Recording songs from the radio?

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djd83

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Hello again.

So, I was wondering if there is anything morally wrong with recording songs from FM radio, and storing them as MP3s like any other song. I saw previous threads where the respondents all stated there was nothing wrong with it; I went to websites where multiple lawyers said it was okay. It’s akin to recording a TV program with a VCR; that was proved legal in a Supreme Court case, I believe. I just like to know why this is morally okay.

Is it because radio stations pay to play the songs? Is it because of the commercials? I have several of these songs in my collection, and now I’m getting kind of worried that it’s a mortal sin to have them. I do tend to be very scrupulous, though.
 
When I was in high school, I used to record tons of music of the radio on cassette tapes. As long as you don’t distribute the recordings, I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. Music was one of my passions, and at one time, I had over 100 cassette tapes full of music mostly from the radio.
 
djd83 said:
I’m getting kind of worried that it’s a mortal sin to have them. I do tend to be very scrupulous, though.
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Even if it weren’t ok, it’s most likely not mortal, but you are right, your perception is very scupulous…making recordings of what you have purchased into other formats for your personal enjoyment is ok. Just don’t start selling it…😉
If I were you, I would be more concerned with getting help for dealing with scrupulosity than what’s on your mp3 player…👍
 
The Supreme Court ruled that it was okay to record from broadcast TV and radio signals, because they come into your home, unbidden, for free. My late father was very much interested in the outcome of the case, as he had been recording from TV and radio broadcasts from the early 1960s (I used to help him).

It was, and probably still is, illegal to reproduce those recordings in order to sell them, or to play them for a paying audience.

However, I have no idea what the ruling would be now days, as almost everyone (except me and a few others) get their TV and radio via cable or satellite.

Hope this helps.
 
djd83 said:
Hello again.

So, I was wondering if there is anything morally wrong with recording songs from FM radio, and storing them as MP3s like any other song. I saw previous threads where the respondents all stated there was nothing wrong with it; I went to websites where multiple lawyers said it was okay. It’s akin to recording a TV program with a VCR; that was proved legal in a Supreme Court case, I believe. I just like to know why this is morally okay.

Is it because radio stations pay to play the songs? Is it because of the commercials? I have several of these songs in my collection, and now I’m getting kind of worried that it’s a mortal sin to have them. I do tend to be very scrupulous, though.
Click to expand...
The morality of this issue is tied specifically to following the just civil laws of the state. If the state deemed that this activity does not violate applicable copyright laws, then doing this would be fine. If you want the reasons, read the Supreme Court case.

Was this really a Supreme Court case? I totally missed it. If anyone has info on it, let me know. I’d be interested in reading more about it. (Not that I’m hankering to record songs off the radio…I haven’t intentionally listened to the radio since 1994. I just like learning about these things. :)).
 
Joe_5859 said:
The morality of this issue is tied specifically to following the just civil laws of the state. If the state deemed that this activity does not violate applicable copyright laws, then doing this would be fine. If you want the reasons, read the Supreme Court case.

Was this really a Supreme Court case? I totally missed it. If anyone has info on it, let me know. I’d be interested in reading more about it. (Not that I’m hankering to record songs off the radio…I haven’t intentionally listened to the radio since 1994. I just like learning about these things. :)).
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Yes it was a Supreme Court Case in about 1984. We had just bought a VCR for the first time when this came before the court. Would it be legal to record off of t.v.? Blank tapes at that time cost $20. The court ruled it legal. I don’t think it limited it to over the air.

[Supreme Court OKs Use of Video Recorders in Homes

](http://eightiesclub.tripod.com/id408.htm)
The ruling as I understand was based on the fact that video recording was not mentioned in the copyright law and the court said it wasn’t their job to apply a law that wasn’t written.
 
adrift said:
Yes it was a Supreme Court Case in about 1984. We had just bought a VCR for the first time when this came before the court. Would it be legal to record off of t.v.? Blank tapes at that time cost $20. The court ruled it legal. I don’t think it limited it to over the air.

