******* READ THIS BEFORE POSTING *******

Why not?

The crux of the matter is: it's illegal.
We cannot be held responsible for hosting links to illegal material, as it puts the whole site at jeopardy.

It's not that we don't want to share music.

Originally Posted by Daniel

The crux of the matter is: it's illegal.
We cannot be held responsible for hosting links to illegal material, as it puts the whole site at jeopardy.

Naturally. Your patronizing absolutism is not needed.

And Mike, what did you respond to? I edited the post a bit.

I was responding to this:

And I'm sure these decisions aren't in the best interest of this site at all.

You didn't elaborate on your reasoning. I was curious to know what it was.

Also, I never said the issue was specifically about lawsuits. It's also about preserving reputation - making it clear that we respect and uphold copyright law.

And as far as I am aware, there is no legal distinction to be had between musical copyright infringement and software copyright infringement, for example, thus unfortunately your "art is to be shared" argument has no legal basis.

You didn't elaborate on your reasoning. I was curious to know what it was.

Look to my ''art is to be shared'' statement. Encouraging the attitude that art is to be shared is more important than making it clear that we respect and uphold the copyright law, surely?

Also, I never said the issue was specifically about lawsuits. It's also about preserving reputation - making it clear that we respect and uphold copyright law.

Yes, I know what you meant. The proper terminology escaped me so I fell back on 2nd grade english. Sleep is good for me - I should get more of it!

Anyway, I can't really argue with you here. If it's reputation you're worried about, then yes, what you're doing is in the best interest of the site. Otherwise..

Originally Posted by Anders

Yes, I know. Your patronizing absolutism is not needed.

Short lesson in legal issues:

you have a car and you're driving. you don't have a license!

somebody comes from your back and hits you really hard while you're in front of a red light, everything legal with the car. Who pays? YOU! Why? Cause you didn't have a license. No doubt about that!

Reason <> Laws. Laws are not always reasoning or make much sense, further more most people know little about laws and their reasoning behind them.

something is illegal. nothing patronising, or absolute. P2P is here to stay, but don't ask a public forum who is doing SUCH A GREAT SERVICE to all of you to support something illegal, even the slightest... There are many things that are gray area and need discussing (like youtube for example), but still posting a direct link to a copyrighted material is illegal all the way, no matter how fair we find it, how nice nad educating it is, and so on.

Also, btw, if you want to make a piece known to the general audience, post 3 minute clip (for example, for a large work). This should suffice for anyone to get a very good idea of the work. Why post the WHOLE thing? And this CAN happen under copyright laws, regarding education... As well as making photocopies of 5% or 5 pages (which ever smaller) from published books.

But me posting a link, to Karajans' recocding from Detuche Gramophone Beethoven the 9th ALL is illegal, seems illegal, sounds illegal and the tolerance that YC forum is giving is illegal as well.

Sadly! Cause I do find that music sharing is really difficult, stupid, and moronic to be treated this way...

BTW, for example: MUSE (not classical but ok), have ALL their songs ontheir site. no need to be illegal, go to their site and listen to them. same goes for manyu other groups. Classical recordings can be found in youtube, most of hte time legally...

*sigh* you misunderstand. I know what Daniel said is entirely correct, I just didn't like the way he said it - it was made entirely clear (by me ) that my arguments held no water beyond appealing to open-mindedness.

Oh, and I understand legal issues fine. You patronizing bastard.

Originally Posted by Anders

Look to my ''art is to be shared'' statement. Encouraging the attitude that art is to be shared is more important than making it clear that we respect and uphold the copyright law, surely?

Again, why do you believe this? Is it because you believe unpopular law is automatically "bad" law? ("Law" meaning either a law on YC or US copyright law)

Philosophising over whether or not art should be shared is irrelevant in a legal context. It isn't our place to philosophise - we don't have a choice. If we allow copyrighted recordings from YouTube and other sites to slip through the net, why not allow the same thing to happen with cracked software? It would be ridiculous to have someone "recommending" Finale and at the same time providing a link to an illegal copy of it.

lol

okie...

Sorry for patronisssssssing you... (I'm a ssssssssssssssssssnake... a legal one )

Nikolas, I was joking... Sorry if that somehow didn't come across.

Again, why do you believe this? Is it because you believe unpopular law is automatically "bad" law? ("Law" meaning either a law on YC or US copyright law)

OH RIGHT! Yes! Unpopular law is bad law! That's what I think! How VERY rational!

I'm sorry that you think I'm ''philosophising''.