Is it illegal to take music you got from a CD at a public library?
I can't even guess how much music I've put on my iPod that came from CDs I got at the library. I actually work there, so I see a lot of the good albums as they come in. I'm going to continue doing so...but I'm just wondering if it's...you know...against the law.
Answers:
Yes, it is illegal. If you look at the CD insert, it says right on it that you can't copy it. If you buy it, you can copy it to your computer because you paid for the right to do that, but you're not supposed to take CDs someone else bought and download them.
However, everyone does it and there's no way anyone could ever find out that you do it if you are using your music library privately. I also work at a library and I used to get pissed off when people would openly tell me they copy the CDs they check out from the library but now I don't care just as long as they don't STEAL THEM!
Yeah, it technically is because you don't own the CD. It would be legal to copy it to your iPod and listen to it as long as the CD is in your possession.
Technically, it's the copying that's illegal. It doesn't matter where it's from, so yes, but no one's going to prosecute you. For example, companies will buy one copy of software for an entire department, and just copy it onto all the computers. This is a no no - you're supposed to buy a copy for each computer. But no one's going to prosecute or anything.
Technically it seems that it would be. You are not paying for them and you are re-recording them which would violate federal law. Now if you were just listening to them it would be okay. But you are infringing on copyright laws and defrauded the record/cd/ music companies out of millions. well maybe not millions, but you and all your friends put together are.
May be... may be not... Some musicians give the listener the permission to copy their music tracts. For example, you CAN copy any song from Bare-naked Ladies because this bad has given permission after wining a court battle with their rival copyrighters to let the listeners to copy, store and distribute without a fee.
This is totally opposite in other bands. So, it depends… If you copy something that says “Copyrighted to” or “All Rights Reserved” or “Copyrighted by”, then you are violating the law. I am in Canada and some Canadian musicians let us copy anything we want even in the middle of a street in front of police men because the iPod that the policemen use also has the same songs that I am copying… :)
It is illegal in a sense you didn't buy the music. And it is not illegal as long as it goes no further than that. If you were selling it then you would be heading down the wrong side of the street for sure.
It is best to keep what you do to yourself.
Technically you can only copy material you have purchased...and then only for personal backup.
Copying rented/borrowed items is technically illegal, but is rarely (if ever) prosecuted unless you are distributing, broadcasting, or selling them.
So the straight answer to your question is "Yes. It is illegal". But I would not worry about repercussions if you are only copying for personal use as you have described.
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