Am I violating the spirit of the law of the seventh commandment?

[trying247]

In an answer in the Ask An Apologist section, Catholic Answers Apologist Michelle Arnold states,

It is not intrinsically immoral to download free music, but it may be against the law. As it is within the just purview of the law to restrict such free downloads, a Catholic should respect the law if there is one in place. Check with a lawyer – one who specializes in copyright law would be especially helpful – to find out what the laws are in this matter.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=2471

With her answer in mind, I have come across three websites.

Website A is an official website for a music group. The group sells downloads of its music on the website, but the site also contains an application for visitors to listen to the group’s music streamed online for free. I checked the Terms of Service section of the website, and the group (along with a corporation) owns the copyrights to the content found on the website. The terms also say the website can be “accessed, downloaded or printed for personal, non-commercial use only” (I would provide a citation, but I don’t want to seem like I’m advertising for them). The website further states in another section that some of the content on the site is free for visitors. Thus, it appears that I do not violate copyright law by listening to the music the group offers to be streamed online from its website. (Please note that a visitor could only listen to this music by being on the website.)

Website B is an official website for a music publisher. The website states that the publisher owns the copyrights to the songs it sells. The website also sells CDs and mp3 downloads of most of the songs the publisher owns. Along with the ability to buy mp3 downloads, the website offers short previews of part of the songs it sells. These previews are similarly streamed online for free. Since the publisher owns the copyrights to the songs, and the publisher offers the free previews on its official website, I am assuming that the publisher is giving tacit permission to listen to the previews of the songs (though I have not found explicit written permission on the website). If the publisher was not giving permission, wouldn’t the publisher simply remove the free previews from its website?

Website C is an official website for a division/sister organization of a music publisher. This website sells downloads of mp3 files, but the website also provides free online streaming of select songs that it sells. The website did not provide any information regarding terms of service or copyright information, so I emailed the support staff of the website. The response stated that the division owns the copyrights for most of the music and has obtained permission from the copyright holders of the rest of the music to be stream online. Taking the support staff at their word, I do not seem to be violating copyright law by listening to the songs streamed from the website.

All in all, I am not downloading music but rather listening to it streamed via the internet from official websites of music publishers and a music group. Based upon the information I have gathered, it is not illegal and does not violate copyright law in my particular cases. In addition, it is not “intrinsically immoral,” according to Michelle Arnold.

Still, is it morally permissible for me to listen to this audio streamed online, or am I somehow acting against the spirit of the law of the seventh commandment since I am probably never going to buy the music the websites are offering/advertising?

Thanks!

 

[Julia1996]

You can’t be stealing something if someone has given it to you.

All three websites offer free music, it is a gift. I do not see how accepting someone’s gift can be considered stealing.

Just to be on the safe side, you should talk to your priest about what is morally acceptable.

 

[PAboy57]

Relax.

The websites want you to listen to the music. Their ultimate goal is that you will like it enough to buy it. If you don’t buy it then obviously you didn’t like it enough to make the purchase.

There are many websites offering unlimited free samples. So relax and feel free to listen to their free music. IMHO you are doing nothing wrong.

So enjoy the free music.

 

[Julia1996]

Relax.

The websites want you to listen to the music. Their ultimate goal is that you will like it enough to buy it. If you don’t buy it then obviously you didn’t like it enough to make the purchase.

There are many websites offering unlimited free samples. So relax and feel free to listen to their free music. IMHO you are doing nothing wrong.

So enjoy the free music.

Good point. The people who would be hurt by people illegally downloading music are the same people who are running these websites. Since they seem to have no objection to you listening to this music online, then there is nothing wrong.

Have fun.