Me Now Studio
Producers: Howe, Muchwe, & Make
Radio Station: WSUX

So, the SUO Scripters record a song titled "We Make the Scripting World Go Round" at Can You Hear Me Now Studios. Howe, Muchwe, & Make produces the album and it is later played on the WSUX radio station which is an over-the-air free public broadcasting station.

Now I'm sitting at home listening to WSUX while training Ninjitsu (perhaps). I hear this awesome song called "We Make the Scripting World Go Round"! I run over to my tape deck and the next time I hear the song on the radio, I record it so I can listen to it whenever I want!!

So, my question is, did I do something illegal by recording it off the radio? Let's hear what people have to say!! Then we will step this conversation up to the next level!

[onlyindreams]

Recording off the radio is 100% legal according to The Audio Home Recording Act of 1992. You can use it for personal use only. You may not sell it or make a copy to give to a friend. However, a couple years ago a judge ruled that satellite radio was not covered in the same law.

[Endless Night]

I belives blank media tapes and cds  (but not computer Cds see wikki for distintion) actually have a fee that is collected to compensate artists for home recording...  This fee exists in many contries... considering the fee is collected it would be hypocritical to stop you recording live broadcaste

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_copying_levy

From wikki above... for US
 Audio Home Recording Act of 1992, says that non-commercial copying by consumers of digital and analog musical recordings is not copyright infringement


I believe Canada or some other country at one time was considering adding a levy to all internet accounts for to legalize all personal use coping of anything. Dont think it actually happened thow.

[UOMaddog]

Ok, so we've established that it's legal for me to record off the radio for personal use.

If a friend comes over, can I play the song back for him?

[Masscre]

Touche I see where this is coming from nice .  I cant answer the question but I can comment on it

[Toptwo]

I believe it is still called "personal use" if you play it for your friend, or even for a group of friends. I think where it would come illegale is if you distributed copies to friends, or charged ppl to listen to it.

[UOMaddog]

So we agree that if a group of friends comes over, I can play it for them as "personal use".

Follow up questions:
#1. What if I'm speaking with them over the phone? Can I hold my phone up to the speaker and play it for them?
#2. Can I tell my friends that they can come over to my house anytime they want and listen to my copy?

[Scrripty]

So we agree that if a group of friends comes over, I can play it for them as "personal use".

Follow up questions:
#1. What if I'm speaking with them over the phone? Can I hold my phone up to the speaker and play it for them?
#2. Can I tell my friends that they can come over to my house anytime they want and listen to my copy?

And why is it illegal to show your friends a movie but legal to allow them to listen to your song?

[Endless Night]

So we agree that if a group of friends comes over, I can play it for them as "personal use".

Follow up questions:
#1. What if I'm speaking with them over the phone? Can I hold my phone up to the speaker and play it for them?
#2. Can I tell my friends that they can come over to my house anytime they want and listen to my copy?

And why is it illegal to show your friends a movie but legal to allow them to listen to your song?

Ehhh whos says its illeagle to have some friends over to watch a movie  If thats the case well im sure that law is ignored 100%

[SunTigress]

I do not think you can tell them to listen to your copy any time. they must have their own copy

[UOMaddog]

I do not think you can tell them to listen to your copy any time. they must have their own copy

Aha! Now what if I play my recording and he sits there with his tape recorder and records it for his own personal use?!

[Toptwo]

Then his copy will more then likely suck! A copy of a copy via tape recording...yuck!

[manwinc]

Does this have anything to do with porn......

[SunTigress]

I do not think you can tell them to listen to your copy any time. they must have their own copy

Aha! Now what if I play my recording and he sits there with his tape recorder and records it for his own personal use?!

The problem is the artist of the song is not getting paid for his "pirated" version of the song. It would not be personal use anymore, because you are distributing it

[luv2luvlong]

Been a while since copywrite law, but the answer lies in the fee on the blank disk. This is what makes it legal to do audio recordings.  I don't think there is currently a fee for movies. As for the disk to disk copying, it is technicaly illegal, however the act of friend to friend distribution has never been able to be proved or prosecuted to the best of my limited knowledge.