Piracy, when is it legal?

[beddo]

Never. Something that's illegal can never be legal. If you had a book and then went into a store and stole a copy because you lost your original, they would still call the cops and you would still be in trouble.

Well that's not entirely true, it's a paradox for sure. For example, fair use laws state that you have the right to make backup copies of media. DMCA says that you're not allowed to circumvent copy protection and can't make a backup.

Which is true? They can't both be, by making a backup copy you would be in a legal grey area which hasn't yet been tested; you made a legal backup which is illegal.

Not really a surprise that the lobbyists managed to get politicians to invalidate their own laws.

 

[Valine]

Yes, most of those cases would be legal due to "fair use" laws. Those overrule even the dreaded, and idiotic, DMCA.

 

[ssgt splatter]

When is it legal?...Uhh, never!

 

[Valine]

When is it legal?...Uhh, never!

You are incorrect.

 

[ssgt splatter]

When is it legal?...Uhh, never!

You are incorrect.

Example?

 

[Valine]

When is it legal?...Uhh, never!

You are incorrect.

Example?

Downloading a backup for personal use (id est something you already own).

 

[misfit119]

1. Is it ok to download a film for your personal use after seeing it in theaters?

To this I'd more or less say yes. Having paid money to see it once you're either not going to see it again or love it so much you want to see it on the big screen. If you're somewhere in the middle then I don't see the issue there.

2. Is it ok to download a game you lost? Or a game you traded?

If you lost the game then I would say yes. If it's something you've traded in then it's a big ol' hell no. That's pretty messed up. I'm pretty agressive on this end as I've even go so far as to buy old SNES imports so I could own translated ROMs without it seeming illegal in any way even though it never reached the US and thus couldn't possibly be bought.

3. Is it ever actually illegal to download a T.V. show, since you never paid for it in the first place? Yes I know sport shows have a disclaimer....which everybody ignores.

I would actually say no to this, it's not illegal. If you're downloading the entire seasons of dvds then I'd say that's an issue but I don't see how it's illegal to download TV episodes seeing how many of them never make it to DVD. I miss you Freakylinks.

4. What about music that your friend gave to you on a mix cd, that you lost?

If a friend gives you a CD I think that's personally the same as the old copying a friends casette. Just because they've tightwadded up about that sort of thing doesn't mean I think we should have to stop. If not for copying friends tapes most of the big name bands from the pre-internet era wouldn't matter to us. I'm looking at you Metallica.

5. Is it ok for you to copy all the music your friend has, and vice versa? Of course it is. The real question is when is it considered illegal?

I think this is pushing it a bit. A CD here or there is no big deal but just swapping music around could actually be a big hit to someones income. For example I have over 3000 mp3s. If I gave that to a friend that'd be like giving him around 200 albums to copy which would be a pretty big loss within the music industry. That's a little messed up.

6.When films come out on DVD, is there any reason not to copy your rental DVD?

Yes. You never purchased the DVD so you have no right to own a copy of it. Do what I do. Buy them on the cheap off of eBay, get it on your computer and watch it whenever you like without ever having to touch the DVD.

 

[Mosstromo]

It is never legal, but on occasions it does seem just.
I'll give you one instance:
You buy an original DVD film. You try to use it on your computer and it will not play. You discover it is not your equipment's fault. It is one of those bizarre attempts at averting piracy (like the copy-protections on video games). Will only play on DVD players (which you don't own). No indication of this on the DVD cover. Can't rip it either and there is no way around it.
You discover that pirate copies of the same film play just divinely on both types of machine.
A just reason to get the pirate version, I'd say.
But of course, this act will still remain illegal.

 

[ssgt splatter]

When is it legal?...Uhh, never!

You are incorrect.

Example?

Downloading a backup for personal use (id est something you already own).

Ok. I define piracy as downloading material and then selling it for your own profit. What you said is fine.

 

[ragestreet]

Depends on what country you're in.

