iPod Is it legal to remove DRM from MY music?

[TheSpaz]

Got my answer.

Post removed by myself.

 

[Eraserhead]

It is illegal, because you are in the US, and are circumventing the DMCA, however in European countries it'd be legal.

 

[heatmiser]

You don't actually own the songs; you simply own a license to play them in accordance with the EULA. You're basically renting them in your name.

 

[TheSpaz]

You don't actually own the songs; you simply own a license to play them in accordance with the EULA. You're basically renting them in your name.

What about when I buy a CD at the store? I can rip it to my computer. What's different about burning the iTunes store songs on a CD and ripping them to my computer... does that mean suddenly I own them and Apple even lets you do this without problems.

 

[Eraserhead]

You do own music from the iTS, but you can't convert them without removing the DRM, which breaks the DMCA.

 

[NC MacGuy]

Technically, if you remove the DRM and keep it where it was licensed isn't that okay? I'd think the minute you transfer to another user then that'd be the point the law is broken.

 

[spork183]

might better be asked, "is it legal to put drm on in the first place?" if I distribute the music to others, it is illegal regardless, but restricting my personal use is a joke.

 

[IJ Reilly]

You do own music from the iTS, but you can't convert them without removing the DRM, which breaks the DMCA.

It's not quite so clear. While the DMCA prohibits circumvention, it also does not alter fair use doctrine. So it is really not entirely certain whether, say, ripping a copy-protected CD for your own use is a clear violation of the DMCA. This area of the law is really quite murky.

 

[NC MacGuy]

Kind of why I've been getting mine from Amazon. Not as nice an interface but music is DRM free and will play on nearly anything.

 

[briansolomon]

Cheers for Amazon!

 

[Youngbrammer]

Amazon

Yes, Amazon is cheaper and DRM free. Which is nice for putting Viva La Vida on my cell. I got the entire album. P.S. It Rocks!!!

 

[hexonxonx]

Cheers for Amazon!

They would get my cheers is they ever had what I was looking for. I go there and search and I get nothing. I go to iTunes and 99% of the time, I find what I'm looking for. In reality, I could care less if iTunes has DRM. I can still burn copies, put them on my iPhones and iPods and all my computers. ALL DRM does is stop me from sharing them with someone else, nothing wrong with that.