This Space Intentionally Left Blank

3 Fructidor CCXI (August 20, 2003)

(Linkage) Stop Making Sense

You know that levy we pay on blank CDs? The one that's part of the law that makes it legal for us to copy a friend's music collection?
Well, what if that law covers P2P file sharing as well? There's some (possibly serious) flaws in this guy's argument, but it's worth a read.

Posted by g026r at 02:40
Comments

I didn't actually know that it's legal in Canada to copy for private use.  That's pretty sweet.

Posted by peter at 3 Fructidor CCXI 14:21 (2003/08/20)

You've got to love the way it's worded though. I can't make a copy and give it to you, but you can borrow the CD and make a copy.

The question is what does that say about file sharing? From what I can tell it would make it (probably) legal to download the file from someone else (making a copy for personal use), but it wouldn't be legal to share the file (making a copy for someone else's use).

I'm still trying to work my head around that bit.

Siteicon Posted by g026r at 3 Fructidor CCXI 14:29 (2003/08/20)

But what is "sharing" a file?

If I remotely copy one of my mp3s to your computer, that would be the equivalent of me burning a copy of my CD.

But P2P sharing is more like if I left my CD in a public place, with a sign that said it's alright to borrow it and make a copy and then return it.  Which, it seems, wouldn't be illegal.

Posted by peter at 3 Fructidor CCXI 16:59 (2003/08/20)

Why do I see lawyers having a field day with this subject?

(Actually, I see the author addressed my previous point in his article. That's what I get for reading it at 2:30 in the morning.)

Siteicon Posted by g026r at 3 Fructidor CCXI 17:12 (2003/08/20)
Post a comment







Past Entries

Past Entries