Is It Legal To Download That Free Music Video?
Piracy in the music industry, was at one time limited to such things as “knock-off” copies of albums, and cassettes. But now, with the music business struggling against the costs of producing CDs and music videos, the concern is that people who are downloading free music videos, are in effect stealing copyrighted materials, that impact the income of the producing companies and artists.
Everyone remembers the huge legal case involving the MP3 downloads and Napster, in the late 1990s. That battle has moved on to music videos, with the focus at various times being centered around software owners/distributors like Streamcast and Kazaa. However, legal decisions in their favor, handed the music industry some severe setbacks over the last three years.
In the U.S., a case against Streamcast was dismissed, because the judge cited a comparison to trying to convict the manufacturers of VCRs, for people copying movies to which they did not have any rights. In effect, the courts were saying that they can make and distribute software for using to dowload free music videos, but cannot be blamed if what is downloaded by the end user, was copyrighted material.
Consequently, these software companies have flourished, and it is now possible, if not always legal, to download all the free music videos you want. But how do you know if you’re infringing a copyright? Some “pirated” copies will have had copyright marks removed, and it would be impossible to tell. Other sites will post a notice that the music video you are about to download, has been copyrighted by Creative Commons, a non-profit, broad range copyright office, that permits downloads under limited copyrights.
When in doubt about your download, check first. Commercially successful sites would not be doing so well, if they were providing illegal copies of music video files. If the site is unknown to you, and appears to be unorganized or unprofessionally designed and run, you may want to think twice before accessing it.
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