Downloading illegal music? frugal or stealing?

lazy23 · 01-01-2008, 03:00 AM

I see more and more people doing it. It used to be just college and high school kids. Now at least half of the people I know have downloaded music illegally. Many of these same people used to be against music sharing. I wonder what changed their minds. Is it because the spread of high speed internet connection has made downloading more prevalent, and therefore more acceptable? Did the RIAA run a bad pr campaign?

The Honest Dollar · 01-01-2008, 09:00 AM

I'm not sure why more people are doing it. I don't do it myself not because I have any strong moral qualms against it, but because I don't want to be sued by the RIAA and have to pay thousands of dollars in settlement. I have had 2 friends pay about $3,500 each to settle with the RIAA. No, thank you!

As for the fact I don't have strong moral qualms against it: I guess if I stop to think, it is stealing. I'm not saying people who download illegally are Robin Hoods, but the RIAA is sure acting like the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. Current technology makes it easy to swap files online; the RIAA and the record industry need to adapt to that reality rather than trying to enforce rules of the past on the wave of the future.

soupkitchen96 · 01-01-2008, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Honest Dollar

I have had 2 friends pay about $3,500 each to settle with the RIAA. No, thank you!

REALLY? I've always thought very few people get prosecuted but it just sounds scary because the RIAA spends tons of money publicizing the few people they did catch.

Is there something in common between your two friends? Did they go to the same college, use a particular downloading service? Just wondering for purely academic purposes.

hollyvangogh · 01-01-2008, 03:12 PM

I think more people are doing it because they think it's a victimless crime...or that the victims are all rich musicians and music company execs (not that a rich victim makes it ok to commit a crime). I don't do it. The only music I download I pay for, or I already own the rights to because I have the tape, or record, etc. The fact of the matter is that there are other people invovled in the music business besides the stars (and form what I hear musicians make most of their money from concerts anyway). The graphic designers, photographers, mixers, sound technicians, etc. have families to support. And the more people who illegally download music the less likely these people are to keep their jobs as the music industry suffers. Plus, as far as I'm concerned, illegal is illegal. It's wrong. And people of integrity shouldn't give in to "little" crimes.

jke · 01-01-2008, 07:04 PM

My wish is that the recording industry wakes up and instead of telling people to do it there-way listen to the people. The horse is out of the barn come up with a way to buy music that is not as stupid as it is now. While it is stealing they music industry is not helping themselves

sloria1 · 01-01-2008, 08:58 PM

I used to download music illegally, but after getting sick of all the bad quality downloads and the RIAA scare, I now use a Napster subscription, which allow me to get all the music I want for just 15 bucks. I also subscribe to music blogs which give out free music downloads. This not only gets me free music, but I get exposed to a lot of new bands.

farley2k · 01-02-2008, 06:16 AM

Of course it is stealing. How could anyone say it isn't? You don't own a product, and you take the product. You can argue that you haven't stolen anything physical - but what they are selling wasn't physical to begin with! What they are selling is their creativity, time, effort, and skill. And you are taking that without compensation.

rn.elizabeth · 01-02-2008, 08:46 PM

I check out Cd's from the library and add the songs I like to my Itunes. I don't own a lot of Cd's and this has been a great way to supplement my music.

I've been told that this is not legal as well, BUT since my library shreds records, nobody knows, right?

Tiffany · 01-03-2008, 06:36 AM

I buy music from iTunes. at 99 cents a pop it is just silly to steal from the artist's pocket. Amazon has downloads to for 89 cents I think. The only thing I don't like about iTunes is that they use a format that can only be used on iPods or burned to CD. But I have found a work around for that.

nifwlseirff · 01-03-2008, 08:16 PM

I buy music from iTunes, but wish they would change their policy on using other countries' stores. Distribution rights that are different for each country are hugely limiting the variety of music and videos that are available in the Australian store. It's even more annoying that iTunes allows you to browse through those stores.

I wish the music industry would go truly global, and allow anyone anywhere to purchase music from electronic stores.

