Songs that illegally sample music

[Shinywooper]

Hi, I just had a question/topic for discussion I’d like to see everyone’s opinions. So there is this type of music I used to listen to. I used to listen to it, but I found that most of the time people that created this music would download samples of music from YouTube illegally(edit: I’d thought I’d like to mention that since they typically do download it off of YouTube they don’t ask for permission from the original artists for the samples) and make remixes of it. I don’t know if they made money off of it because they would just post it to the internet (I know sometimes they would sell it, but I wouldn’t buy it).I was just wondering would it be a sin for one to listen to this music since the creators make it illegally? I think so, but I’d just like some other opinions. Thanks

 

[Shinywooper]

I see where you’re coming from. however couldn’t you argue that you’re supporting their theft since the whole genre of the remixing is taking samples?

 

[pnewton]

Just to be clear, you are speaking only of civil law, not criminal. What you are describing is not illegal unless defined by the courts to be illegal. If you believe it to be theft, then it would be sinful, but only for you and those that see it as theft. I am fairly confident YouTube operates within the bounds of copyright law though. If there is not theft, then there is no support of theft.

 

[chercheur]

I think such strictness in applications of copyright law gets a bit silly, especially when it’s extended outside of legal contexts. The basic Christian principles regarding property rights don’t necessarily align with what the law says – and in any case you are not doing anything illegal, in any region I know of anyway.