Arrrr!....Okay this isn't a guide to doing something illegal so much as it is when you are doing something that won't hold up in court.
Games. You bought it, as long as you still currently own it, or Lost it, which makes that copy still yours, You are free to back up, copy, or download for your own personal use. Such as if you break it. Are you allowed for lending the copy to others? Oddly enough, no, but you can lend them the original. Ultimatley, it boils down to have you paid for the license to use the game?
Music. Probaly a moot point thanks to the internet, as anybody can copy music as it is playing on a PC. Such as playing a song on youtube, or playlist.com, you can record it as it is playing. File sharing programs, everyone knows about these, and these are the ones people police. Some college kids have been fined for using these.
So recording music like this is the same as recording off the radio.
However, we are talking Legal, (Even though it is extremely unlikely this method will get you caught, in fact I have no idea if it was ever made illegal to copy music off the radio.)
But, the point is, you never paid for the music. Again though, you are allowed to backup the music for personal use. Myself, I copy every CD I get, then use the copy and leave the original in the case.
Films. Now this is an area that is fuzzy. This argument extends back to when the Betamax and VHS players were released. In the end, the courts ruled people can record whatever they want for personal use only. Aside from sport shows. In fact it is still legal to copy a VHS tape of a film, on to another.
Now everything changed with the Digital Age. Any movie that is still in theatres, and not been released on DVD, is illegal to own. When released on DVD, Purchase the DVD, and you purchase a license. Again, you are allowed to copy for a personal backup. Again, you are allowed to load out the original, but not the copy.
As for Television. Recording off TV has been Legal since Betamax, so you can watch it at a later time. For some reason, they expect you to watch it only once. Same with films that are broadcast on TV.
For the most part, try to remain legal, but the vast majority of us have commited piracy in one form or another.
What it boils down to, aside from it being legal, is this. If you had a million dollars, would you still pay for it?
Games. You bought it, as long as you still currently own it, or Lost it, which makes that copy still yours, You are free to back up, copy, or download for your own personal use. Such as if you break it. Are you allowed for lending the copy to others? Oddly enough, no, but you can lend them the original. Ultimatley, it boils down to have you paid for the license to use the game?
Music. Probaly a moot point thanks to the internet, as anybody can copy music as it is playing on a PC. Such as playing a song on youtube, or playlist.com, you can record it as it is playing. File sharing programs, everyone knows about these, and these are the ones people police. Some college kids have been fined for using these.
So recording music like this is the same as recording off the radio.
However, we are talking Legal, (Even though it is extremely unlikely this method will get you caught, in fact I have no idea if it was ever made illegal to copy music off the radio.)
But, the point is, you never paid for the music. Again though, you are allowed to backup the music for personal use. Myself, I copy every CD I get, then use the copy and leave the original in the case.
Films. Now this is an area that is fuzzy. This argument extends back to when the Betamax and VHS players were released. In the end, the courts ruled people can record whatever they want for personal use only. Aside from sport shows. In fact it is still legal to copy a VHS tape of a film, on to another.
Now everything changed with the Digital Age. Any movie that is still in theatres, and not been released on DVD, is illegal to own. When released on DVD, Purchase the DVD, and you purchase a license. Again, you are allowed to copy for a personal backup. Again, you are allowed to load out the original, but not the copy.
As for Television. Recording off TV has been Legal since Betamax, so you can watch it at a later time. For some reason, they expect you to watch it only once. Same with films that are broadcast on TV.
For the most part, try to remain legal, but the vast majority of us have commited piracy in one form or another.
What it boils down to, aside from it being legal, is this. If you had a million dollars, would you still pay for it?
