What to do with a favorite old bootleg tape?

[nesguy]

I have a bit of a quandry, and before I start, I do intend to discuss this with my priest at confession this weekend.

Ten or twelve years ago, while attending a science-fiction convention, I bought several bootleg VHS tapes. Of those, one of them is the Star Wars Holiday Special. The Special was aired a single time in 1978. It has never been seen since in any official capacity until a year or so ago, when a small cartoon that aired as part of the special was included on the Blu-ray release of Star Wars: The Complete Saga. Over the last decade, I have delighted (and horrified) friends and family by having them sit down and watch the show with me. Personally speaking, I thoroughly enjoy the Special.

I became a Catholic a little less than two years ago. In the time since, I’ve had many changes in action and deed, but I’m a bit stuck on this particular dilemma. The bootleg is just that. It’s unlicensed, and somebody aside from the copyright owner made money when I bought it at that convention a decade ago.

Now, I’m not really sure I need to confess the buying a bootleg tape 10 years ago, especially since I wasn’t Catholic then, nor did I understand it to be a grave matter of stealing. I knew it was wrong to some extent, but I don’t feel I had full knowledge of what I was doing to be inherently sinful. However, I still have that tape sitting somewhere in my folks’ basement, and I’m wondering if I should throw it out. Given that George Lucas has said if he had time and a hammer, he’d hunt down and smash every bootleg copy out there because he thought the Special was so horribly done, I know his feelings on it (or of a legit copy ever seeing the light of day). I haven’t been able to bring myself to get rid of it, and frankly, given how long ago I bought and, I’m wondering if it even matters if I do.

Thoughts?

 

[Veronica97]

I’ve been in a similar situation. In my case, a relative had given me maybe 20 copies of music cds that he had made from cds he had bought for himself. This was before I experienced a reversion a year and a half ago. I discussed this with a priest in confession and he said that he thought it would be a venial sin to keep the cds, and when I told him I would just throw them out, he said I was making a good decision. So I did. If I were you, I’d throw out the VHS and simply confess it the next time you go to confession. As you said it was likely not a mortal sin as you were not Catholic at the time and didn’t have full knowledge. But I’d still throw it away and confess it (at your next regular confession) because you’re showing God that you really want to do His Will now.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

I would not even consider destroying the video, I would save it for historical purposes. It is no sin to possess such a video of a broadcast TV special. It would only be wrong to sell copies. Send Lucas a few dollars if you are so scrupulous.

 

[Edmundus1581]

…
As you said it was likely not a mortal sin as you were not Catholic at the time and didn’t have full knowledge.

Except, there is no way that this is grave matter, so knowledge or consent don’t even need to be considered.

Therefore, no need to confess it, and better not to, but if you really want to get it off your chest then go ahead for your own benefit. It is sometimes helpful to bring things up in confession just for the psychological release or guidance.

But I’d still throw it away -]and confess it (at your next regular confession)/-] because you’re showing God that you really want to do His Will now.

Plus, you are not really losing anything. You’ll probably find that you don’t miss it anyway.

I recall our conversation about those copied CD’s

I would not even consider destroying the video, I would save it for historical purposes. It is no sin to possess such a video of a broadcast TV special. It would only be wrong to sell copies. Send Lucas a few dollars if you are so scrupulous.

Yeh… whatever the OP decides, he doesn’t need to stress about this. Lucas’ comment seems to be more a reference to the quality of the show, than any material loss from the copies.

Even sit on the issue for a few months. The movie is in your parents basement, so you don’t even need to do anything to keep it out of use while you think about it.

 

[Veronica97]

Except, there is no way that this is grave matter, so knowledge or consent don’t even need to be considered.

The Examination of Conscience that I have, written by Father Robert Altier, lists “violating copyrights” as grave matter. That was what I was going on. Perhaps it refers to making copies and selling them?

 

[Edmundus1581]

The Examination of Conscience that I have, written by Father Robert Altier, lists “violating copyrights” as grave matter. That was what I was going on. Perhaps it refers to making copies and selling them?

I can’t find this on-line - it seems to be only available in print. It does seem to be a good reference, however. Do you have the exact quote, in context? Then we would be able to tell whether violation of copyright is always grave matter, or only sometimes, depending on circumstances. I can’t believe it is always grave matter. Your suggestion that it is more likely to be grave matter for the producer than the purchaser seems reasonable.

