Legal music downloads

aeuerby

I've downloaded music from Tesco.com and copied it to cd's. I think you can leagally make 2 or 3 copies to cd but can obviously keep it on your hard drive forever. I should say you have to allow the computer to obtain the license first before you can even play the song/s.

To the OP do you use mediaplayer to copy? I only ask because that's what I use.

I've not noticed any difference in sound quality, that's both playing the disc on a cheap and nasty cd player also on a surround sound system.

Angela.

asot

Joe_Bloggs wrote:

@Wolfman
Where does it say you are allowed to make a backup copy in UK or European Law ?
J_B.

Yes it's true that it is technically against the law to transfer copyrighted material to any other format in the UK or to backup in the UK. But then if that law was actualy enforced in the UK we'd have a population of about 59 million in jail and the other 1 million walking free (approx).

dccarm

aeurby - I use Nero to burn CD's. Media Player doesn't even recognise that I have a CD burner on the PC.

wolfman

Apologies, I didn't know it was illegal to transfer it to another format. From what I know, and what my housemate (who's a lawyer) said, you are entitled to make a backup, I didn't know this meant it had to be kept in the same format, or does it??? It's a bit questionable with music though and would defeat the point of having mp3 players.

From what my lawyer friend said was, that you've bought an album which means you have a copyright holder's persmission, so you are entitled to make a backup. Just because the format has changed does not change the fact that your are allowed to make a backup. Maybe some could clarify...

wolfman

Joe_Bloggs wrote:

@Wolfman
Where does it say you are allowed to make a backup copy in UK or European Law ?
J_B.

You are allowed to make backup copies, but this applies to other things, such as program, applications etc... What isn't covered, and I stand corrected, is "media shifting", as they call it. This is converting say, CDA (CD Audio) to MP3. It seems the UK is one of a few countries not to have changed its laws. Check out this thread for more info:

http://www.xenoclast.org/free-sklyarov-uk/2002-October/003591.html

I find it rather strange that the the law hasn't been updated to allow for this, for as one poster mentioned above, most of the UK would be liable. Such is life, you grow used to it living in the UK.

T4i

Taken from Radio 1 website.

Radio 1 download charts are compiled using the info from these:-

iTunes, Napster, MyCokeMusic, Woolworths, 7 digital, Playlouder, MSN Music, Big Noise Music, HMV, Virgin, Tiscali Music, Sonic Selector, Wanadoo

100%

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/howto/download/downloadp04.shtml

Joe_Bloggs

@Wolfman et al
Where is the UK with the EUCD directives/proposals.
J_B.

tigs78

dccarm

I used to download music from Napster and burn to CD (perfectly legal as far as I am aware) but one day there was a glitch with their system so I used Tesco.com. I too was having trouble burning them to CD until somebody pointed out that you have to 'acquire the licence' first. In my case this meant simply PLAYING the track on Windows Media Player before I burned it to CD, whilst you play it it says at the bottom 'acquiring licence.... licence acquired'. You can look into the status of each track (though don't ask me how I just found it by fiddling about!) and it tells you how many times you can download each track.

If you can't find the tracks you want to burn to attempt this again, if you have kept the confirmation e-mail you can go back to the site and enter the reference number and it will allow you to download them again.

Hope this helps

wolfman

Joe_Bloggs wrote:

@Wolfman et al
Where is the UK with the EUCD directives/proposals.
J_B.

Ah very true. I do stand corrected. I'm obviously a little dated with it all being passed in 2003.

http://www.patent.gov.uk/about/consultations/eccopyright/

The above does make it illegal to back up cds to mp3, mp3 player, or CD. Something I personally find ridiculous considering the current state of mp3 technology. It basically means the 200 cd albums I own, I actually have to buy again in mp3 format in order to get them legally onto my iPod. So if I want to listen to music in my cd player and iPod I have to buy two copies.

In that case ignore my post about Exact Audio Copy

dccarm

tigs78.

I'll have another look at it. I had no problem acquiring the licences and playing the tracks, and they are still there on the PC. I think it may be because I was trying to burn with Nero rather than Windows Media Player.