Mortal sin to download, keep, and use mp3s?

[The_Otaku]

I have another question. Wait, that’s a fib. I have SEVERAL questions. First, is it a mortal sin to download, play, and save mp3s?

In my case, I download usually the theme songs for anime shows. This is usually a single opening song and a single ending theme, and sometimes my favorite songs from an OST (original sound track). I don’t download all the tracks, just my favorite ones. The same is true for music in general.

My collection of mp3s is small and it rarely grows and I often listen to the same songs over and over again. I find it hard to justify buying a cd just for a single song. Am I morally obliged to do so? What about if there’s no option to buy the song (like on I-tunes) as is often/always the case with anime songs? And what about other means of listening to the music? Like youtube, for instance. On youtube you have what are called AMVs (anime music video), which are fan made videos consisting of clips from their favorite scenes of a show played to the tune of a song (mp3). You didn’t download the mp3, but you’re listening to it online, in the form of a music video. Is that wrong too?

Or what about music from a video game? This is called BGM (back ground music). Sometimes, the best music comes from an obscure game or a game which does not possess a sound track. This means the music tracks were burned off the game data and made into mp3s. This is uniquely different than buring a music cd, since the cd is not an audio or album, and as such, no soundtrack exists for purchase. Meaning that, the only other way to hear the music would be if there is an option for it in the game in some sort of test or debug mode built into the game (which requires the system to be on and the game running which is ridiculous), or let the game run on whatever level/stage/etc that music plays on and try to enjoy it obviously, without the ability to fastforward, pause, or rewind. This is (again) ridiculous, obviously, since you have to have the console on, the tv on, and quiet in the room, not to mention the noise from the game which distorts the music.

Obviously, mp3s are the needed alternative in cases like this, but is this instance of mp3 usage wrong, given that you’re extracting songs from a game? If you give the song to a friend, for example, is he morally obligated to then buy the game, which he may not even want, need, or like, just so he can, in good conscience, listen to the song, which he does like, that was ripped from the game?

This is of course assuming there is no OST for the game, and the truth is, many games have or eventually come out with an OST, so this would only seem like an alternative UP TO the point the music can be purchased in cd form. But then it becomes the same issue as the main topic here.

I don’t distribute mp3s that I have downloaded to friends nor do I make them myself, though I have on occasion made the mistake of giving links to friends of mp3 sites where they could get mp3s, and that was wrong and I should probably confess that if I need to.

It didn’t dawn on me in my last confession to mention the mp3s, and looking on it now that it’s on my mind, I’m wondering if I have to, given how I use and listen to the mp3s and/or plan to.

Am I obligated to delete all my mp3s (thus rendering my i-pod useless)? I also had plans on making speed paint videos, where you see me drawing, in real time (but then sped up for the video) and to help move the video’s pace along, add a song that might be appropriate for the drawing or character in the drawing, to give the video personality towards that project. I’ve also considered making AMVs, though that doesn’t really interest me as much as drawing a picture and sharing it in a video with background music. The mp3s however are essential to giving a video life so it’s not boring. Also, unlike an mp3 file itself, the mp3 cannot be downloaded from the video and so I’m not sharing it. The same is true when I’m drawing regularly. I often need to be listening to music in the background or in the headphones while I draw, as it inspires me and gives me the pep I need to continue. Without the mp3s, I’d be limited to my cd collection, which is also very small and the genres are limited, and which I’ve listened to the same songs over and over again for several years.

I don’t want to give the impression that the bulk of my music is illbegotten or illegal, as that’s not true, but for the mp3s it is. Yes, you could just watch the videos on youtube, but if you’re looking for a specific series and a specific song, it might yield no results or the results that you want. Not everyone finds the same songs or series popular, and so no music videos are made. And then there’s the issue of whether this is right too. You’re listening to a video that has an mp3 embedded in it. Chances are, that song was not downloaded as a purchase. Is listening to someone else’s video (which contains music from an mp3), or even say someone’s ipod wrong? Is listening the same as stealing it yourself and are you obligated to buy what you hear song for song, and every album for each song?

