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Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years old?

Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years old?


  • Total voters
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Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

Who cares if it's immoral? It's illegal. Quit trying to justify stealing **** and buy the DVD.

You won't get too much argument from me. Currently, my Blu-ray collections is close to 500 films and TV series, and I have probably some 200 DVDs.

I have discovered that a number of programs I would like to buy, actually no longer exist in any viewable format. These are mostly PBS or BBC programs from decades past, some of them documentaries.

I will say that some of this is on the distributor. Remember Tron? Before the sequel came out, I had tried to watch the film. No rental stores in my area had it. No online shops carried the digital copies. No DVDs were readily available. No VHS tapes were readily available. If I wanted to watch the film legally, I would have had to pay at least 90 dollars for the DVD, or 100+ for the VHS (all in the used marketplace, of course). I didn't pirate it, but I was dismayed at how Disney was promoting an upcoming Tron sequel, but there was no mechanism to legally purchase the predecessor without going through an incredibly pricey used marketplace.
 
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Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

As far as I'm concerned, if they're broadcasting it on the radio or TV, they're sending it out for free, they have no right to complain if I go and get the stuff they're giving away for free from an online source.
As a matter of how things *should be*, I'm with you 100%. Unfortunately, what we want and what is aren't necessarily the same thing.

A similar example would be trying to sell a might time photo of the Eiffel Tower... Eiffel Tower: Repossessed | Fast Company
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

actually it wasn't given away for free. It was broadcast with the intent of using it as a means to push various products. That is, unless you are talking about something from PBS.

So basically you're entering into an agreement to watch commercials, in exchange for access to the program.

Says who? I didn't sign any contract like that. I turned on the TV and there was the show. There is no implied contract and I am free to change channels or leave the room when the commercials come on and there's not a damn thing they can do to stop me. In fact, if I have a DVR, I can fast forward through the commercials and skip them entirely. The advertiser contracts with the TV network to show commercials to *POTENTIAL* viewers. There's no guarantee there will actually be any viewers.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

As a matter of how things *should be*, I'm with you 100%. Unfortunately, what we want and what is aren't necessarily the same thing.

I really don't care. I download 100% of my TV viewing so I can watch it on my schedule. It's no different than saving it to a DVR.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

Think about it people, every time you visit ANY website, you are downloading copyrighted content.

You are all copyright INFRINGERS!


To me, if i want to download something, i will. I have no problems doing so.
Hell, i have discovered so many new music artists.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

As far as I'm concerned, if they're broadcasting it on the radio or TV, they're sending it out for free, they have no right to complain if I go and get the stuff they're giving away for free from an online source.

There is a difference between personally recording/replaying something and presenting it for downloading/copying by others; that radio/TV station paid royalties to the artist for using their material (legal use) yet the web pirates do not (illegal use).
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

There is a difference between personally recording/replaying something and presenting it for downloading/copying by others; that radio/TV station paid royalties to the artist for using their material (legal use) yet the web pirates do not (illegal use).

I'm just downloading for personal use. Whatever someone else does is their problem.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

I also find the difference between this thread, and similar threads on a photography forum I frequent, as very interesting. There, because they are on the other side of the issue as copyright owners of their images, are almost all in favor of strict copyright protection, and some even advocate draconian fines & punishment for violators.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

There are exceptions allowed for personal use, but I suppose the question would be in how long you possess it. The SCOTUS has even ruled on this, though I'm not inclined to go look up the nuances right now. A week, to watch it? Indefinitely?
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

As far as I'm concerned, if they're broadcasting it on the radio or TV, they're sending it out for free, they have no right to complain if I go and get the stuff they're giving away for free from an online source.

Agreed. It would be different if someone were sitting in a movie theater, videotaping a brand new movie and then bringing it home and uploading it. But this is stuff that's on TV. It's free anyway, and I also agree with what was mentioned earlier - I have a DVR and skip through commercials anyway.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

I also find the difference between this thread, and similar threads on a photography forum I frequent, as very interesting. There, because they are on the other side of the issue as copyright owners of their images, are almost all in favor of strict copyright protection, and some even advocate draconian fines & punishment for violators.

Quite a distinct difference between photography and TV show/movies. I doubt any of those photographers have a problem with folks viewing their work and keeping a copy, because if the photos are online that happens automatically. It's when folks try to use that content without paying for it. Such use generally involves display to others.

