Free music?

firsttimebuyers_2

I've downloaded a new Android app called 'MP3 Ringtone Maker' which seems to allow you to download real songs for free. Is anyone familiar with this app? Is it safe and legal to use? Free music sounds pretty good to me!!!!!!

JJ_Egan

Safe probably as its on the market .
Legal to download a full track highly unlikely unless the company has massive payments to all copyright holders .
AS the official page does not exists i would guess its just a tool to create ringtones .

I will try it and see what it does as i am unlikely to ever need to download any illegal music .

jje

jennyfive

What kind of "real" songs? If they're ones that are otherwise available for sale, it's probably illegal. Unless it's ones that are out of copyright or creative commons (which is unlikely, here).

I've seen dodgy apps on the market which eventually get taken down, can just take a little while sometimes.

In most cases, free music isn't actually "free". Especially if there's advertising involved, someone is probably making money from it and it's RARELY the artist who did the work. This is why I buy my music from legitimate sources and also avoid Spotify, which screw over artists but gets away with it because they're in bed with the major labels.

firsttimebuyers_2

I've tried it and it does allow you to download whole tracks, free. I'm surprised illegal download sites are marketed on Android Market. Like you, I have no need to download illegal music, but would find this app useful if it is legal - like many people would I guess....

firsttimebuyers_2

Sounds like the site is illegal then, and to be avoided!

JJ_Egan

Yes you can download a full track .
The track i downloaded is still under copy-rite and therefore its illegal
.

jje

firsttimebuyers_2

Thanks JJE - I can't believe such sites are allowed to be marketed on Android Market - I really wouldn't have known the downloads were illegal - I would've thought that Android Market is reputable - therefore so are the apps it offers.

KillerWatt

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Yes you can download a full track .
The track i downloaded is still under copy-rite and therefore its illegal

How do you know for sure that the copyright owner hasn't given permission for their work to be made freely available?

jennyfive

How do you know for sure that the copyright owner hasn't given permission for their work to be made freely available?

Without trying this out and looking at the selection of music they have, it's hard to say. Possible, I suppose, but if their song can be found on iTunes or in HMV to buy, I'd think it to be highly unlikely that the artist has given this company permission. If the app has large library, they'd need to have gone to each artist individually to ask. What sorts of artists are available on there? Could you post a few here?

Does this app have adverts within it? Banner ads or anything like that?

I think they'd need a PRS ringtone license if they're legit and using copyrighted music (unless each artist has given permission).

firsttimebuyers wrote: »

Thanks JJE - I can't believe such sites are allowed to be marketed on Android Market - I really wouldn't have known the downloads were illegal - I would've thought that Android Market is reputable - therefore so are the apps it offers.

One downside (or upside) compared to the Apple App Store is that apps can be posted straight onto the Market without waiting for approval.

If it's found to be malicious, or illegal, etc, users flag it as such and it's then that the app is removed.

Means it's easier for developers to get an app on the Google's Market compared to Apple's, but also means users need to be wary of what permissions apps ask for, is the developer trusted, what are the reviews like... common sense mostly.

firsttimebuyers_2

Well there appears to be absolutely loads on there - basically everything I've searched for has been on there (although nothing released in the past 10 years because of my age!!!!!).

There is a small banner at the bottom, but it is slightly out of view and not much good at advertising because I've no idea what it is advertising!

The app is 'MP3 Ringtone Maker' by 'Luckystar'....

jennyfive

I downloaded it to see for myself, I definitely think it's dodgy now. I searched for Britney Spears (first generic commercial artist I could think of) and found some listings and was able to begin downloading a song. There's no way her labels would let her give away the music for free.

If there's adverts (even badly designed ones) it probably means the developer is making money from it. Already a common thing on the web, dodgy mp3 sites... some give for free and make money from adverts and some sell for cheaper than iTunes to encourage people to buy there instead. Problem is that iTunes give a percentage of each sale to the artist, these dodgy sites don't.

Sad to see there's so many on the Market, Google really need to get their act together on it. I've contacted them about this app, see what happens I guess.