Software piracy is a big problem in this electronic media, for both Audio and Video. What is legal, is for your own conscience and the legal system.
I firmly take a stand against those who u/l and d/l new audios and videos. There is no thin line here. Common sense tells you this is wrong - this is stealing.
What I do accept is the u/l and d/l of over the air TV shows, that anyone can record for their own personal pleasure to watch at a different time (whatever the reason they offer for not being forced to watch it live as broadcast). I'm sure this might not be 100% legal, just like using a photocopier at a library to copy a few pages of a book. If this wrong, then why would the copier be there?
I used to record TV shows onto VHS (allowing me to skip over commercials) mainly because I wanted the freedom of watching 'em at a time of my choosing. With the advent of DVD's, I found it more convenient to just d/l the torrents and either watch a series one week at a time, or d/l the complete series, burn onto DVD and be a couch potato whenever (glued to the screen for hours on end).
As audio goes, it's background, and there are way too many online stations to pick from when I want to hear music. These are my cents on this topic (more to follow - I'm not kidding, Mindblower!
"For the needy, not the greedy"
Hey MB - An interesting and dare I say it...controversial topic. Firstly, let's clarify exactly what it is we are discussing here...i.e.The copying/downloading of entertainment media for personal use only.
Copyright laws vary from country to country, I can only speak for those laws which exist in Australia. Here it is illegal to do what you are doing MB...that is, download T.V shows, it is also technically illegal to record T.V. shows. Even if the 'broadcaster' waives their copyright by giving explicit permission you would still be in violation of the producers/studios copyright. There are no distinctions made, no degrees of right and wrong. To download/copy an old T.V show is just as illegal as downloading/copying a new movie. Not all laws are good...just because it is written into legislation doesn't necessarily mean it is fair and equitable.....not saying that is necessarily the case here, rather just making a point.
I'm really in two minds, I concede points from both sides of the argument. Yes, it is stealing, according to the legislation but, on the other hand, I am continually reading about the obscene amounts of money the entertainment industry generates; how this movie grossed over xxxmillion dollars, that movie star gets xxmillion per movie, this music CD sold over xxmillion copies and that singer is one the richest people in the world, etc. etc. I guess people hear/read all that and just figure...oh, what the heck...am I [i:21lrzxv3]really[/i:21lrzxv3] hurting anyone!!
That said, the only time I ever download a torrent is, if it is a rare title which I cannot obtain via any other avenue. I have to admit though, that is more because I would prefer an original copy of better quality than anything to do with copyright laws...and certainly has nothing to do with any cost factor.
cheers...JIM
What a mouthful ozbloke. Boy am I lucky NOT to be residing down under. You've opened my eyes, and painted a sight NOT many are aware of....
Then, growing up there, one sees things quite differently - so I'd better NOT put my other foot there, Mindblower!
"For the needy, not the greedy"
Geez..it ain't that bad MB!!! I hope I didn't give the wrong impression. Those are the laws but in reality they are not rigorously pursued. Of course we all still record T.V. shows...I've yet to hear of anyone actually being prosecuted. These silly laws are often passed by gung ho and, at times, misguided politicians...thank goodness the authorities who are responsible for policing them do so with more than a modicum of common sense. It's the 'big guys' they are after, the ones who copy for mass distribution and profit...not us little fish.
cheers mate....JIM
wow Jim, just when I'm ready to move down under....LoL
In the States, it is illegal to download and/or make available copyrighted material without the express permission of the copyright holder. What this typically means is that 95% of torrents are illegal in the states.
I take issue with the legislation as it stands because many television shows are broadcast, for free (to me), over the air that I can pick up with my antenna. It is already legal for me to record these shows onto one type of media or another (VHS, DVD, DVR, etc). If, for whatever reason, your recording media did not capture the whole show (or clipped the last 30 seconds because the broadcast stations shifted it just to piss off those who record it), it is then illegal to go download a torrent of the same television show.
Why?
With modern technology I don't even see commercials anymore. MCEBuddy strips them out before I even watch the show (99% success rate for me). With Hulu and TV.com becoming more available with more shows (Stateside at least), this is becoming less of an issue, but it still requires some technological wrangling to make it work the way I want it to.
When it comes to movies/music/premium television (HBO Series, etc) -- I understand the piracy legislation and torrents = bad. No one paid for the media.
But I don't get it from the television angle....
Hey Zig - MCEBuddy, Zulu, TV.com?????? Please speak English.....LOL
I concur 100%. The laws here pertaining to recording from T.V. are too silly. Apparently there are exceptions; e.g. if you can prove you are a student and recording the show for self educational purposes, that is legal.....what a load of cr*p!!! As I said mate, the laws are in place but not actively policed...with ridiculous exceptions such as the one just described it would make policing them nigh on an impossibility anyway. Besides which, imagine trying to prosecute [i:3d9arior]every[/i:3d9arior] adult Australian....definitely a case for new/more sensible legislation!!
cheers mate...JIM
[quote="ozbloke":qv9j9r2t]Hey Zig - MCEBuddy, Zulu, TV.com?????? Please speak English.....LOL
[/quote:qv9j9r2t]
Hulu.com and TV.com are (stateside only for the moment) online TV streaming sites.
MCEBuddy works with Windows Media Center and (among many other wonderful features) strips commercials out of recorded television.
The RIAA (Recording Industry A* America) is a glaring example of what's wrong with the laws in this country. They argue that simply making something available is the same as stealing and reselling. For the most part they've gone unchallenged, but for the few cases that went to trial the results have been mixed.
The problem is our legal system doesn't understand the technology involved. And they won't. Not for another 20 years when kids who have grown up with Ipods are old enough to look at the laws and laugh at them. Then they will line their pockets and change nothing.
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