digital piracy

[RichkCt]

Doesnt look like this thread receives much attention being so far back in the message stack but I will leave my 2 cents worth about the subject the way I see it.

I think we can all agree The record co's on both side of the aisle are greedy.

I've seen interviews where artist in the secular market complain about people downloading music, yet they come to the studio in stretch limos then leave the interview and go back to thier multimillion dollar homes and still complain about the downloading.

As far as the Christian market is concerned. The only Christian band that I heard about complaining about downloading is Pillar. This is after they went mainstream. If my opion another sell out band.

I understand full well that people should get paid for thier work. In the Christian music industry there is alot of talent and people work hard to get there message out there and for it to be purchased.

However whos message is it. Its Jesus's message put to a song. Songs that are written to Uplift HIM. Not to line the pockets of the artist. The artist will get paid. Jesus will make sure the artist with true fruit will be taken care of.

I'm glad filesharing is available personaly, without it I wouldnt have known about some of the garbage I almost paid for ,on the other hand I also discovered some of my favorite songs that I eventually bought on sale and with liner notes.

Cracks me up some people make a stink about downloading from filehsharing programs for free...but put a measely .50 .99 price tag on the song ok no problem gimme a break.....

For the love of money is the root of all evil.

In Christ
Rich

[Bern]

Downloading commercially available mp3's is illegal and it is stealing. Whether you agree with the amount the companies charge or not. The artists don't get the money for the product if they record labels and ublishers dont recieve revenue. simple as that.

"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s."

Also, on thw whole subject of commercialised Christian music. I am against that for the most part. I'm totally against copyright on worship songs. Totally against it. If the songs were given by God, as the artists claim they are.. then surely the ownership is God's? Not theirs to be copyrighted.

If the songs are more for ministry or perhaps entertainment (to use an inappropriate word) then the artist is imho rightly entitled to copyright the music and to recieve payment for the recorded works.

As Rich said though, when the money becomes the goal for producing the music, they've missed the point.

[Saved_4ever]

Also, on thw whole subject of commercialised Christian music. I am against that for the most part. I'm totally against copyright on worship songs. Totally against it. If the songs were given by God, as the artists claim they are.. then surely the ownership is God's? Not theirs to be copyrighted.

Just so you know all the hymns and such that I see are all copywritten.  That's just the way it is.  Heck the only bible you can reproduce without royalties is the KJV.  

I think that it comes down to this though.  Although the hymns are copywritten they have given permission for others to use it.

[Bern]

I know they are, and I think that is very sad. Thankfully many of the older hymns have passed out of copyright now, so the words may freely be used, it is usually the music that people copyright. With worship music especially this jsut makes it difficult for the songs to be spread freely.

Being a songwriter in my spare time I've dealt with copyright a little. I used to write secular and Christian songs, and copyright both of them. I felt the Holy Spirit convicting me that to copyright my music made in the name of God was a sin, and I had to repent. While I cannot uncopyright whats been copyrighted, I won't be doing it anymore.

The whole purpose of copyrighting is to ensure that money is recieved by the author of the work in question, and that they have control over what happens to the songs. This is fine up to a point, but if songs are inspired by and written for God, then surely He has co-authorship.

Still I would never have a go at someone because they copyright a song they wrote. Its a personal conviction. However what I do make a stand against is mainstream commercialised Christian music. It is a business and nothing more. The artists and organisations try to justify their merchandise but it is clear to me that it is simply an imitation of the worlds music business. I'm not saying all people who make money out of their ministry are wrong. Its the mass producers of all kinds or paraphenalia that I'm referring to. We can all think of examples of these big organisations. It is especially wrong when their products are not truly building the church up.

! Tim 6:4  he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6  But godliness with contentment is great gain:

7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.....

9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

[Saved_4ever]

It's a tough thing.  I agree with you that the "Christian music" scene is really a business than about glorifying God.  On the other hand, the money it costs just to produce those things, regardless of their intent, gets expensive.  Good recording equipment and the production of CD's and cover jackets gets costly as well.  I used to be in a secular band long ago before I was saved.  I'm not a stickler about what kind of music a person listens to, but I disagree with those who pretend that "Christian" music that horribly immitates secular music is to glorify God and such.  

Honestly I would want to copyright music even if it was inspired by the LORD to me because I wouldn't want just anyone to take the song and perhaps mutilate it.  I could see some secular people taking advantage of that.  Also the copyright issue becomes more of a personal issue in enforcing it.  I could simpluy require people to ask permission to use my work but not charge anything, OR even better ask that they donate to missionaries and such.  That's just me though.

[Avex11]

 Correct me if I'm wrong, but Christian artists weren't doing much complaining about their songs being downloaded.

Exactly, because the point of a christian band is to worship and get gods name out, You can never put a price on somone coming to christ. Thats why i think that Christian bands dont complain about thier music bieng downloaded

[Bern]

Or perhaps they think that any increase in popularity is a good thing. Christian music is a minority industry.. on the grand scale that is.. comared with the music of the world. Perhaps they are grateful that people are interested enough to download it and see that as a kind of loss leader .. allowing further purchases of the albums. Or.. like you say they may just genuinely be pleased that the music is getting out.

I realise how expensive music is to make, and while I don't begrudge the artists making money to cover the costs, I do feel badly towards "big business" worship affairs. I could mention a certain group in particular, but I had best not.


2 Peter 2:3  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

The above passage keeps coming back to me, and the more I am reminded of it, the more I see it in the "church" today. there are many songs that appear ok, perhaps even doctrinally correct, but they are not inspired by the Spirit.

[phantom934]

I use it to see if I like a band Ive never heard of or if I only like a couple of songs off of a cd Im not going to go spend 9-15$ to listen to just those 2 songs.

[Bern]

Yeah I do the same, I download an mp3 as a demo to see if i like the music, if I do then I buy the album, if not I delete it. I think thats fair enough. Having said that, I'm not a big downloader really at all.

Despite my views on copyright, I wouldn't download something for free because I thought it shouldn't be copyrighted. I'd still pay for it, because downloading mp3's without permission of the artist/ publisher is stealing.

[nChrist]

I agree that we shouldn't download music for the purpose of having the music without paying for it. However, I have some curiosity about this issue. I have several channels on my television that play Christian music several hours per day. If I understand this correctly, someone can record from the television quite legally and play it as many times as they want with no law against that. The same is true of radio. I'm sure that the quality isn't nearly as good as a CD or a record, but this has always puzzled me in all of the news stories about downloading music. Does this sound curious to anyone else?

If you think about it, most of all the hits are on the radio. There is no law about recording from the radio or television, other than you can't sell it, rent it, or make money with it in any way. I'm not hinting that I think stealing music is OK, rather suggesting it is there to listen to free anyway on the radio and the television. I know that the quality isn't as good, but my ears aren't good enough to know the difference.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 31:3  For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.