 

[cyber_andyy]

When you pirate the game, play an hour, then decide to buy it or not because the devs didn't put out a demo. There is no excuse for not putting out a demo these days.

 

[Oneirius]

Never. Piracy is illegal.
End of story.

 

[Twilight_guy]

Um... never. That's why it's called Piracy. If your asking when we think it's right then I say never. I just find it immoral to download stuff for free.

 

[timmytom1]

I suspect by the time i read the last page (after posting this) the flame war will be rageing once again....

OT:question1:No the ticket only admits you once ,if you own the DVD (the proper one i mean)then it`s kinda a grey area

Question 2:This is again a bit of a grey area,but if you genuinely have lost the game then i think it may be legal as you have technically paid for the game

Question 3:I strongly suspect the answer is no unless somewhere along the line the original broadcaster has either A:Relwased the show into the public domain ,thus makeing it legal or the slightly shadier 2 :the company has gone out of buisness and no one owns the IP anymore,makeing it abandonware of sorts (though i think a certain amount of time has to pass for this to be legal)

Question4:Sounds like a bit of a grey area to me ,i`d assume it`s legal...just

question 5:As i understand it takeing copies of albums/singles you don`t own (or indeed takeing things/copies of things) is illegal and thus no ,though the laws vary massivly depending on where you live

Question 6:well that`s just plain wrong ,no you have no right of ownership over a rental DVD and thus doing that would be blatantly illegal

one positive thing to come from pirates (in the music industry at least) has been the removal of the ridiculous limited use DRM on songs after a certain amount of uses ,which was extortion but realizing they were loseing a lot of buisness to borderline pirates (i.e people who only pirate because it`s easier/get what is technically a better product as you have no limitations in this case)were brought back to the paying i`m among that group of people who pirated music simply because i wasn`t going to stand for what was essentially a legalsed racket as i saw it.

 

[IrirshTerrorist]

(All answers are my opinion, i.e not likely to be fact, and I don't really care if anyone disagrees)

1. Is it ok to download a film for your personal use after seeing it in theaters?

Answer: I work under a system where I only download a film if I have seen it in the cinema (or if I missed it while it was out in the cinema) and then if I like it when I watch it downloaded I will buy the DVD (assuming I have the cash). Then I feel I haven't done anything wrong because I still pay for it so the piracy isn't hurting anyone (that I can think of).

2. Is it ok to download a game you lost? Or a game you traded?

Answer: One you've lost/has been broken; Yes its ok to download it. One you've traded; No it is not ok to download it).

3. Is it ever actually illegal to download a T.V. show, since you never paid for it in the first place?

Answer: I'll download a show to see if I like it and whether I want to buy the DVD box set but I wouldn't download one with the intention of just watching the download and never paying anything towards the show.

4. What about music that your friend gave to you on a mix cd, that you lost?

Answer: If you buy a CD and lose it you can (in my opinion) download it. You can't download it if you only ever had it on a mixed CD from a friend though.

5. Is it ok for you to copy all the music your friend has, and vice versa? Of course it is. The real question is when is it considered illegal?

Answer: Don't really know what to say to this one, sorry. Well, actually it seems illegal no matter what but it doesn't seem morally wrong.

6.When films come out on DVD, is there any reason not to copy your rental DVD?

Answer: Just buy the DVD instead of renting it, you can get them pretty cheap (legally) anyway so if you like it just buy it and that way you know you are not doing anything wrong.

(Hope I helped or at least that I may have given you a good alternate point of view)

 

[L33tsauce_Marty]

I recently 'pirated' classical music. Honestly, I have no moral code against that.

 

[teisjm]

1. Is it ok to download a film for your personal use after seeing it in theaters?
2. Is it ok to download a game you lost? Or a game you traded?
3. Is it ever actually illegal to download a T.V. show, since you never paid for it in the first place? Yes I know sport shows have a disclaimer....which everybody ignores.

4. What about music that your friend gave to you on a mix cd, that you lost?
5. Is it ok for you to copy all the music your friend has, and vice versa? Of course it is. The real question is when is it considered illegal?

