Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Hawaii

Copying Music CDs

Greeting!

I teach music and performance, and need to clarify a situation for my students. We have a few different interpretatons of the law, and need it stated in plain words we can understand.

Situation:

Several people wanted to buy CDs at a performance. One of them bought one CD and told the others not to, as he would make copies for all 20 of them, and just give them the copies so they would not have to buy the CD.

I feel that this violates copyright law as providing ''indirect commercial benefit.''

I am told that it does NOT violate copyright law, that he is perfectly within his rights, and such copies are totally legal.

If that is the case, what good is copyrighting your CD?

So, the question:

Is copying the CD in this case legal or illegal?

Thank you!


Asked on 9/19/07, 1:40 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Johm Smith tom's

Re: Copying Music CDs

All you have to do is read the legal notice that comes with purchased CDs. It provides that the sale of copies is prohibited because that would violate the Intellectual Property rights of the the people that made the CD a reality.

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Answered on 9/19/07, 5:26 pm


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