Music and copyrights

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JSSebastianoP

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I hope I’m asking this in the right place…

I like music. So I borrowed a CD from my library.
When I put the CD in my computer, I uploaded the music. Is it a sin to keep the music on my computer and listen to it even after the CD has been returned to the library - or am I being overly scrupulous (I tend to be)?

Thanks in advance.

Pax.
 
Read up on copyright law. Think about what you are doing.
 
Oh my goodness, I do this all the time. When get an audio book from somewhere, I’ll immediately copy it before I return it, because often enough I won’t have enough time to use it before the return date. As long as you’re aren’t selling it, I wouldn’t worry.
 
You’re not selling it or depriving anyone of something they need. I doubt it is an issue. If it is a sin it would most likely be venial due to the minimal gravity.
 
I do the same thing. :whistle:

The library must assume that people do this…
 
You always have to ask yourself your intention for doing it. Is this free copy being made because I can own something for nothing?

Peace,
Ed
 
edwest2 said:
You always have to ask yourself your intention for doing it. Is this free copy being made because I can own something for nothing?
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Yes, but owning something for nothing is also my intention in taking advantage of “buy one get one free” sales and clipping coupons for free merchandise.
 
I really don’t see why it’s morally wrong to make a copy of a music file.
 
Well, think about it. Most people know that downloading music from torrents, etc. is usually illegal. That’s because it’s stealing. The musicians who made this music expect to be paid for their service of providing it. So I am pretty sure that copying music from CDs you got at the library is stealing, and therefore a sin. I’m not sure whether it’s mortal or venial though.
 
Alex246 said:
Well, think about it. Most people know that downloading music from torrents, etc. is usually illegal. That’s because it’s stealing. The musicians who made this music expect to be paid for their service of providing it. So I am pretty sure that copying music from CDs you got at the library is stealing, and therefore a sin. I’m not sure whether it’s mortal or venial though.
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It’s not really “stealing”, though. Stealing involves taking property from another person, but copying music is just making a copy, while the original is kept.
 
Thanks to everyone who replied. 🙂
When I went to the Church yesterday, I asked one of the priests about this. I think he said it was not a sin, but I have trouble understanding his thick accent. So I’ll ask one of the other priests next time I have a chance.

Pax.
 
Alex246 said:
Well, think about it. Most people know that downloading music from torrents, etc. is usually illegal. That’s because it’s stealing. The musicians who made this music expect to be paid for their service of providing it. So I am pretty sure that copying music from CDs you got at the library is stealing, and therefore a sin. I’m not sure whether it’s mortal or venial though.
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Yeah I have to add. In this case it is not stealing, since no one is deprived of property that is rightfully theirs. It is “denying a worker his due wages.” Still wrong, but not stealing.

In the case of the OPs issue, I’d say it’s the same as the response I got about copying netflix movies. The library usually buys the books and CDs it lends out. If you want to listen to the music, you take the CD out. And yes, you can keep it for as long as your want through the renewal system, but if someone else wants it, the demand goes up, and the library will need to buy another copy, therefore paying the artist for his music. You can keep the copied files for as long as the CD is in your posession though. I would say that IF this was a sin, it would barely qualify as venial.

When it comes to music, I seriously plug iTunes and amazon music. For a minimal fee you can download songs. There are also services where you pay a monthly sunscription fee and you can download an unlimited number of songs. I have recently made the move to legit music, games and movies (yes, I was a bad, bad teen!) and it just seems as though the music sounds sweeter when you pay for it! 🙂
 
Whitacre_Girl said:
When it comes to music, I seriously plug iTunes and amazon music. For a minimal fee you can download songs. There are also services where you pay a monthly sunscription fee and you can download an unlimited number of songs. I have recently made the move to legit music, games and movies (yes, I was a bad, bad teen!) and it just seems as though the music sounds sweeter when you pay for it! 🙂
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That’s where I’m coming from. I used to get everything “free” so I got rid of all that and decided to go legit and I figured borrowing from the library wouldn’t be bad but then I got this “little ethical problem” on my hands… :rolleyes:

Pax.
 
passus said:
Yes, but owning something for nothing is also my intention in taking advantage of “buy one get one free” sales and clipping coupons for free merchandise.
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Hey, wake up. As someone who works in the media and who knows copyright law, stealing means stealing. It doesn’t matter if it’s just digital bits.

Peace,
Ed
 
Shredderbeam said:
It’s not really “stealing”, though. Stealing involves taking property from another person, but copying music is just making a copy, while the original is kept.
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Incorrect. Making a copy of digital bits is stealing tangible property. If you have no permission, don’t do it. And ‘file sharing’ of copyright works is the new phrase for stealing.

Peace,
Ed
 
edwest2 said:
Hey, wake up. As someone who works in the media and who knows copyright law, stealing means stealing. It doesn’t matter if it’s just digital bits.

Peace,
Ed
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So Ed, you know copyright law? Could I ask you a slightly related question? What are the legal ramifications of something like youtube? (something else I used to do all the time and just quit) I’ve looked on the internet but everyone says “ask someone who knows copyright law”…🤷 And if a friend is listening to something on youtube and I hear/see some of it, am I an accomplice in the sin or a witness? :confused:

And I do have one question on word usage: is “copying” the same as “stealing”? For example if I like something an author wrote and I write, say, a paragraph down on a piece of paper is that stealing? Please don’t think I’m being ridiculous when I ask this. I am earnestly asking for help and sometimes I’m a bit overscrupulous… 😊

And by the way, thank you for your answers. 🙂

Pax.
 
And would it be wrong to copy the files to my computer while I have the item from the library and delete them before I give it back or is that still stealing?

Pax.
 
JSSebastianoP said:
And would it be wrong to copy the files to my computer while I have the item from the library and delete them before I give it back or is that still stealing?

Pax.
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It may or may not be against copyright law to do that (I doubt that particular point has been cleared up in court) - but that would not be sinful since you’re making a copy for archival purposes, that is, as long as you are not lending it out to friends yourself in the meantime. Furthermore, even if it were against the law, they would neither find out nor care (most likely) on a sole 1:1 basis. But to stay within the moral law, just make sure you really delete them as soon as you return the disc to the library. Or if you’ve forgotten, as soon as you remember.
 
bbentrup said:
It may or may not be against copyright law to do that (I doubt that particular point has been cleared up in court) - but that would not be sinful since you’re making a copy for archival purposes, that is, as long as you are not lending it out to friends yourself in the meantime. Furthermore, even if it were against the law, they would neither find out nor care (most likely) on a sole 1:1 basis. But to stay within the moral law, just make sure you really delete them as soon as you return the disc to the library. Or if you’ve forgotten, as soon as you remember.
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The problem is, though, if it is illegal, then it’s a sin (in this case). But I get your drift.

Pax.
 
JSSebastianoP said:
And would it be wrong to copy the files to my computer while I have the item from the library and delete them before I give it back or is that still stealing?

Pax.
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No. I believe the law regarding copying digital information is that it is allowed so long as you have the original in your posession. This got really big when game emulators came out on the internet. You were allowed to download and keep emulators on your computer so long as you had the original cartridge or CD in your posession. Same applies to that. You have to delete the files when you return the CD though.

A think this also works for CDs you own. For example, I bought a “Ten Shekel Shirt” CD some years ago and I loved it! I backed it up on my computer, and over time the CD got so scratched up I couldn’t listen to it anymore. I still have that CD in my envelope on my desk, even though I can’t access it, but I keep the digital files on my computer as the backup.
 
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