And what about mp3s of songs that are remixes or acoustic or orchestra, etc? Technically, it’s the same song, but it’s being played a different way. Is the fact an orchestra played in the background grounds for you having to buy the cd, since now the orchestra will want their share on the royalties for that song as well?

We could split hairs over this and over every instance conceivable, and with me being a scrupulous person in matters of morality and sin, I’d be probably enjoy it or it would make me feel better. BUT, don’t worry. I won’t do that to you.

To recap the extent of my mp3 usage:

1.) My collection is small (less than 40 songs about). When it does grow, it grows very gradually over time. I don’t download hordes of cds and songs.

2.) I don’t download entire cds, just my favorite songs.

3.) I don’t always keep mp3s. I may download them and listen to them to sample them, but if it’s not a song I like, I delete it.

4.) I don’t distribute or share mp3s.

5.) To keep myself from downloading new songs, I limit myself to the series that I have seen. Meaning that, if I haven’t seen that show, I most likely wouldn’t know to listen to any of it’s music to begin with. So my mp3 usage is limited by this fact.

6.) I don’t burn or make mp3s myself.

In your honest opinion and spiritual mindset as a fellow catholic, where do you think I stand as far as the seriousness of this sin? I’m sure some people will say it’s minor (venial) while others might think it’s grave (mortal) regardless of the whys and hows, and requires confession. And, just as, if not more importantly, where does the Church stand on this issue?

Thank you for your responses!

 

[His_little1]

I think the question you should be asking yourself is how and where you are getting these. Downloading for personal use is sometimes encouraged from the site’s source and they will ususally tell you how to do it. But if there’s a cost involved there should be a system to deter downloading without paying first. In the event that you are downloading content that should be paid for but you bypass this due to unprotected systems, then that would be the same as theft and a sin. It would be the same as reading the newspaper or magazine at a stand and putting it back when you are fininshed without paying for it. When in doubt, check it out. Contact the site administrator and ask them if it is o.k. (assuming they have the right to say so also.)

Copyright protects the author/performer’s rights to their work.

As for confession, go ahead and talk about it. That’s what confession is for:clearing the things off your chest and getting on with your life. If you give the priest a list of your “faults” he shouldn’t categorize them like…“yep that’s a class 1 sin…oh now that would be one of those class 9 sins…we don’t get too many of those nowadays.”

Sin separates us form God. It puts distance between us and the One who loves us. Whether it is an inch or an AU (astronomical unit=the distance from the earth to the sun) it matters not when you are dealing with the Almighty.

 

[The_Otaku]

I think the question you should be asking yourself is how and where you are getting these.

I usually get them off of this one particular site which is like a library of mp3s. They have a large selection, but most if it I’d never even bother with. When I want a song because I heard it, I go to this site, usually, and download that one song. I don’t abuse or make full use of the site.

Sometimes, I’ll do a search on the search engine dogpile, and that sometimes gives me results as well.

Downloading for personal use is sometimes encouraged from the site’s source and they will ususally tell you how to do it. But if there’s a cost involved there should be a system to deter downloading without paying first. In the event that you are downloading content that should be paid for but you bypass this due to unprotected systems, then that would be the same as theft and a sin.

I’m not talking about legal sites which offer the mp3s and that I would then be hacking them or breaching security or finding a loophole which allows me to take content from their sites. That’s not it at all, as the first portion of my response to you indicates.

If this was the case, then I’d definitely think to myself that it was definitely a mortal sin, since you’re stealing directly from the company itself, and right off their own site and you have the additional sin of having done that in addition to taking the song.

No, what I’m talking about are third party sites created for free and are free of charge, by regular people who host the mp3 files for download and you get your mp3s from sites such as these. Or, sometimes someone will have them on their own website, and they will be embedded in the page, so you hear it when you open their webpage, but somewhere there’s a link for you to download it, etc, etc, etc.

 

[Caesar517]

The question you need to ask is this: Would the person who legaly owns the song approve of what you are doing?

 

[Neil_Anthony]

It’s a sin, and it would become mortal when the value of the stolen songs reached a big amount instead of a small amount. A significant amount. Like more than a few songs. I would guess that 40 songs total wouldn’t be enough to be mortal.

