Ripping Youtube Audio-Legal/Morally Right?

Guffrey

Here is the situation: There is a comedy group I enjoy a lot. However, only something like five of their songs are available to purchase. I've bought these, but they have a lot more out there, which can be found on youtube. I found a program that allows you to enter in the youtube link, and it gives you an mp3 file of the song.

Now, I honestly wouldn't think this is a problem. The tool seems rather legit, and since there is no other way to purchase the songs, it isn't like I am making them lose any money. However, you all are probably much more knowledgable on things such as this, so I wanted to check it out.

Aegis

Do they have an email you can direct your purchase question toward? Maybe they have an obscured purchase method that's hard to find.

Failing that, I don't think it's terribly objectionable, having gone through the option of attempting to search for purchase information, to then download the song anyway if that purchase option turns out to not exist. They might just have set it up this way.

Guffrey

I've searched around more than once to try and purchase it. I heard a rumor they will be releasing a cd sometime this year. I have no problem purchasing it if they do, because I want to support them, and I prefer having my stuff legit anyways. Thanks for the quick help, anyone else?

Edgie

Quit worrying about silly things like this and do it. You obviously support the band, and will buy whatever CD they release next. If they came to a show in your town, you'd go see their show. Hell, if you like band shirts, and needed a new shirt, you'd probably buy one of those, too.

So, just.. enjoy.

Szechuanosaurus

Bottom line is yes, it's illegal. Unless the video was uploaded by the band themselves or someone doing so with their permission, it's mere presence on YouTube is in violation of the band's basic copyright. Downloading it would likewise be making illegal copies of the music.

Morally? Well...

More and more high profile bands are coming out and saying that record sales basically aren't worth it. The amount of money that goes into promotion and production and the hefty cut that the record label takes means there's very little left over for the band anyway. They make much more money off concerts, where they can charge a decent price for the ticket, they get a better cut of the sales and they also make $$$ off selling overpriced merchandise (eg, sweatshop t-shirts with 'comes off after one wash' prints of the band on them, band posters sold for $20-$30 that I can guarantee you only cost about 20c each at most to print in bulk). As such, there's a minor trend towards bands simply giving away their album for free in the hopes that more people will come to see them in concert. So, morally, if you do rip the tracks off youtube then you should make an effort to go and see the band live at least once.

Crashtard

You could also just send them 5 or 10 bucks in the mail anonymously. Just make sure you send it with some sort of thing that lets you know that it arrives. I've done that before with unreleased material that i've ripped from a video. That way you've essentially given them something for it without telling them who you are, just in case they feel the need for jackassery. Odds of them being anything but grateful are staggeringly low.

ViolentChemistry

The only question here is Legally. If you want to debate morality go somewhere appropriate, like not-H/A. What the fuck is wrong with you? If Piracy then Not-Okay.

Guffrey

Thanks for all the advice (except for that last one...). The question also had to do with if the program I used was legal itself, but it all has seemed to be worked out. Now I suppose I'll go try and figure out how exactly "what the fuck is wrong with you?" is helpful advice in this situation. Lock please.

ViolentChemistry

It's not advice, it's you being told that if what you're trying to do is illegal you don't get to ask whether it's okay to do it anyway, nor for help doing it. That's not context-dependent here.