Jim Choate wrote:
> So is my copying music CD's using computer equipment (meaning that those
> CD's don't pay the licensing fee) however that doesn't change the fact
> that it is theft. If my friend buys a book and I copy it using a copy
> machine onto yellow paper or overhead projector film doesn't effect the
> fact that I am in possession of a unlicensed copy.
(possibly) wrong
maybe the nuances of the US copyright system are different, but german
copyright system explicitly considers a few copies for friends within
the limits of "fair use".
the deal is "a few" and "friends". it means making a copy for your
buddy, not running a 24h service for everyone who stops by. there are
closer definitions of what "a few" and "friends" mean, but I don't wanna
bother with those details here.
> So, the next question is, do most mp3 users record off the air? No, they
> don't. They either buy a CD and then return it for exchange (notice the
> nice infinite loop there) or else borrow CD's from other people.
the majority of mp3 users I know record from their own CDs. and no, they
don't return them. of course, that's just personal experience and your
mileage may vary.
> One of the reasons for the staggering increase in concert ticket price is
> to make enough money to even pay for the show in the first place because
> of decreased album sales (some of which is directly attributable to mp3
> sampling theft).
wrong again. please provide data that shows a decrease in album sales.
the data I've seen recently shows an INCREASE. I should be able to dig
it up if you want.