01-01-2008, 03:00 AM	#1
lazy23 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 40 Reputation: (15)	Downloading illegal music? frugal or stealing? I see more and more people doing it. It used to be just college and high school kids. Now at least half of the people I know have downloaded music illegally. Many of these same people used to be against music sharing. I wonder what changed their minds. Is it because the spread of high speed internet connection has made downloading more prevalent, and therefore more acceptable? Did the RIAA run a bad pr campaign?

01-01-2008, 07:04 PM	#5
jke Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1 Reputation: (10)	I don't know My wish is that the recording industry wakes up and instead of telling people to do it there-way listen to the people. The horse is out of the barn come up with a way to buy music that is not as stupid as it is now. While it is stealing they music industry is not helping themselves

01-02-2008, 08:46 PM	#8
rn.elizabeth Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 4 Reputation: (10)	What about the library? I check out Cd's from the library and add the songs I like to my Itunes. I don't own a lot of Cd's and this has been a great way to supplement my music. I've been told that this is not legal as well, BUT since my library shreds records, nobody knows, right?

01-03-2008, 08:16 PM	#10
nifwlseirff Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 2 Reputation: (10)	iTunes international stores I buy music from iTunes, but wish they would change their policy on using other countries' stores. Distribution rights that are different for each country are hugely limiting the variety of music and videos that are available in the Australian store. It's even more annoying that iTunes allows you to browse through those stores. I wish the music industry would go truly global, and allow anyone anywhere to purchase music from electronic stores. __________________ www.nifwlseirff.net

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-01-2008, 09:00 AM	#2
The Honest Dollar Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New York Posts: 90 Reputation: (63)	I'm not sure why more people are doing it. I don't do it myself not because I have any strong moral qualms against it, but because I don't want to be sued by the RIAA and have to pay thousands of dollars in settlement. I have had 2 friends pay about $3,500 each to settle with the RIAA. No, thank you! As for the fact I don't have strong moral qualms against it: I guess if I stop to think, it is stealing. I'm not saying people who download illegally are Robin Hoods, but the RIAA is sure acting like the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. Current technology makes it easy to swap files online; the RIAA and the record industry need to adapt to that reality rather than trying to enforce rules of the past on the wave of the future.

01-01-2008, 03:12 PM	#4
hollyvangogh Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 30 Reputation: (10)	I think more people are doing it because they think it's a victimless crime...or that the victims are all rich musicians and music company execs (not that a rich victim makes it ok to commit a crime). I don't do it. The only music I download I pay for, or I already own the rights to because I have the tape, or record, etc. The fact of the matter is that there are other people invovled in the music business besides the stars (and form what I hear musicians make most of their money from concerts anyway). The graphic designers, photographers, mixers, sound technicians, etc. have families to support. And the more people who illegally download music the less likely these people are to keep their jobs as the music industry suffers. Plus, as far as I'm concerned, illegal is illegal. It's wrong. And people of integrity shouldn't give in to "little" crimes.

01-01-2008, 08:58 PM	#6
sloria1 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 56 Reputation: (10)	I used to download music illegally, but after getting sick of all the bad quality downloads and the RIAA scare, I now use a Napster subscription, which allow me to get all the music I want for just 15 bucks. I also subscribe to music blogs which give out free music downloads. This not only gets me free music, but I get exposed to a lot of new bands.

01-02-2008, 06:16 AM	#7
farley2k Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 43 Reputation: (14)	Of course it is stealing. How could anyone say it isn't? You don't own a product, and you take the product. You can argue that you haven't stolen anything physical - but what they are selling wasn't physical to begin with! What they are selling is their creativity, time, effort, and skill. And you are taking that without compensation.

01-03-2008, 06:36 AM	#9
Tiffany Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 4 Reputation: (10)	I buy music from iTunes. at 99 cents a pop it is just silly to steal from the artist's pocket. Amazon has downloads to for 89 cents I think. The only thing I don't like about iTunes is that they use a format that can only be used on iPods or burned to CD. But I have found a work around for that.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
RIAA: It's illegal to transfer music from your cd to computer	arcadian	General Discussion	5	01-01-2008 07:24 PM