And posting an extract here would definitely be “fair use”

 

[Veronica97]

Well, wouldn’t you know? I tried to google the Examination of Conscience, so I could give you a link, and the website that I landed on said, “PLEASE NOTE: This Examination of Conscience by Fr. Robert Altier has a copyright. If you would like a copy of the booklet (cost is $1.25 & includes additional prayers) please contact: Leaflet Missal Co. - Publishers and Sellers of Religious Goods Since 1929. Leaflet Missal Company” Since I printed this Examination of Conscience from another website over a year ago (and didn’t know it was copyrighted), I guess I’m in violation of copyright laws myself. I’ve linked to it in some of my other CAF posts too! (Not panicking–I know it was without “full knowledge”). Anyway, it’s an Examination of Conscience that lists grave matter under each commandment, and then venial matter under each commandment. And all it says is “violating copyrights” under grave matter for the 7th commandment. Sooo…that’s pretty vague. And now looks like I need to order a copy and destroy the copy I have.

 

[Edmundus1581]

Well, wouldn’t you know? I tried to google the Examination of Conscience, so I could give you a link, and the website that I landed on said, “PLEASE NOTE: This Examination of Conscience by Fr. Robert Altier has a copyright. If you would like a copy of the booklet (cost is $1.25 & includes additional prayers) please contact: Leaflet Missal Co. - Publishers and Sellers of Religious Goods Since 1929. Leaflet Missal Company” Since I printed this Examination of Conscience from another website over a year ago (and didn’t know it was copyrighted), I guess I’m in violation of copyright laws myself. I’ve linked to it in some of my other CAF posts too! (Not panicking–I know it was without “full knowledge”). Anyway, it’s an Examination of Conscience that lists grave matter under each commandment, and then venial matter under each commandment. And all it says is “violating copyrights” under grave matter for the 7th commandment. Sooo…that’s pretty vague. And now looks like I need to order a copy and destroy the copy I have.

I hope you don’t mind, but…



!!!



That’s hilarious! One of the funniest stories I’ve heard in CAF!

Seriously, I agree with your decision to destroy the copy you have (without urgency) but don’t feel obliged to purchase one as restitution, unless you particularly want to keep it. And, when I found it in google I noticed that it did look like a good publication so it may well be worth your money.

Yes, violation of copyright is a form of stealing, which is a violation of the 7th commandment, but violations of that commandment are only grave matter according to kind and degree. Stealing a pen from work will never be grave matter. Stealing a new Mercedes-Benz will always be grave matter. And stealing $100 is somewhere in between (unless it were from a beggar).

The CCC in The Seventh Commandment specifically lists several kinds of stealing as “grave matter” (eg. depriving the worker of his wages). Hence we can infer that other violations are not necessarily grave matter.

IN the past Catholic churches have been notorious violators of copyright in projecting hymns on overheards.

I feel we’ve had this conversation before

 

[Veronica97]

I hope you don’t mind, but…



!!!



That’s hilarious! One of the funniest stories I’ve heard in CAF!

Seriously, I agree with your decision to destroy the copy you have (without urgency) but don’t feel obliged to purchase one as restitution, unless you particularly want to keep it. And, when I found it in google I noticed that it did look like a good publication so it may well be worth your money.

Yes, violation of copyright is a form of stealing, which is a violation of the 7th commandment, but violations of that commandment are only grave matter according to kind and degree. Stealing a pen from work will never be grave matter. Stealing a new Mercedes-Benz will always be grave matter. And stealing $100 is somewhere in between.

The CCC in The Seventh Commandment specifically lists several items as “grave matter” (eg. depriving the worker of his wages). Hence we can infer that other violations are not necessarily grave matter.

It is well known that Catholic churches have been notorious violators of copyright in projecting hymns on overheards.

I feel we’ve had this conversation before

I don’t mind you laughing…I might not have thought it was funny a couple of weeks ago but my scruples are getting better, thanks in part to my friend St. Jude! It says right at the bottom of the E of C “by Father Robert Altier” with a copyright symbol. I must have looked at it 100 times and not even thought about it. Duh! Anyway, I’m going to order one anyway because I really like it and use it every time I go to Confession. (I also revived a couple of old posts to let people know I linked to a copyrighted E of C. I am still scrupulous, after all. )