Lucas Ives wrote:The items at the library were purchased at one point, with only one borrower being able to use that single copy of the work at a time. You're subverting the intention of the institution if you're duplicating the items.
This is a separate discussion from whether or not you personally believe music should be free. Most works are not free, at least not in the USA. So we can agree to disagree, as long as you agree you are advocating and practicing theft under current law.
And yet, libraries have copy machines, with no limitation on how many or of what you may copy... funny how that is, isn't it?
In fact there is no law against coping material out of anything in a library. I'm starting to think you may not ever use a library! Are the libraries subverting their own intentions?! How could that even be possible...? And yet, their they sit, with even the ability to collate and staple, a row of shiny copy machines.
If a library had the same level of access to music as it does books, then it would be safe to say pretty much all music would be available.
Since having music in libraries is a rather new concept, the collections are a fraction of what books are (though growing) and that is perhaps the only reason there's zillions of books, and still limited music, movies and so forth.
It is their eventual goal to have as much music as they do books, at least, according to the librarian at the library I use. The limitation is budgeting for the libraries archaic systems to have that level of mass media in place.
I'm not advocating theft* - just accelerating the process of what is inevitably coming.
Speaking on Theft, it should be noted, that there has never been a person caught, of even mass digital distribution, convicted of any Theft or Robbery charges.
For that matter there has been no person convicted of criminal charges for distributing music. It has ALWAYS been a CIVIL Lawsuit pertaining to copyright infringement and potential loss of money.
I'd have to check but I'm pretty sure there's never even been criminal charges brought against any person in the US for digital distribution of music.
Not even the precious United States Law deems it a crime worthy of trying - think about that.
...as I'm taken back to my university, and their epic music library, complete with digital copying machines to have at it. Technically, being Alumni, I have access to that library at will for the rest of my life.
I assure you as well, that at the least, several members on this board have attended schools with identical music library setups.
If you feel so strongly about copyright law and people getting due money for their works, then I would hope you don't support the digital/techno music realm at all - as that entire genre is almost entirely based on "stealing" other peoples work. Entire companies, musicians, bands and so forth have made literally 100's millions off other peoples music, without any form of credit or royalties - and guess what? Nobody seems to care one iota.
Go ask Gregory Cylvester Coleman and the Winstons about how much royalties they've got.... or what D.A. will take up a "theft" case...
I sure hope you haven't purchased any digital/techno music, as you'd be directly in violation of your own statements, you'd have been supporting stealing and duplicating other peoples music for the intent to make a profit.