Is it stealing?

[Furius]

I am really having difficulty with this question. Is it a sin to take a video from YouTube and make an MP3 out of its contents.
Keep in mind, this is not a question about downloading mp3s using peer to peer software. This is about a video already available on YouTube that is then being transformed into an MP3.
I am having a really hard time answering this question as it seems it can be justified both ways.
The clincher I guess would be the law, since if it is illegal it would be a sin in my estimation. Of course I don’t know this information either.

What do you think folks?

 

[MacQ]

I am really having difficulty with this question. Is it a sin to take a video from YouTube and make an MP3 out of its contents.
Keep in mind, this is not a question about downloading mp3s using peer to peer software. This is about a video already available on YouTube that is then being transformed into an MP3.
I am having a really hard time answering this question as it seems it can be justified both ways.
The clincher I guess would be the law, since if it is illegal it would be a sin in my estimation. Of course I don’t know this information either.

What do you think folks?

It’s taking someone else’s work.
Technically, it’s stealing unless you have permission.
It would escalate the wrongdoing if you incorporated it into something that you represented as your own work, if you sold that or profited from it.

 

[Sunbreak]

Well let’s use an analogy. Say you have plants you are growing in your yard. Someone comes by and takes your plants and decides to make them available to anyone who comes by. So people are taking your stolen plants even though they didn’t directly steal them from you. Would you say that’s ok?

 

[SayehMahtabi]

Yes, it is stealing.

 

[sscott]

It is not stealing if you make the mp3 for your own use. It is like recording a program from the TV with a VCR or DVR. The courts have said this is legal unless you make copies for others to give or sell. If this is strictly for your own device, which you can watch with your friends, then your conscience should be clear.

 

[Seraphim73]

If the worst thing you have to worry about is downloading a youtube video you’re in pretty good shape.

 

[MacQ]

It is not stealing if you make the mp3 for your own use. It is like recording a program from the TV with a VCR or DVR. The courts have said this is legal unless you make copies for others to give or sell. If this is strictly for your own device, which you can watch with your friends, then your conscience should be clear.

Strictly speaking, that is not true.

 

[TrueChurch]

I would say it’s stealing, but to me that seems like a Venial Sin and not a Mortal Sin.

 

[Furius]

Thanks for the responses so far.

I have to say I am in quite the turmoil here.

I am not sure if this being overly scrupulous or not, but I want to be in right relationship with Christ so I am really trying to get down to the nitty gritty on this matter.

With the advent of the internet, it has created some massive gray areas.

I feel I have a pretty well formed conscience, but this one is causing me a lot of difficulty. Based on some responses, I have a few questions.

In regards to ‘permission’. I do a lot of research online as well. I save many articles. These are articles I did not obtain permission to save or print, but I do. If I were to follow the logic of direct permission being needed for an individual’s intellectual property such as music, would this then entail many other things online such as articles, blogs, or even a person’s created video on youtube.

Again, this is not about plagiarizing or selling someone else’s work. I feel that will just muddy the water. This is about personal use.

I would like to see the logical line drawn (if there is one) between the two.

Also, if we are talking legality, that would end the matter for me, since we are bound to adhere to the laws of our nation in general principle. So if anyone can say that downloading a video off of youtube and creating an mp3 out of it is against the law, than than would really help.

Also, then there is the matter on what to do if this method is in fact stealing. Does the entire library need to be deleted, or do we just simply carry doing the right thing moving foward?

Now I’m a Catholic…I am pretty sure I know the answer to this one…I am just hoping someone can talk me out of it…haha!!! We are talking 15 years of music. I love music a lot. But…if it must be done…it must be done. I am not playing games.

Also: Another question. What about music that is really difficult to find or music that is simply not available for purchase?
For instance, we all may agree that to download “insert famous new single” is wrong and illegal, but what about say…a video game soundtrack? Believe it or not, I have playlists of Nintendo game music. I also have Catholic hymns I have attained off of creating mp3s out of them from youtube videos. I have a BEAUTIFUL choir version of ‘Salve Regina’ that I found off of youtube. Could I keep that? I wouldn’t even know what version it was to buy it. Or even if it were for sale. I would be more than happy to pay for it, I just want to be able to purchase it for use if I must!

 

[JRS_88]

If the worst thing you have to worry about is downloading a youtube video you’re in pretty good shape.

Exactly!

To the OP: As with so many questions discussed here, I think the best advice is to talk about this with your priest and follow his advice.

 

[SED]

I don’t believe it stealing since the premise of YouTube is people post videos to share. Now if you are copying to sell or distribute, that would be different.

If it concern you though, I would suggest email, or ask in the comments of the video if the person would mind you copying it for personal use.

 

[thistle]

I am really having difficulty with this question. Is it a sin to take a video from YouTube and make an MP3 out of its contents.
Keep in mind, this is not a question about downloading mp3s using peer to peer software. This is about a video already available on YouTube that is then being transformed into an MP3.
I am having a really hard time answering this question as it seems it can be justified both ways.
The clincher I guess would be the law, since if it is illegal it would be a sin in my estimation. Of course I don’t know this information either.

What do you think folks?

In my opinion there is nothing wrong with that. The assumption should be that what you find on youtube is copyright free. The onus is not on you to assume it is not.