Songwriters as well as anyone that creates what is known as intellectual property and registers it for copyright has the right to determine who may use that property during his lifetime plus 70 years according to U.S. copyright law.

If someone uses that property without permission it is theft. Someone had to do all the work for that music to be availiable to use. If someone downloads that file for personal use and doesn't pay for it, it is theft. You may say but it's just a copy but then there are thousands of copys in CD Stores. You can't just go in and pick up a free copy.

Certain countries that refused to sign the Berne Agreement may have allowed bootleg copies of Movies, Cd'S, Clothing, Watches, and many other things that are protected by Copyright or other Laws.

There have been confisation of products on more than one occasion of bootleg products imported into the country.

So you have a job. Well the employer paid one employee. So now he says you should work for free? Is it theft or is it not?

You worked hard to produce a CD. Someone wants to make a copy of it. Should they? How about everybody making a free copy? You made them for sale. Now what?

Last edited by Ray E. Strode; 11/26/08 01:49 PM.
Ray E. Strode