 

[PatrickVA]

It’s a sin, and it would become mortal when the value of the stolen songs reached a big amount instead of a small amount. A significant amount. Like more than a few songs. I would guess that 40 songs total wouldn’t be enough to be mortal.

Seriously? I was unaware that the Church put a

 

[PatrickVA]

It’s a sin, and it would become mortal when the value of the stolen songs reached a big amount instead of a small amount. A significant amount. Like more than a few songs. I would guess that 40 songs total wouldn’t be enough to be mortal.

Seriously? I was unaware that the Church put a “face value” on theft to distinguish venial v. mortal sin as the courts do to distinguish between misdemeanor v. felony. Is that figure adjusted for inflation?

 

[Neil_Anthony]

Seriously? I was unaware that the Church put a “face value” on theft to distinguish venial v. mortal sin as the courts do to distinguish between misdemeanor v. felony. Is that figure adjusted for inflation?

This was news to me a few months ago when I read “The Faith Explained” by Fr. Trese. Here’s what he says:

"We cannot measure moral evil with a yardstick - nor compute it with an adding machine. So when someone asks, “How much of a theft does it take to make a mortal sin?” there is no quick and ready answer. We cannot say, “Anything up to $49.99 will be venial sin; from $50.oo up will be a mortal sin”. We can only say in general that the theft of something of small value will be venially sinful; the theft of something of great worth (whether the great worth is relative or absolute) will be a mortal sin. "

 

[The_Otaku]

The question you need to ask is this: Would the person who legaly owns the song approve of what you are doing?

I feel this is a trick question, since I can honestly say that some people would and some people wouldn’t under specific situations.

If the issue comes down to money being denied the owner, even if it was 99 cents, then no matter what I do or say to legitimize it will make it right. If the issue comes down to what you’re saying, and that I can somehow do something good with the music other than just listen to it as a passtime, then that’s another issue entirely.

This is just like the issue with anime fansubs. A fansub, in case you don’t know, is an anime show that was not subtitled yet, and the translation and subtitling was done by a fan group. Usually, these groups step in, record the shows after they’ve aired on japanese telivision, translate them, and provide subtitles for us Americans and others who do not speak japanese. They then host these subbed versions on the internet for free until an american company (usually ADV, Central Park Media, etc.) buys the license (ie- the rights to that series in north america). Once this happens, the subbing groups withdrawal their support for that series (assuming all 25 episodes or so weren’t completed by them) and the sites which host these shows pull all the files from their sites the moment the series becomes licensed.

Now, that clears things up legally on one end. But what about in the beginning, with the japanese? They’re losing out on some money too. But the difference is, they’re not really doing anything to stop fansubbing like america is. Whether they consider it the same thing as piracy or not, the japanese tend to use this activity to their advantage, meaning that they’re aware their property is being recorded, put on the internet, and then translated and subbed. They use this to their advantage because this activity, while it makes them no money, makes the fansubbers no money either, BUT it promotes the series or products for that company indirectly. Once the buzz is on the internet, they’ve generated a fandom without even having to lift a finger themselves. And once the series is officially released, there’s already a fanbase in place ready to buy it and any related merchandize because they’ve been anticipating it. So basically, the japanese take a short term hit or loss in profits and it evens out for them later when they sell the products because theres preexisting support for the product already in place. It doesn’t gurantee all the customers will buy the product (hey they just watched the whole show for free, why would they buy it unless they want to) but it somehow evens out for them.

If I could use an analogy, it’s like a symbiotic relationship. The fansubbers and anime fans are the parasites, and the companies are the hosts, and the two are helping eachother, even though something technically illegal is happening in the process. Money is being lost to fansubs initially, but the support the companies gained and exposure is a new asset for them.

When you think of this situation and apply it to how anime mp3s would work, it’s similar but not the same since the songs involve more than just the company, and possibly the bands or singers that the company hired to do the numbers for that show. It’s hard to answer you question, since I’d have to say whether I thought the singers minded if I did or the companies minded that I did, and one or both may or may not mind. If the rights to a song belonged to just one entity and only one royalty was being paid out, it might be easier to answer, but a song involves more than one person or groups of persons, and their opinions might be different on a professional and fan-supporting level, meaning they’re technically against what I’m doing, but might let it slide under the table because they support the fans and appreciate the fandom for the shows their companies have generated. The japanese are MUCH more understanding than American companies.

