Downloading TV shows - is it illegal?

[1stRaven]

As an interesting point of discussion then, how do you stand with mp3 players or phones these days.

For example, I go out and buy the latest coldplay album on CD but I no longer have a portable cd player. Instead, I want to use my HD2/Iphone/Mp3 player to listen to it. Now to do this, I would have to convert that cd into mp3 format but ripping is illegal? Do I need to just buy the mp3 album version which would mean I can't listen to it on my main home stereo which has a cd player?

I agree with idea of copy right and people getting paid for their work and will hold up my hands to downloading music in the past but will mainly try and buy it these days. Its just that I believe that the music, film and tv industrials need to change with the times and be aware that people want the ability to listen to music and watch films on devices that can not play discs, therefore requiring a digital copy somehow.

[jim]

For example, I go out and buy the latest coldplay album on CD but I no longer have a portable cd player. Instead, I want to use my HD2/Iphone/Mp3 player to listen to it. Now to do this, I would have to convert that cd into mp3 format but ripping is illegal? Do I need to just buy the mp3 album version which would mean I can't listen to it on my main home stereo which has a cd player?

Yes.

Although as Saracen has pointed out many times, even Windows Media Player includes a ripping function - and it's pretty unlikely that anyone would be successfully prosecuted for ripping a CD. But the law still hasn't been updated to keep with the times.

[Saracen]

Yes.

Although as Saracen has pointed out many times, even Windows Media Player includes a ripping function - and it's pretty unlikely that anyone would be successfully prosecuted for ripping a CD. But the law still hasn't been updated to keep with the times.

Well, I'm not sure i pointed out Media Player's ripping functions, but other that that, indeed I have.

Basically :-

1) Any original creative content is automatically protected by copyright merely by the act of creation.

2) This includes (but is not necessarily limited to) :-

- music
- sound recordings , so not just the musical score, but specific recordings are copyright
- films
- books, poems, magazine articles, and other creative writings
- photos
- computer software
- some databases

3) The copyright belongs, generally, to the creator, unless the work was done in the course of employment, in which case, it's probably belong to the employer.

4) Any copying of a protected work is prohibited and leads to a potential liability unless :-

- it is explicitly authorised by the rights holder
- the work has been placed in the public domain (which is really just a special version of the first point directly above)
- the specific copying is permitted by copyright law.

5) That last point includes time shifting of broadcast material.


So ... can you download torrent versions of TV shows you missed? Not legally no, but it's doubtful anyone will care, and even the rights owner is unlikely to take action even if they knew and could prove it.

Can you format shift (rip to MP3, for example)? Legally, no. But again, if you bought the material you've got a good moral case even if not a legal one, and also, again, the rights holder isn't likely to know or care.

One of the specific "permitted" acts is backing up of computer software, if it's necessary and if you're a legitimate user. That doesn't extend to either CDs or DVD films, etc.


Mostly, that just codifies what most people have already said, but it kinda puts it in one place.

I ought to do a sticky about this, since it crops up so often.

Or maybe put a neon flashing light over "Search".

[cookie365]

And you can only timeshift broadcast material for the purposes of watching it at a more convenient time. That's once.

To be strictly 100% legal you could only watch a recorded programme once, you would have to delete it afterwards, and although AFAIK no-one's ever tested this in court, you couldn't even skip back a few seconds if you didn't catch a bit of dialogue.

[jim]

Well, I'm not sure i pointed out Media Player's ripping functions, but other that that, indeed I have.

Apologies if I've misquoted you, wasn't my intention. My memory isn't the best...

[Saracen]

I may have mentioned it, Jim. I don't remember doing it, though. Hell, I didn't even remember that Media Player had that function 'til you mentioned it. In fact, I barely remember Media Player. Come to think of it, the way I feel right now (headache), I'm having enough trouble remembering my own name.