[Supreme Court OKs Use of Video Recorders in Homes

](http://eightiesclub.tripod.com/id408.htm)
The ruling as I understand was based on the fact that video recording was not mentioned in the copyright law and the court said it wasn’t their job to apply a law that wasn’t written.
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Ah, okay, so this is an older decision. I thought perhaps it was something new. Has the law changed at all in this regard in the past 30 years?
 
Joe_5859 said:
Ah, okay, so this is an older decision. I thought perhaps it was something new. Has the law changed at all in this regard in the past 30 years?
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Not that I have ever heard. It wouldn’t need to either. VCR’s are practically extinct. The DVD recorders are a joke. That leaves DVR now I haven’t seen one but from what I have heard you can’t make copies. Basically the industry phased out their problem.
 
adrift said:
Not that I have ever heard. It wouldn’t need to either. VCR’s are practically extinct. The DVD recorders are a joke. That leaves DVR now I haven’t seen one but from what I have heard you can’t make copies. Basically the industry phased out their problem.
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My DVR is also a DVD recorder with an internal hard drive. But I notice the model has been discontinued and I can’t seem to find anything like it anymore. You’re right, they are phasing it out! :eek:
 
h(name removed by moderator)forlife said:
Even if it weren’t ok, it’s most likely not mortal, but you are right, your perception is very scupulous…making recordings of what you have purchased into other formats for your personal enjoyment is ok. Just don’t start selling it…😉
If I were you, I would be more concerned with getting help for dealing with scrupulosity than what’s on your mp3 player…👍
Click to expand...
Well… I haven’t purchased them 😊 … Tis songs that are broadcasted over FM Radio.

And yes, I do need help with scrupulosity. Unfortunately, I am at my home parish for the summer, and it does not have a regular priest, so no regular confessor for me. Also, the priest who instructed me for RCIA at my college parish has moved on to a new location in a convent, so I’ll be meeting a new priest in the fall, and he’s only signed up for one year (so far) : /
 
exoflare said:
Why wouldn’t it be? The burden of proof rests upon someone who claims it’s not.
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It seems almost like stealing. But everybody seems okay with it, and I’m trying to figure out if my scupulosity is what is making it seem wrong for me…
 
MrsFlapjack said:
When I was in high school, I used to record tons of music of the radio on cassette tapes. As long as you don’t distribute the recordings, I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. Music was one of my passions, and at one time, I had over 100 cassette tapes full of music mostly from the radio.
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As did I and all of my siblings growing up in the 80’ s.
 
djd83 said:
It seems almost like stealing. But everybody seems okay with it, and I’m trying to figure out if my scupulosity is what is making it seem wrong for me…
Click to expand...
It isn’t stealing. How can you steal air? The only reason it would be stealing is copyright which is granted by the state. The state has said it is not illegal. It is within their powers to say so. Donal Trump wanted to copyright “you’re fired”. If he had gotten the copyright, then it would have been stealing to use it. But the state said he couldn’t copyright it so you can use it. Joe 5859 stated the case clearly
emphasis is mine.
**The morality **of this issue is tied specifically to following the just civil laws of the state. If the state deemed that this activity does not violate applicable copyright laws, then doing this would be fine.
Click to expand...
 
adrift said:
It isn’t stealing. How can you steal air? The only reason it would be stealing is copyright which is granted by the state. The state has said it is not illegal. It is within their powers to say so. Donal Trump wanted to copyright “you’re fired”. If he had gotten the copyright, then it would have been stealing to use it. But the state said he couldn’t copyright it so you can use it. Joe 5859 stated the case clearly
emphasis is mine.
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I guess that answers my question 🙂

I just wasn’t sure if the Betamax (TV recording) case should rightfully apply in this situation, but most of the evidence seems to be that it does.

Thanks to all for replying!
 
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