Yes, you can share mp3's from amazon--they're DRM free. The iTunes plus songs are also DRM free, and they used to be 30 cents more than the regular ones, but I'm not sure if that's still the case.
If you want to share regular iTunes files, just burn them onto a CD, then rip them back off. You'll end up with DRM-free files.
The thing about iTunes plus is that they're DRM free but your email address is written into the song so if you share them with people, they can see the email address you use for your iTunes account. In other words, there's still a price to pay.
Amazon is both DRM free and not likely to give away personal information.
Theoretically, your email address is on any song bought from iTunes. But usually when you buy a DRM song from iTunes, you have to burn it to a CD and then import it back in and that helps keep the info private (I think). With non-DRM music from iTunes, you can share immediately and if the song goes on a P2P network, everyone sees your info. You can privatize the song but there's a code.
At least, that's how it was a year ago. I have no idea if iTunes has changed that policy because I stopped buying from them after that.
But usually when you buy a DRM song from iTunes, you have to burn it to a CD and then import it back in and that helps keep the info private (I think).
Yeah, I've done that many times and never seen any info attached to the files. Although I've always done it on the PC, so the ripping involved a conversion to wma which undoubtedly helped in that respect. I'll have to try it on the Mac and see if there's any difference.
Theoretically, your email address is on any song bought from iTunes. But usually when you buy a DRM song from iTunes, you have to burn it to a CD and then import it back in and that helps keep the info private (I think).
Ahhhhhhhhh. AHHHHHH. I really hope it keeps the info private when you do it this way. Written into the song how?
It's encoded, I guess, with the info about the artist and title. Again, I think it's lost when it's converted to mp3. Really, I know so little about it that I'm not a good source of info but this is what I've gathered.
I don't think they want anyone to do it but it's possible as they're just normal mp3s. I remember there was a BIG stink by TPTB in the music biz when Amazon announced they weren't gonna put anykind of anti-piracy stuff in them.
My biggest beef with amazon in this respect is that you can't redownload if something happens to your files. I moved an album to an XHD for backup and to make room on my computer and the files got corrupted and I was SOL on replacing them. OF course if I'd been smart and put them on a CD first I would have been fine, but in that case I hadn't. At least I had them on my iPod.
That happened to me before too. Mostly I buy cds so it's no biggy, but I learned my lesson and have a separate hard drive just for my music. If I was truly paranoid, I'd run it on a separate power strip than my actual computer, but I haven't hit that peak(bottom?) yet.
So, um, if you were asking for legal opinions at all:
FYI (and IANAL-yet), but whether or not you _can_ share the files bears little relation to whether you _may_. In both cases (Amazon or iTunes), your user agreement says you are not going to duplicate your downloads for other people. You have agreed not to share them. I use emusic, which has never had DRM during the time I've been on it - but I, too, have agreed not to pass them on to someone else. And legally, whereever you bought it from, duping it for someone else is (usually) copyright infringement, same as ripping off a CD and sharing with someone else.
The main differences are not in the legalities, but in the technicalities - whether it is technically possible, and whether (as people have already pointed out with the iTunes plus encoded info) there might be evidence against you if anyone ever got annoyed about it.
If you want truly freely shareable music, look for albums where the actual owners of the copyrights have officially released them for sharing. Not too many of those.
“I want you to be happy, Spencer Smith,” Brendon says. He tilts his head, opens his eyes wide and juts his lower lip out, just the tiniest bit. “Be happy with me?”
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
skoosiepants
Comments
If you want to share regular iTunes files, just burn them onto a CD, then rip them back off. You'll end up with DRM-free files.
BTW, I'm new to town as it were and just wanted to say I came by cause of the fic cause it is AWESOME. :-)
Amazon is both DRM free and not likely to give away personal information.
Ooo, yikes I didn't know that!
At least, that's how it was a year ago. I have no idea if iTunes has changed that policy because I stopped buying from them after that.
Yeah, I've done that many times and never seen any info attached to the files. Although I've always done it on the PC, so the ripping involved a conversion to wma which undoubtedly helped in that respect. I'll have to try it on the Mac and see if there's any difference.
Ahhhhhhhhh. AHHHHHH. I really hope it keeps the info private when you do it this way. Written into the song how?
It's encoded, I guess, with the info about the artist and title. Again, I think it's lost when it's converted to mp3. Really, I know so little about it that I'm not a good source of info but this is what I've gathered.
I just wish the site's music download site was more user friendly like iTunes.
FYI (and IANAL-yet), but whether or not you _can_ share the files bears little relation to whether you _may_. In both cases (Amazon or iTunes), your user agreement says you are not going to duplicate your downloads for other people. You have agreed not to share them. I use emusic, which has never had DRM during the time I've been on it - but I, too, have agreed not to pass them on to someone else. And legally, whereever you bought it from, duping it for someone else is (usually) copyright infringement, same as ripping off a CD and sharing with someone else.
The main differences are not in the legalities, but in the technicalities - whether it is technically possible, and whether (as people have already pointed out with the iTunes plus encoded info) there might be evidence against you if anyone ever got annoyed about it.
If you want truly freely shareable music, look for albums where the actual owners of the copyrights have officially released them for sharing. Not too many of those.