crankyoldman (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
crankyoldman) wrote2008-01-14 01:44 pm
crankyoldman) wrote2008-01-14 01:44 pm
[News] Since this isn't an RSS feed I can share, I'll put it here
From my NASA Tech Briefs:
Last month's question concerned a lawsuit recently filed in Arizona by
the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) against a pair of
ordinary consumers who converted their CD collection to MP3s for their
own personal use. What makes this copyright case of interest is that it
apparently contradicts arguments made by the RIAA's lawyers in a 2005
case in which they stated that making digital copies of one's music
collection for personal use was a protected right for consumers. So
we asked if you thought converting CDs to MP3s should be legal. A
whopping 93 percent of you said yes, while only 7 percent said no.
Here's more of what you had to say:
"Assuming the CDs were bought legally, it should make no difference if
they're converted to any other format, as long as they're not 'shared'
illegally. If this is not the case, just how did the RIAA latch onto
these particular people?" Rich F.
"The RIAA is clearly testing the limits of litigation. If they succeed
in making it illegal to convert CDs to MP3, the very next step is being
able to charge a "per use" fee for playing music. I am glad this is
being taken to court; this will give the bench the opportunity to rule
that a consumer's purchase of a CD is not intended to obtain a disc of
plastic and aluminum, but to obtain the information that is encoded
upon that disc. As such, the consumer should have the right to store it
using any method they like, and to replay it using any technology."
Anonymous
"As an independent artist, I fully support the rights of people to make
copies of music for their own use. The RIAA (as well as the record
companies) don't want to change their paradigm of how to make money as
technology changes. As a result they bring up lawsuit after lawsuit
hoping they can change the world. It won't happen and they'll just
continue to alienate the consumers they rely upon." Michael P.
"I definitely am not in favor of legally converting CDs to MP3s.
Musicians have a much harder time making a living these days because of
decreased revenue from recorded music. This is due in large part to the
copying and sharing of CDs. Musicians are forced into public
appearances in order to make any money at all, which I think is a
travesty. Let's not discourage promising musicians from pursuing their
dream of making a living with their talent. Stiffen the penalties for
music piracy and guard against new methods for making piracy easier."
Todd Mortensen
Last month's question concerned a lawsuit recently filed in Arizona by
the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) against a pair of
ordinary consumers who converted their CD collection to MP3s for their
own personal use. What makes this copyright case of interest is that it
apparently contradicts arguments made by the RIAA's lawyers in a 2005
case in which they stated that making digital copies of one's music
collection for personal use was a protected right for consumers. So
we asked if you thought converting CDs to MP3s should be legal. A
whopping 93 percent of you said yes, while only 7 percent said no.
Here's more of what you had to say:
"Assuming the CDs were bought legally, it should make no difference if
they're converted to any other format, as long as they're not 'shared'
illegally. If this is not the case, just how did the RIAA latch onto
these particular people?" Rich F.
"The RIAA is clearly testing the limits of litigation. If they succeed
in making it illegal to convert CDs to MP3, the very next step is being
able to charge a "per use" fee for playing music. I am glad this is
being taken to court; this will give the bench the opportunity to rule
that a consumer's purchase of a CD is not intended to obtain a disc of
plastic and aluminum, but to obtain the information that is encoded
upon that disc. As such, the consumer should have the right to store it
using any method they like, and to replay it using any technology."
Anonymous
"As an independent artist, I fully support the rights of people to make
copies of music for their own use. The RIAA (as well as the record
companies) don't want to change their paradigm of how to make money as
technology changes. As a result they bring up lawsuit after lawsuit
hoping they can change the world. It won't happen and they'll just
continue to alienate the consumers they rely upon." Michael P.
"I definitely am not in favor of legally converting CDs to MP3s.
Musicians have a much harder time making a living these days because of
decreased revenue from recorded music. This is due in large part to the
copying and sharing of CDs. Musicians are forced into public
appearances in order to make any money at all, which I think is a
travesty. Let's not discourage promising musicians from pursuing their
dream of making a living with their talent. Stiffen the penalties for
music piracy and guard against new methods for making piracy easier."
Todd Mortensen