 

[GratefulDad]

Check this. I believe these are free download sites.

grooveshark.com/

pandora.com/

You may want to post in the “Popular Media” Threads as well, a lot of Techies hang out their.

 

[cranster]

It’s a sin, and it would become mortal when the value of the stolen songs reached a big amount instead of a small amount. A significant amount. Like more than a few songs. I would guess that 40 songs total wouldn’t be enough to be mortal.

As a songwriter myself I can say this is a very sensitive issue for me.

So if I understand what your’re saying to use your logic, if you stole 40 dollars that’s a mortal sin but if you only stole one it’s not?

Stealing is stealing no matter the quantity! and that my friend, is always a mortal sin.

Unless you have the permission of the copyright holder to use that material for free then it’s stealing.
Someone had to take the time to compose, pay for the equipment to record, the cost of the copyright and distribution. The cost of professional recording equipment is very expensive. Why should a musician be expected to pay 10’s of thousands of dollars to purchase it so people can have their hard work for free?

There are many recording studios going out of business and musicians going into other fields because of the modern satanic myth that music is free. There’s a whole generation that’s being raised believing this deception and don’t think twice about it.

Theft is never, never ok, no matter the quantity.

Sorry if I sound a little acidic, but I know the extremely detrimental impact this particular global sin is having on the recording industry.

Remember it was the theft of one piece of fruit in the garden of Eden
that brought the stain of sin and death to you and I which, because of His mercy necessitated His extreme suffering on the Cross to rescue us. God takes this as serious as it gets, and so should we.

 

[The_Otaku]

This was news to me a few months ago when I read “The Faith Explained” by Fr. Trese. Here’s what he says:

"We cannot measure moral evil with a yardstick - nor compute it with an adding machine. So when someone asks, “How much of a theft does it take to make a mortal sin?” there is no quick and ready answer. We cannot say, “Anything up to $49.99 will be venial sin; from $50.oo up will be a mortal sin”. We can only say in general that the theft of something of small value will be venially sinful; the theft of something of great worth (whether the great worth is relative or absolute) will be a mortal sin. "

This is confusing. If I take 1 song, what’s the value of 1 song, versus what we know is the value of a cd- 12.99+.

If I have enough single songs to equal a full cd track’s worth of songs, then that’s 12.99 per 14 songs or so. Music cds usually have 14 songs. Anime OSTs often have more, but some of the tracks are just background music that lasts like 15 seconds sometimes, and most people aren’t even interested in downloading that anyways, or buying the cd knowing they’re going to get that.

So assuming I have enough songs to equal 3 cds worth of songs (14 songs average), then I have 38.98 worth in downloaded mp3s, assuming each song was worth the same and each cd had about 14 songs and each cd costed 12.99.

I know I created this thread, but I think it’s a slippery slope to start putting a price tag on sin. If what you’re saying is true, and what this priest is saying is true, then I may very well just be committing venial sins. Of course that’s what I want to hear, admittedly, but it just complicates this issue since one could always say “I’ll just download to a limit that I feel is just under mortal sin”. I see a whole lot of problems coming about because of this mainly because of how presumptuous it is.

 

[Pray4Life]

Stealing is stealing no matter the quantity! and that my friend, is always a mortal sin.

I agree with you completely that stealing is stealing, whether it is a paperclip from work or your neighbor’s car, and it is always wrong.

However, you are just plain wrong that it is always a mortal sin. I have never seen anywhere that all theft automatically qualifies as grave matter. Common sense dictates that the paperclip is a venial matter. God is not sending anyone to hell over the unlawful absconding of a paperclip or a child filching a cookie before dinner. Let’s be reasonable here.

The other thing to consider is that we simply cannot call other people’s sins mortal. We can objectively classify grave sin, but we cannot say it meets all the necessary conditions for mortal sin (such as full knowledge) unless the person who sinned tells us as much. Otherwise, it is between them, God, and hopefully their confessor.

The Otaku,

This music matter is in some ways very simple.

