Quote:
Originally Posted by evil nickname
The thing is that when you buy a CD, all you buy is the plastic thingy, and a license to play the music it contains. You don't actually *buy* the music, just the right to play it. Same with mp3s from Amazon, iTunes, etc.
And that's where it—imo, ianal—gets tricky:
One could argue that since you pay a license, you're free to do whatever you want with the container.
On the other hand, you could argue that since you sell the CD, you no longer have the license to play it's content.
I don't know. |
My understanding is - at least in the USA- under fair use if you own the physical copy legally you have the right to make backup copies for your own use (ipods, etc.). Who is going to buy a physical CD then turn around and buy it again from itunes for your ipod when you own a copy legally? The day you made the copy for your ipod you were the owner. If later you decide to sell it then you are selling the physical copy of an item you own legally so that should not be an issue. You are not selling the song on your MP3 player that you made legally. I think it was Garth Brooks who started all this when stores started selling used CD's before there was ebay. A physical CD is personal property and can be sold. I think what is more of an issue is one person buys a CD and loans it to friends to rip to their ipods or computers. If the friend likes the songs he keeps them, if not he deletes them, but he never paid for a copy.