A music download question, If I have bought and paid for music in the past?
Way back in the 60s and 70s I had a large vinyl record collection that I have lost over years of traveling. There are a few classic songs I would love to have again on my MP3 player.
If I have already purchased the right to listen to this music from a record company would it be legal and moral for me to download it from a free internet music site ?
I have purchased the music for personal use in good faith and the artist has received copyright royalties from the sale.
Clearly, you have the *moral* right to download music that you’ve paid for but lost. The legal right is debatable. Actually, I think there is a good legal argument to say that it’s okay….with stipulations. The legal burden of proof would be on you to prove you had actually purchased the albums. The recordings also need to be the exact same versions that you purchased.
This isn’t the same as the 1965 Mustang analogy. When you bought the albums, you bought 2 things:
1. The vinyl record and artwork
2. The rights to use the content (music) in certain ways.
Even though you may have misplaced the albums, you still own the limited rights to the music. If you sold the albums, the rights were transferred with the sale and you no longer can use the music. Without the album, how can you prove ownership? OTOH, I have a cellar full of LPs, 8-Tracks, and cassettes. My understanding of copyright law is that I can legally make copies of the recordings. Sometimes it’s easier to make a copy by downloading it. The issue gets a little murky if you start talking about re-mastered recordings…the content isn’t identical. There is also the issue of whether the source you’re downloading from has the legal right to share…..
So the legality isn’t totally clear, but at least debatable.
Royalty Free music: India / Middle East / Arjun Sen tracks #1
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