However, with TV/movies you can trigger the fines and the RIAA's ire by just downloading and being in possession.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

There are exceptions allowed for personal use, but I suppose the question would be in how long you possess it. The SCOTUS has even ruled on this, though I'm not inclined to go look up the nuances right now. A week, to watch it? Indefinitely?

I possess it forever. If it's a show I really like, I do go buy it on DVD and I own thousands of commercial DVDs, but I have tens of thousands of burned DVDs with thousands upon thousands of TV series covering the last 50 years or so. Don't care if anyone likes it either.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

Agreed. It would be different if someone were sitting in a movie theater, videotaping a brand new movie and then bringing it home and uploading it. But this is stuff that's on TV. It's free anyway, and I also agree with what was mentioned earlier - I have a DVR and skip through commercials anyway.

Has cable been around for 40 years? TV is "free", cable is not.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

also remember, every time you record your favorite tv show such as MASH or All in the family on your VCR, you are committing copyright infringement.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

I'm just downloading for personal use. Whatever someone else does is their problem.

I understand that. I often wonder if I am breaking the law when I post music videos on this forum under the "what are you listening to?" thread. They are often found easily on YouTube, many have fairly decent sound quality as well. I am sure that the artist gets no royalties when I do this yet, as you say, its just laying there for the free taking. ;)
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

Has cable been around for 40 years?

Longer.

TV is "free", cable is not.

If I am paying for the cable, which I do (and I pay alot for it) then I should be able to do what I want with it.

Tell me how it's any different to download Game of Thrones onto my DVR, or burn it on to a disk? Either way, I can watch it forever.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

I understand that. I often wonder if I am breaking the law when I post music videos on this forum under the "what are you listening to?" thread. They are often found easily on YouTube, many have fairly decent sound quality as well. I am sure that the artist gets no royalties when I do this yet, as you say, its just laying there for the free taking. ;)

Who cares? You're just linking to already-existing content, you're not the one putting it up there.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

If I am paying for the cable, which I do (and I pay alot for it) then I should be able to do what I want with it.

Tell me how it's any different to download Game of Thrones onto my DVR, or burn it on to a disk? Either way, I can watch it forever.

Yup. I pay a lot for cable and don't really watch any of it. Therefore, I've paid whatever monthly fees go to the cable companies regardless, they can shut up and leave me alone, I'm going to do what I want with the content they show.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

Who cares? You're just linking to already-existing content, you're not the one putting it up there.

True, yet each time that content is "shared" is another use. I guess it is sort of like a juke box, the recording is bought only once yet shared for a fee each time it is played. I am not sure how that works either, as far as paying the artist any royalties, beyond the initial recording purchase.

I assume that services, like iTunes, pay royalties for each copy sold.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

True, yet each time that content is "shared" is another use. I guess it is sort of like a juke box, the recording is bought only once yet shared for a fee each time it is played. I am not sure how that works either, as far as paying the artist any royalties, beyond the initial recording purchase.

But that's really the thing. If someone pays for a song on a jukebox, everyone in the place gets to hear it for free. While the wretched RIAA would probably want every single person to pay an independent fee, screw the f'ing RIAA.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

Longer.



If I am paying for the cable, which I do (and I pay alot for it) then I should be able to do what I want with it.

Tell me how it's any different to download Game of Thrones onto my DVR, or burn it on to a disk? Either way, I can watch it forever.

You're preaching to the choir. I was just noting that not all TV is "free" to the public.

Personally speaking I have a ton of movies and TV content stashed away that came from the scene. It's just because I'm a digital hoarder.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

I'm trying to figure out an easy way to get all my movies onto a hard drive that plugs into one of the ports on my TV, so it's like having an infinite-storage DVR.
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

I'm just downloading for personal use. Whatever someone else does is their problem.

if your using a torrent, then you are not simply downloading for personal use. You are actively distributing it
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

also remember, every time you record your favorite tv show such as MASH or All in the family on your VCR, you are committing copyright infringement.

again, that isn't making that copy available to millions of people instantaneously
 
Re: Is it immoral to download from unauthorized sources (c) TV shows over 39 years ol

I'm trying to figure out an easy way to get all my movies onto a hard drive that plugs into one of the ports on my TV, so it's like having an infinite-storage DVR.

We use an old laptop permanently hooked up in our entertainment center to the TV to do that. It's got a 500 gb HD hooked up. That way we can either stream movies online through it or play movies off the HD.
 
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