1. Downloading an illegal copy of a song is a sin.
   a) It doesn’t matter whether the song is ripped from a game, a TV show, etc. Unless the music is public domain, it is still protected by copyright law (at least in the U.S.) just as much as if it is on a CD and marketed for the purpose.
   b) If you think it might be public domain or distibuted with permission by the artist, check BEFORE you download. If you saw a stack of books on a table but didn’t know whether they were being given away or sold, would you just take one without asking? Do you think it would be a sin if you did?
   c) If you only listen to it for 10 seconds and then delete it, it is STILL a sin because you knowingly “took” something which wasn’t yours. If I took your wallet without your permission but gave it back 5 minutes later, it was still stolen for those 5 minutes even if I never opened it, looked inside, or took anything out of it. Likewise, something that you do not have the right to listen to should not be in your possession, period, even for a “sample” unless it is freely given by the copyright holder for that purpose.
2. It is a sin to keep and/or continue to use copies you know are illegal, even if you downloaded them in all innocence. Once you realize the music is illegal, it has to go.
   a) If you don’t know whether it is or not, then you need to find out before you keep using it. If you can’t find out in spite of your best efforts, chances are good that it isn’t legal. People giving away their music with no qualms do not usually keep it a secret. There will be links on their “official” site if nothing else letting you know where you can find it. But your priest is the best one to consult about what to do concerning this. I definitely would urge you against listening to any questionable copies until you’ve sorted out what is legitimately yours to listen to and/or received direction from your priest.

Regarding venial vs. grave matter, that is a little trickier and I can’t answer you on that one. But remember mortal sin comprises three elements, 1) grave matter, 2) full knowledge, 3) deliberate consent. Even if the act itself is a grave one, you must know you are committing a mortal sin and choose to do so anyway in order to have committed one. Only you can answer that one.

Ultimately it’s irrelevant from a moral standpoint whether you can use your ipod or do what you want to do without the music, you can’t keep using illegal mp3s without sinning, and you can’t in good conscience keep using something when you know there is a good chance is stolen. That’s tough love, brother (or, er, sister )

If you distributed, made, or burned the mp3s, used them without permission in work that you do distribute, etc. those would be separate sins, so far as I know. If it’s not happening, it’s irrelevant.

But I am not a priest and so you have to take my words for what they are worth. You do need to talk to yours, all you have to say is “Father, I have downloaded about 40 songs and I am not sure if they are legal copies. I did not know it was wrong to use them (if this is true) OR I knew it was wrong or might be wrong to use them and did so anyway. (If this is true). I have stopped using them until I know for sure whether they are legal or until you advise me on what to do (this better be true ). What should I do now?”

The Church believes a laborer should have his wages. People who make music, just like people who make anything, deserve to be compensated for their work. It is how they make their livelihood, and not just them but those whose work also goes into recording, writing, marketing, and implementing the use of that music.

Lastly, don’t drive yourself nuts over this. Seriously. Offer up your misery over any impending losses to our Lord (I’m not being facetious, I know you’ll be miserable over it) and trust Him to provide you with what you need for your creative work, in a manner that is pleasing to Him. He wants you to be happy, just not at the expense of other people.

 

[The_Otaku]

Lastly, don’t drive yourself nuts over this. Seriously. Offer up your misery over any impending losses to our Lord (I’m not being facetious, I know you’ll be miserable over it) and trust Him to provide you with what you need for your creative work, in a manner that is pleasing to Him. He wants you to be happy, just not at the expense of other people.

That’s what I do anytime I have to or should give up something even something I have every right to have, be involved with, etc. I give it up to the Lord. And I’ve done this in key areas in my life to the point where it frustrates me and makes me concerned whether I’ll have anything left and any desire to do some of the hobbies I have with these key elements missing. I’m sure God will give me a way to compensate for the losses I’m taking, but until then, I have to admit I’m ALREADY somewhat miserable, and was so before I posted this topic. I knew the answer I was going to get, but I posted it anyway.

As far as this issue goes, I basically have to delete my small collection of mp3s then, and never listen to these songs again either in mp3 form, in a music video, etc., unless it’s legal to listen to it. If I want to listen to a song, I have to buy the cd, and that really sucks, because what if I don’t like the band, their genre or style, but I like that one song. It’s not fair. Having to buy a cd just for a song or two is ridiculous. It’s a waste of money.

