Posted on Monday 24 October 2005
I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before the RIAA tells taxpayers that they’re not entitled to make digital copies of the CDs which were paid for by their tax money at the local library. Until then, author Neil Gaiman has no problem with the practice as long as you use discretion.
Neil,
Last week I got an ipod nano. After putting some music on the ipod, I checked out Anansi Boys from my library and copied the audio book CDs onto my ipod. I have been listening to the book as I go about my day. However, I feel guilty, as if I have ripped you off somehow. Is it okay to copy library versions of your books onto my ipod? Have I broken the law?Thanks in advance for either slapping my wrist or easing my guilty conscience.
A HUGE FAN!
Jeanne
What a wonderful ethical question. I feel almost rabbinical pondering it. No, I don’t believe you’ve broken any law. If you’d checked out the MP3 CD from your library you’d be expected to put it onto your iPod, after all. There’s a weird sort of ethical fogginess, in that I suspect that part of the idea of libraries is that when you’re done with something you return it, and of course once you have your MP3 on your computer and iPod you can keep it forever. But I think this is just one of those places where changes in technology move faster than the rules.
If you’re listening to it, and you’ve got an iPod or suchlike MP3 player, you’re almost definitely going to listen to it on your iPod. That’s how things are, and it’s a good thing (it’s why I got Harper Collins to release American Gods and Anansi Boys on MP3 CD, after all).
Probably wisest not to pull it off your iPod and give it to other people, though. Let them at least take it out of the library themselves.
Tags: ipod, libraries, neil-gaiman, riaa
If IPod provides a small sum to the original song writers and musicians for EACH song installed or played on the owners IPod, then all would be well and ethical.
However, I don’t think there is an existing way to compensate artists. Nevertheless, if an individual uses material they don’t own and that material has a royalty fee, the individual should pay something. The question is how much – “nothing” is not acceptable.
The middle-men are ones who should be eliminated to reduce ultimate cost to the consumer, but don’t rob the artists. And, definitely don’t copy library digitial media on your own systems Spend the money to buy your own copy and be ethical.