6.When films come out on DVD, is there any reason not to copy your rental DVD?

EDIT: Do note that copying a VHS tape of a movie is entirely legal.

1. IF you've seen it in theaters you don't own the right to see it, you just saw it once

2. If you lost it you payed for it and own it (though you cannot prove it) If you traded it you don't own it anymore.

3. Dunno... you could always say that you recorded it on a harddisc recorder which you've borrowed from a friend you no longer see due to a drunk misteken threesome

4. The mix cd is illegal in the first place, unless it's like an "official" "20 greatest 90's hits" which he/she bought for you

5. No, your friend owns all the music he/she has, and you own all the music you have, you don't own the rights to each others music.

Piracy is a crime, Downloading music is a crime, you wouldn't download a car

 

[Master_Fubar23]

]

All of these: No.

How hard it is to understand that piracy is illegal, period? It's still piracy.
Absolutely true.

Now if you want to argue whether it's "wrong" or not...

agreed. piracy is still piracy but weather or not its wrong is another issue.

1. no its wrong to do so since the ppl who made the movie worked hard to give u a good movie. loop though. if u buy the movie then i see no wrong doing making a copy since u own that movie and say ur friend wants to see the movie. u can allow him to use the copy but selling copies is wrong.
2. yes. you bought the game then you have if you lost it then u should be able to dl it again. i love steam for this. i lost a game i looooved but had the activation key still and now i can play it whenever through steam. although if you traded it then no since u gave it up for a gain rather then losing it which is a loss.
3. i do not see the problem with it. they show it to you for free basicly so its the same as using ur vcr to record anyways. besides they get paid by the ppl who use the shows to show off commericals and if you have cable or something your alrdy paying to watch it.
4. i see it as ok. very pissed at mircosoft with what they did with there music bs.
5. go for it. your friend bought the music so its his. if he wants to let you listen to it then oh well for the money hungery bastards
6. yes theres a reason to not copy a rental... its becuz your RENTING it. if you bought it then no problem. i personally copy or at least try to every movie i have so i only use the copies. copy gets fucked up? oh well make another. original gets fucked up? well im kinda screwed then

 

[Woodsey]

It's OK to download a game IF YOU LOST IT. Everything else, no. Although even then you're costing the company money.

 

[CrysisMcGee]

I suspect by the time i read the last page (after posting this) the flame war will be rageing once again....

OT:question1:No the ticket only admits you once ,if you own the DVD (the proper one i mean)then it`s kinda a grey area

Question 2:This is again a bit of a grey area,but if you genuinely have lost the game then i think it may be legal as you have technically paid for the game

Question 3:I strongly suspect the answer is no unless somewhere along the line the original broadcaster has either A:Relwased the show into the public domain ,thus makeing it legal or the slightly shadier 2 :the company has gone out of buisness and no one owns the IP anymore,makeing it abandonware of sorts (though i think a certain amount of time has to pass for this to be legal)

Question4:Sounds like a bit of a grey area to me ,i`d assume it`s legal...just

question 5:As i understand it takeing copies of albums/singles you don`t own (or indeed takeing things/copies of things) is illegal and thus no ,though the laws vary massivly depending on where you live

Question 6:well that`s just plain wrong ,no you have no right of ownership over a rental DVD and thus doing that would be blatantly illegal

one positive thing to come from pirates (in the music industry at least) has been the removal of the ridiculous limited use DRM on songs after a certain amount of uses ,which was extortion but realizing they were loseing a lot of buisness to borderline pirates (i.e people who only pirate because it`s easier/get what is technically a better product as you have no limitations in this case)were brought back to the paying i`m among that group of people who pirated music simply because i wasn`t going to stand for what was essentially a legalsed racket as i saw it.

Wait, they put limited use on music? How the hell did they expect that to work? DRM protection is a joke. Thanks to the ability to record anything that is playing on your computer, with your computer, and make a perfect copy.

Serioulsly, they put limited use on music?