I just bought a song from Sony Music's website (Cake - No Phone). It comes as a digital download in the .wma format. It also comes with a license with some ridiculous terms and conditions. I have unlimited play on my PC, I can burn it 5 times, and transfer it to an APPROVED device, 3 times before it will stop functioning or allowing me to do so.

I don't own an approved device, and if I burnt it to a CD, I'd just end up using a ripper to pull the file into .mp3 format anyways. So I skipped a step, fired up Cool Edit Pro 2, and set my Audigy 2 to record "What U Hear".

Essentially I used a stream ripper to capture the audio, convert it to a variable bitrate on the highest setting, and saved it in a format that I like. Does this seem unjustified? I *did* pay for the song, but I didn't exactly abide by their rules... No harm no foul?

Discuss...

Seems no different than ripping a cd

That's kinda how I figured it. I *do* own a licenced copy of the song, so should I be allowed to make backups if I so please?

I agree, it's paid for. I don't see how they can tell you how to use something you've paid for, especially when they've agreed you have paid for it. Show me a law that says a company can do that and I'll change my mind.

What you are proposing certainly sounds within reason, Yecti.

Dont use Sony Music. They're evil.

I agree Schming, but it's the only reliable site on the web that has this song yet. The CD doesn't come out till October

iTunes has it... for $.99 and unlimited burn thing I do believe. (It's already mp4)

You don't exactly OWN the song, more like you're renting the song under the terms of their contract. You've breached that contract.

It's like videogames. Do any of you actually read the liscence agreements before installing? It says that essentially, you can only have one copy of the said game installed at any given time. So, for example, if you have a PC and a laptop, and you wish to install the game on your laptop as well, first, you have to remove it from your PC completely, and then install it on your laptop.

It's absolutely ridiculous.

Flex wins

To hell with Sony, do whatever you please with the file.

As long as you don't sell it, or give it away, it is yours. They can shutup about that kind of crap. Go ahead.

You paid for. It's yours.

While I agree with your actions as being reasonable, if at any point when signing up for the music service, you had to read an agreement and click "I Agree," you are probably in violation of the law. There may also be terms that come into effect simply becuase you downloaded the song.

DSettahr and Mort-Hog are correct.

Crimson: Essentially through contracts. Buying any software is prime example. When you do click "I agree" you are essentially agreeing to a legally binding contract despite you having all ready purchased the product. Doing anything outside the bounds of the contract is a breach and can get you into some hefty legal troubles. While I do not forsee this happening with Mr. Yecti here, one should not breach contracts if dealing with products/services dealing with large quantities of $$$.

IF you read the law correctly, using things like kazaa to download songs is legal.

IT's just legal to distribute the file.

Things like this piss me off. You've paid to use the song, so who are they to say how you can use it? things like this make some people actually enjoy robbing these music industry pricks blind. They are so damn greedy, they are not even worthy of looking decent people like us in the face. to me, these music industry people are about as ethical as pedophiles. Its disgusting.

It's like buying a loaf of bread and being told that you can only eat 5 slices. You wouldn't tolerate that, so why do you tolerate this?

With a loaf of bread, you can't duplicate it and then give copies to all of your friends.

Weren't you taught to share as a little kid?

Sharing isnt the point. I meant that as hard as you try, there is simply no way to get 2 identical loafs of bread from 1 loaf. If you have 1 loaf of bread, and you give away a few slices... that would be like giving your friend the first 30 seconds of a song, while you keep everything but the first 30 seconds for yourself.

You need to think of a better analogy.


And they (the music industry) cant be all greedy. Not if they are letting me legally download unlimited music for only $2.99 a month.

Do you charge for the websites you create?

How is that by the way? What's the quality of the music, in bitrate.

Unless you're Jesus.

That is a wierd song.

I sort of agree with Mort-Hog.
Yes, the limitations are stupid, but you did agree to them.
So truly, what you did isn't really moral.

I don't blame you though, I'd do the same thing.

/me walks into blockbuster and rents the 5 newest games...

No, 'moral' is irrelevant. What he did was illegal.

It's a victimless crime, like punching someone in the dark.

That's true. But because I'm tired of all the hidden contracts I'm gonna say that it's legal. Fight the system. Rage against the machine. Flower power. Whatever else.*

*The above was written in a purely sarcastic attitude. If you would like to read my real thoughts on this subject, please wait until the aforementioned attitude has passed. But don't hold your breath.