File Sharing

[gn38]

As a person who will be pursuing a career in law enforcement after college, I am trying to be extremely careful as to not participate in any activity that will damage my chances of getting a LEO job. Is using file sharing software like limewire, or kazaa a bad idea? I have downloaded a few songs from these, but I do not wish to continue if this is considered theft.

Please chime in with your opinion!
How many of you have downloaded music online?

Thanks in advance

[Scruit]

I don't believe they are prosecuting it as theft - I though it was a copyright violation issue for those who are publishing (sharing out) the files?

Still, I would be very careful.

Yes I have downloaded music. I use it to decide if I want to buy an album or not, and I will always buy the CD album if I like enough tracks. I hate buying a CD and finding out the track on the radio is the ONLY good song.

Also, I hardly ever buy CDs. If I download a song then that's one thing, but I also know that I would not buy the CD on the strength of one song, so by downloading that song the publisher has not LOST a sale. And if I can download and listen to multiple songs and I find I like them all, then they will even EARN a sale they would not have otherwise had.

[rdp]

Is it illegal?? like what was already said, it is a copyright violation. Never seen a state law concerning the matter

How do I feel about it? I could care less. The record companies are crooks...........If I want to copy a cd to have an extra one in my wife's car, why should they care....I wouldn't buy 2 of the same cd anyways.

I would be careful...........don't want to burn yourself later. There could be some obscure law out there covering this.

[yahcanmicrowave]

technically, it is a crime. But most penalties are purely civil in manner. In order to prove a criminal charge, you would have to prove intent. If you are not making a profit off of the illegal copyright, I doubt you could be convicted.

A civil case is another matter altogher. I never go into all of the file sharing crap. of course with a 56K dial up line I think it would take a while to download.

[gn38]

I guess my question is, would I have to declare this on the personal history packet when applying for a LEO job? Would a municipal police agency frown on something like this? I want to be 100% honest when spilling my guts on the personal history packet and dont want to risk having something like this come back to haunt me.

[rdp]

If you have a question about it, ask a B/I. They could easily answer the question as each dept. is different.

[txinvestigator1]

Originally posted by rdp

How do I feel about it? I could care less. The record companies are crooks...........If I want to copy a cd to have an extra one in my wife's car, why should they care....I wouldn't buy 2 of the same cd anyways.

I don't think the problem is people making a copy of music they purchased for personal use. The issue is people sharing the music over the internet for thousands who never pay for the music. It is a copyright violation,and in my opinion it is theft.

If I was looking for a LE job I would not be participating in this activity.

And just because one believes the record companies are crooks or greedy does not make it OK to violate them.

[mcsap]

Our apps ask are you now or have you ever been sued and if so, why ?

Goes to character. And the world knows we need police officers with morals and character.

[gn38]

Thanks for the input. I think that I will delete the program off of my computer tommorow.

[coucousis]

?????????

All scary ****... No one as proven any illegality in file sharing... We may think ..... we may consider it as ... we may a lot of thing... but for now... No proof at all that it is illegal...

So .... come up with your own conclusion. As a futur cop.. you shall base your opinion on facts.

[coucousis]

I guess that it could be unnapropriate from a moral point of view for some ..... sure not yet illegal in Canada....

Here you go for all of those that are interested....:D


http://www.canada.com/search/story.h...6-3a0919e6c310

[DltUNH]

?????????

All scary ****... No one as proven any illegality in file sharing... We may think ..... we may consider it as ... we may a lot of thing... but for now... No proof at all that it is illegal...

So .... come up with your own conclusion. As a futur cop.. you shall base your opinion on facts.

I thought people from a few colleges as well as the colleges themselves have been prosecuted, may just have the facts wrong. I thought that it was illegal but hey what do I know... Just curious.

And as for the original question, I have decided no longer to download music. I download streamed music if it is possible from a few websites. For instance my favorite band is the Roots. They have a website where you can listen to hundreds of live songs if you are a fan of The Roots. It is an honor system that you don't sell it, but they actually encourage you to trade it to other lovers of The Roots. Kinda the whole Grateful Dead/Phish type of mentality of getting as many people listening to their music as possible. So yea, look up a site where it is Streaming Video or Audio of your favorite songs and see if there is a disclaimer idnicating if it is authorized by the record label.

DLT

[coucousis]

A lot of artist are disappointed and are commenting the court ruling today....

Some of them have interesting point.... One said... " we will not go anywhere as long as we are trying to impliment that people doing file sharing are criminals. We have to stop treating them as criminal and start improving our product... We have to look at new ways of marketing our product since the prosecution did not stand. "

Finally somebody wakes up and look at the global picture instead of being narrow minded... I think it is a bit late however.... they should have sit down at the very beggining when this problem raised and find creative solutions instead of standing still on their position.

My 02c about this !

[crazy fan]

I am currently applying to the Ft. Worth Police Department, and my Background packet asks if I have used a computer for any unlawful or illegal purpose. I admitted downloading mp3's. I would admit to it if I were you.

[BigGerman]

I agree with RDP. They are crooks and they are finaly getting what they have deserved for a long time. If I go to the record store to buy an Aerosmith CD which was produced more than 20 years ago (for maybe $50,00 back then) it is STILL $17.50. If I stand in the supermarket check out I can buy a copy of the Aliens DVD for $12.99 which cost more than 50 million to produce. Furthermore, I can go buy a 19 inch color TV for $100 and connect an antenna and watch an endless amount of shows that cost millions to produce for as long as that $100 TV lasts and never pay a dime. What a shame the rich record execs will not be able to make the payments on the yacht or the spanish villa. All that I can say is that if you log onto Kazza there are millions of people sharing. Besides...when I am done borrowing my files I always upload them back :D :p