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downloading music?

TheJourneyTheJourney
edited October 2010 in Buddhism Basics
would you say this is stealing? cuz I absolutely love music, helps me get through the tough times, and I don't have an ipod or anything but I have an external harddrive that I can download music to. I personally have a hard time seeing it as stealing, since it's sound and i'm not taking from anyone, but wanted to get some other opinions

Comments

  • B5CB5C Veteran
    edited October 2010
    It's stealing untill it becomes public domain.
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    edited October 2010
    There was a HUGE thread on this a few weeks ago. People gave all kinds of arguments about how downloading is just sticking it to the big evil corporations, etc, etc, etc.

    The upshot in my mind is, if you didn't pay for it, it's stealing. Period. Some artist wrote it, and some artist performed it. If you're not paying, they're not getting paid. Someone legitimately owns the copyrights to most modern music, so you're stealing their rightful property. It's not just "sound". It's a digital recording of a copyrighted piece of work. Recording a bird in a tree is "just sound". Stealing copyrighted music is stealing.

    And just because something is "public domain" doesn't mean you can feel free to download all of Mozart's work. While the music itself is in the public domain, the individual performances are not. They are copyrighted and are the property of someone. If that happens to be Sony (the big bad evil corporation) that doesn't mean it's okay because Sony is a big bad evil corporation. It's still stealing.
  • JasonJason God Emperor Arrakis Moderator
    edited October 2010
    In most cases, yes, illegally downloading stuff that isn't for free distribution violates the second precept.
  • robotrobot Veteran
    edited October 2010
    The Eagles deserve my money and I feel happy to be giving it to them.-P
  • BrandonBrandon
    edited October 2010
    common misconception with how artist make the dough. its not through record sales but most of there income comes from tours and concerts
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    edited October 2010
    That may be true about artists, but stealing is still stealing no matter who owns the property or who is getting paid (or not paid).
  • robotrobot Veteran
    edited October 2010
    Thats why I mentioned the Eagles. I had a chance to see them a few months back and loved it. I wouldn't consider downloading their new album even if they only make 1% on sales of it.
  • B5CB5C Veteran
    edited October 2010
    The best place for public domain music, video and books
    http://www.archive.org/
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    edited October 2010
    listening to music on youtube would be ok tho, right? cuz idk if i can go without music lol and youtube is my source
  • CloudCloud Veteran
    edited October 2010
    OP: Anything that is actually free by intent, like YouTube videos and the like (other than those posted illegally), are okay as far as not-stealing. Those things that are not intended to be free, that you knowingly acquire without paying, are attained unskillfully. Also remember that it's a desire that drives you to act unskillfully; the struggle within not to give in to desires (that you've always fulfilled in the past) is where you need to focus. This is a part of right effort and honestly the illegal music thing... many Buddhists have to deal with. Good luck.
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    edited October 2010
    well technically any song by a group on a label posted on youtube is there illegally...but i'm pretty sure that if they care they remove it...it can be advertising for groups
  • CloudCloud Veteran
    edited October 2010
    OP: What's important is what you think. The struggle is always within ourselves, and the battlefield is our selfishness versus our morality. The Noble Eightfold Path, and especially the path factors dedicated to morality (sila), are our guide.
  • ZaylZayl Veteran
    edited October 2010
    I download some music online for free, what of it?

    a vast majority of my music library though comes from a friend who has a gigantic tome of CD's that amounts to thousands of dollars worth of music. Seeing as how we both have very, very similar tastes in music, I just burn his discs to my PC.

    As for the stuff I download, stealing or not... is it really harming the artist or the record company? I only download a song or two from the album, if it turns out I like it I go out and buy the album. If not, then they did not deserve my money anyway.
  • B5CB5C Veteran
    edited October 2010
    When I did download an album. I downloaded it because I could not afford it. When i did have money I bought the CDs which I downloaded. I wanted to support the artist. Yes, what I did was stealing. Which i don't have a good excuse, but I do say I do support artists who I love.
  • Invincible_summerInvincible_summer Heavy Metal Dhamma We(s)t coast, Canada Veteran
    edited October 2010
    Mountains wrote: »
    There was a HUGE thread on this a few weeks ago. People gave all kinds of arguments about how downloading is just sticking it to the big evil corporations, etc, etc, etc.

    The upshot in my mind is, if you didn't pay for it, it's stealing. Period. Some artist wrote it, and some artist performed it. If you're not paying, they're not getting paid. Someone legitimately owns the copyrights to most modern music, so you're stealing their rightful property. It's not just "sound". It's a digital recording of a copyrighted piece of work. Recording a bird in a tree is "just sound". Stealing copyrighted music is stealing.

    And just because something is "public domain" doesn't mean you can feel free to download all of Mozart's work. While the music itself is in the public domain, the individual performances are not. They are copyrighted and are the property of someone. If that happens to be Sony (the big bad evil corporation) that doesn't mean it's okay because Sony is a big bad evil corporation. It's still stealing.

    Such a staunch defender of corporatism and the status quo. Tsk tsk. Attachment to capitalism! You must cease your clinging! :p
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    edited October 2010
    Zayl wrote: »
    As for the stuff I download, stealing or not... is it really harming the artist or the record company? I only download a song or two from the album, if it turns out I like it I go out and buy the album. If not, then they did not deserve my money anyway.

    I'm not going to get back into this argument, since as I said, there was a HUGE thread just a couple of weeks ago. You can, of course, do whatever you want if you're willing to accept the consequences. But whether you choose to accept it, or are capable of understanding the concept fully, downloading music without paying for it *is* harming the artist and/or record company. The amount of the harm is irrelevant, it's still harm. And if you do it intentionally, then you are intentionally causing harm (as well as stealing), which goes against Buddhist precepts.

    I honestly can't see why this issue is so grey to so many people. Stealing is stealing is stealing is stealing. Justifications from now until the cows come home don't change that fact.
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