But, morally and legally, I have no choice, so I guess I just have to suck it up and not listen to any new music, cause I’m not going to buy a cd for a single song. That’s it. I basically cannot listen to music except on the radio, which I don’t listen to, and tv, which I don’t watch except for wrestling on fridays and the news. =p

When you think about it, that’s sad. But I’m not made of money, and I’m not going to buy twenty dollar cds for a song that would cost less than a dollar. So, no more music for me I guess. Just like no more anime (another moral decision I had to make not long ago). And no, I’m not being facetious or sarcastic.

The only solace I get out of this, is the knowledge that God blesses me more, I become closer to Him, and and He is pleased. And I know this is true because I’ve felt it.

So, in other words, I’ll get over it eventually. It’s just a shame it has to be this way. So much of my creative potential and chance to vent is being lost, hampered, or redirected because of these recent issues, and I’m not sure where I’ll be without my very few creature comforts or whether I’ll have the desire to continue without them. What good is the gift of being an artist if many of my inspirational tools are now gone…

I loved anime and I loved anime music. It was very inspirational and helped get me back into drawing after years of not having much to do with it. I owe the creative talent and focus I have today to anime. People think that’s strange, but I don’t care what those people think. I do actually own anime and anime music and have a small, modest collection, but it’s just too expensive to be buying without having a way of sampling it first. Same with the music. Unless you have the option to rent it, you basically gamble your money away that a series is good, and you’re dropping down usually anywhere from 50-100 for it (the compete series dvd sets or 13-30 for a single dvd volume with only 4-6 episodes on it). I’ve been fortunate to have had a sixth sense for good anime, and I so far haven’t purchased an anime I didn’t like. But I cannot afford to buy anime anymore right now, especially on a gamble that it might be good. And now that I cannot watch anime to preview it because this is illegal and I cannot listen to music because that’s illegal, I’m effectively cut off from the very source that brought me back to art in the first place.

It’s ironic…or is it?

 

[cranster]

However, you are just plain wrong that it is always a mortal sin. I have never seen anywhere that all theft automatically qualifies as grave matter. Common sense dictates that the paperclip is a venial matter. God is not sending anyone to hell over the unlawful absconding of a paperclip or a child filching a cookie before dinner. Let’s be reasonable here.

I am absolutely ok with being corrected if I’m wrong, It’s good to be humbled. After doing some research all I can say it’s not entirely clear.

There are 2 sections of the catechism that I would refer to. CCC 2408 and CCC 1867.

Since defrauding a worker of his wages is a sin that cries out to Heaven for vengeance. I would think that’s pretty serious. Now if one person steals an mp3 of your creation that may have the value of a dollar that probably isn’t going to damage your ability to earn a living. It’s the cumulative effect when most people steal your mp3’s that severely damage your ability to earn a living. That is a sin that cries out to Heaven for vengeance. Who’s culpable in that case?

Justifying sin as in trying to figure out if it’s venial so you can commit it has got to be one of the most slippery slopes there is.
Nothing unclean can stand in the presence of God.

If God is merciful and takes a person in a state of Grace every last stolen cent will be accounted for in purgatory.

 

[Jacob_Fenton]

Content that is obtained from a legal source and used for personal, non-commercial use is legal. This was decided in the Betamax case, which had to do with the rights of people taping TV shows for personal use. Such copying qualifies as fair use under U.S. copyright law. The same principles would apply to content taken from the Internet, provided the content is legal to begin with.

You’ll get differing opinions on this. If you listen to the MPAA, the RIAA, and probably the AAA, they’ll tell you that it’s illegal to copy anything. However, this is their extreme opinion, which thus far has not been supported by case law.

In the end, if you know that the content you’re downloading is pirated from someone who would object to its use - e.g., a bootleg copy of a film currently in theaters, you could be complicit in the crime, even though it’s unlikely you’d ever be prosecuted for it.

You are legally allowed to copy a game’s background music so long as you own the game. In fact, most PC (and some console) games allow the user access the music directly.

As far as television shows go, many sites allow you to download or stream their episodes, such as NBC’s The Office.

