Is it OK to download a magic video from a P2P site to see if you want to buy it?

Now all you need to do is find a method of P2P that only gives you clips instead of the whole thing....

On 2006-12-21 17:06, acmp wrote:
Danny, yes. Although I am uncertain as to the meaning of the quotes around the word evaluate in your post. It implies raised eyebrows to me, which in turn imply an altered meaning to evaluate, such as saying I'll just "evaluate" this beer. Then you drink it. Oh joy, the complexities of language condensed in to the written form.

If a P2P download helps you to evaluate a DVD before you buy it (DL within the fair use allowance of your local copyright laws please) then I don't see it as a bad thing. If I could have a preview of some DVD's I'm a bit interested in then I may buy them. I don't want to see the secrets. I just want to know that I'm getting what I expect.

I also don't see that as harming the creators of the DVD's. If you argue that P2P allows people to share copyrighted materials without paying the creators for their efforts and should therefore be banned then why not ban cars because people use them for crime too. Yes it's thin but I've had a long day and it's the best analogy I could think of.

Wikipedia says:
Debate or debating is a formal method of interactive and position representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, since it includes persuasion which appeals to the emotional responses of an audience, and rules enabling people to discuss and decide on differences, within a framework defining how they will interact.

On 2006-12-19 16:17, acmp wrote:
First off I respect copyright.

Here's the question though, Is it OK to download a magic video from a P2P site to see if you want to buy it? ...

The copyright holder has not (likely not) consented to having their work made publicly available in that format for download/review.

On 2006-12-22 15:08, acmp wrote:...there is an argument that as the DVD has been sold it is now in the public domain so it is no longer secret...

On 2006-12-21 06:32, acmp wrote:
For the last time, hopefully.

This is not a thread about ripping people off. This is not a thread about stealing stuff from the Internet. This is not a thread about getting it all for free.

This was, no is, about the concept of using existing channels to better evaluate a potential purchase. I have not once said that I have downloaded anything and yet the shiny forks of accusation are pointing at me, guilty until I leave the forum in many eyes, no doubt.

So, once more I will state the idea. You wish to see if a video looks good before you pay £30 (about $60) so you DL a bit of the video and have a look. At present the only way to get the video clip is from P2P networks. Ideally you would be able to get these clips from the resellers web sites, but you can't. You don't DL the clip to learn the secrets, you don't do it to get something for nothing. This is just the video equivalent of a test drive.

In response to an earlier question 'how can you say you respect copyright then ask the question of downloading before you buy' I would have thought that this idea would fall into the 'fair use' clause of copyright law and therefore you would be OK legally to do this. I'll do some checking. If anyone knows for sure about this could they post/PM.

The music industry were very much against downloading and sharing of music, and now it has lead to a very useful and profitable revenue stream for them.

I do not consider my self unethical, I do not see where I have indicated in any way that I am unethical.

Rik, I do check here now, I learnt my lesson with the card slights DVD (man that sucked, anyone want a copy, only $15 +S&H?)

Quote:

IF your method of arriving at the information does not result in him getting money, it is not right.

I agree. The thing is, I may be persuaded to buy a DVD that I may not otherwise have, so the author gets more money for their work. Admittedly though if I don't like what I see then I won't buy it.

Posted: Dec 21, 2006 7:26am
Interesting read at Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use

Quotes from the page - pertaining to US law:

Quote:

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In

Quote:

In short, we must often... look to the nature and objects of the selections made, the quantity and value of the materials used, and the degree in which the use may prejudice the sale, or diminish the profits, or supersede the objects, of the original work

It would seem to me, not a legal person, that IF the clip was intended to review the DVD and was not substantial as both a proportion of the entire DVD and to the secrets contained within that the 'preview' is OK if used to decide if to buy or not. The tricky bits are the substantial amount (as to the secrets contained) and also to prejudice the sale. Though I doubt a court would convict if you had a DL clip in order to review before purchasing.

On 2006-12-22 15:19, Jonathan Townsend wrote:

Quote:

On 2006-12-22 15:08, acmp wrote:...there is an argument that as the DVD has been sold it is now in the public domain so it is no longer secret...

the term "public domain" as a muggle law interpretation as NO LONGER PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT which in this case is most likely not appropriate as unless the copyright holder has donated the thing via some sort of release document... it is still their property and they retain the right to decide who can make/sell copies and how.

On 2006-12-26 02:33, Dannydoyle wrote:
Funny whenever anyone says, "everyone does it" what is really being said is that THEY do it.

It says far more about them, than the large sweeping statements they make.