Downloading

[Shanker]

Hmmm, very complex issue obviously. I suspect most people here rip their CD's to play on their iPods rather than pay again for downloaded digital version. That seems perfectly reasonable, but I don't know the legalities on this. In the early days of digital music it was frowned on pretty heavily I think, to the point where CD manufacturers came up with half-baked encryption schemes that frequently rendered them useless on normal CD players. With a small hardware investment you can also rip your records and cassettes. But it may just be more convenient to download from someone who's already done it. Either way the end result is the same. Does it follow that if you own an LP record you should have to pay again to get a digital version, but if you own a CD you don't?

On the other hand most of us here will have bought more than one version of the same thing (I'm on my fourth copy of BSD having bought the LP, the cassette, a CD and the re-issue). And having at least some degree of conscience, if I download an album I like (not that I'm doing it all the time) I will often go out and buy it (if I can. Availability, or lack of it, is one motivator to download music).

I've often speculated as to whether labels should release lo-fi versions of their music for free, but then value add on the actual product (quality booklet, free DVD, extra tracks etc..). The theory being if you really like something you would be compelled to buy it anyway.

[Stupy]

Hi,

Australian copyright arrangements can be found at:

http://www.copyright.org.au/g070.pdf

Briefly, it's legal to make copies of stuff you own for your own use. This has only been the case since late 2006 (which is crazy, it should have always been the way it is now).

Some bits I still think are a bit stupid, and I think technically downloading a digital version of something you have on vinyl might still be considered naughty.

Agree with shanker on low quality versions, perhaps like lower quality streaming audio as can be found on MySpace or similar. The main impact of continual increased enforcement of copyright law on the Internet is that I hear less music and buy less music *shrugs*

[Bro]

Now THIS is interesting! Floyd (Pink, that is) have won a court case vs EMI, meaning that their old albums can't be sold digitally on a song by song basis. You have to buy and download the whole album. Great! Love it! Viva the album! I am an old fart!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/mar/12/pink-floyd-emi

"Basically, EMI wanted to make their classic concept albums available to download as individual songs. The band, however, prefer their albums to be downloaded as they were made: in their entirety, as complete musical works. And the judge agreed with Floyd."