Radio recording programs are rather popular and perfectly legal. A Google search would provide you with many links to free programs that will record the radio and even separate and label tracks for you.

(As a side note, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 criminalized DRM removal of any digital products in the United States. Therefor, it is actually unlawful to remove the DRM from nay free trial music software nor your own iTunes music. Don’t get mad at me. I didn’t make the act.)

Hope that helps.

 

[The_Otaku]

Content that is obtained from a legal source and used for personal, non-commercial use is legal. This was decided in the Betamax case, which had to do with the rights of people taping TV shows for personal use. Such copying qualifies as fair use under U.S. copyright law. The same principles would apply to content taken from the Internet, provided the content is legal to begin with.

You’ll get differing opinions on this. If you listen to the MPAA, the RIAA, and probably the AAA, they’ll tell you that it’s illegal to copy anything. However, this is their extreme opinion, which thus far has not been supported by case law.

In the end, if you know that the content you’re downloading is pirated from someone who would object to its use - e.g., a bootleg copy of a film currently in theaters, you could be complicit in the crime, even though it’s unlikely you’d ever be prosecuted for it.

You are legally allowed to copy a game’s background music so long as you own the game. In fact, most PC (and some console) games allow the user access the music directly.

As far as television shows go, many sites allow you to download or stream their episodes, such as NBC’s The Office.

Radio recording programs are rather popular and perfectly legal. A Google search would provide you with many links to free programs that will record the radio and even separate and label tracks for you.

(As a side note, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 criminalized DRM removal of any digital products in the United States. Therefor, it is actually unlawful to remove the DRM from nay free trial music software nor your own iTunes music. Don’t get mad at me. I didn’t make the act.)

Hope that helps.

Honestly, it doesn’t help me at all, but it does make me aware of how convoluted and multifaceted the subject is. I don’t want you to think I don’t appreciate your imput, help or post, I do. So thank you.

 

[Jacob_Fenton]

Oh, well okay. How about this; Neil brings up a good point and one that I personally love.

This was news to me a few months ago when I read “The Faith Explained” by Fr. Trese. Here’s what he says:

"We cannot measure moral evil with a yardstick - nor compute it with an adding machine. So when someone asks, “How much of a theft does it take to make a mortal sin?” there is no quick and ready answer. We cannot say, “Anything up to $49.99 will be venial sin; from $50.oo up will be a mortal sin”. We can only say in general that the theft of something of small value will be venially sinful; the theft of something of great worth (whether the great worth is relative or absolute) will be a mortal sin. "

James 4:17 says “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him is sin.” If you feel that you have done wrong and need to go to Confession over this music issue, do so. Don’t give a second thought to it. Get your Priest’s opinion on the actions and commit yourself to lawfully obtaining it in the future.

The Church teaches, and it’s written the Scripture that “everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities” (Rom 13:1-3) because “the authorities that exist have been established by God”. Therefor if you “do what is right… he will commend you.”

Thats about the best (name removed by moderator)ut I can give. Haha, hope that helps.

 

[Greg27]

If you deliberately steal by downloading these in a manner that violates copyright law, then you may be committing serious sin in the eyes of Catholic moral theology.

 

[The_Otaku]

If you deliberately steal by downloading these in a manner that violates copyright law, then you may be committing serious sin in the eyes of Catholic moral theology.

“Then you may be” is the magic phrase. Which frustrates the phrases “deliberately steal” and “in a manner”, and “in the eyes of”.

If one cannot give a straight out answer even when words like deliberately and violate are key words in describing the action, it makes people scratch their heads. I can see where a priest is needed for this, and even then I wonder if some priests wouldn’t be scratching their heads as well. If many priests are divided on issues of masturbation, surely they’re as divided, if not more so, on mp3 downloads. This is sad, because it’s the priests you go to to clear these matters of conscience up, and sometimes they’re wayward themselves, aren’t playing it by the book, or are being highly interpretive themselves.

It’s for reasons like this I’m glad to have conservative priests at my parish. I’d rather have a priest who will tell me what I’m doing wrong than what I don’t have to worry about. Because their advice is definitive instruction, whereas a more liberal take would be interpretive and up to you, the sinner. And what good is that.