This question came up over on the FSM boards, and I actually found it interesting, so I'll post it here.
You buy a CD. Some time later, it doesn't matter how long, you rip the CD to your computer's hard drive for your own personal use, either to burn a new copy to use in the car or to put on your MP3 player or to listen using your computer speakers or whatever. Some time after that, for whatever reason, you decide to sell the original CD.
Should you then delete the ripped music files from your computer?
The personal blog of author Kelly Sedinger, chronicling the adventures of one overalls-clad wanderer.
3 comments:
No, of course not. You are under no obligation to play fairly and think of the rights of a large faceless corporation. I don't think Sony will die as a company because I ripped songs off many cds to make a cool driving mix.
Bah! A pox on large entertainment corporation, their wasteful spending, their bottom line and all the dreck I get entrapped to see because of some slick advertising campaign.
Instead of innovating and experimenting with ways to get their media creations to an audience, most music, television and movie studios will choose to embrace fads (like the scam that is 3D) than make any real changes to the way their product is delivered. If I could have unlimited, reliable downloads of say movies and TV programs, I would pay the fee for such a service if it was resonable.
There should also be a way for me to watch a first run movie on my computer on the same night it opens in theatres. Give the theatre owners half that profit and have the studios take the other half. They could reduce video piracy by 90% if they follow my advice.
So as long as nobody wants to punish me for my downloads or develop technology that makes it harder for me to download, my 'thievery' goes on guilt free.
oh, goodness no. I've railed for years about the ICTBSA (international conspiracy to buy stuff again), and if I've bought an LP, then the same CD; or bought a season of a TV show, then bought the series containing that season because buying the last season as a standalone is not possible, then they've gotten enough of my money.
A very interesting question. When you "buy" a CD, you are not actually paying for the plastic disc that comes in the plastic case. You are paying for a personal licence to listen to the content on the disc. However, not being the creator, or primary rights holder of the content, do you have the legal right to resell it at all? Technically, no. Practically, how do they stop you?
Intent has to be a big factor here. Selling CDs, or books, or the like, that are one-off items, at a garage sale, or on Craigslist is not, in most instances, a for-profit endeavour. More often it's a "let me get some of this stuff the heck out of my house" kinda thing. In that situation I think you must be held blameless.
See what happens when you send me to read a legal ruling before commenting here?
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