What's the deal with copyright laws and concert recordings?

Question

My favorite artist, Regina Spektor, probably has many more songs that she performs only at concerts than recorded songs. There are a couple sites out there where people who recorded her concerts post the songs online for others to hear. This isn't illegal is it? And what if I download them? If that's legal, what can I do with the songs? Can I just put them on my iPod? Or put them in a movie and put it up on YouTube? If there's anyone who can clarify this for me, that would be awesome, because I really love her songs and really would love to be able to have them on my iPod/in a movie...

Answer 1

Very easy for u with E.M. Youtube video download tool.

It works very well and easy to use.

It can download video from youtube, yahoo, google, myspace,dailymption or any other video websites automatiacally.

(1)click button"Convert FLV to video" to the convert page.

(2)Click "New Task" to add the video to the list.

(3)click "Change a format" ---> Apple video ----->ipod Mpeg4 Mov(or ipod Mpeg4,iPod AVC H264).

(4)Input the video or audio to iTune, then sync with your iPod.

Or Convert to AAC audio for iPod.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&newwi...

It can Convert flv video to any audio include mp3, wma,wav,ac3,mmf,amr,ogg,aac..., to any video formats include 3gp,avi,wmv, mpg,mpg4,asf,swf,h264,mov,jpg, that can be supported by PSP,iPod,iPhone,Apple TV video,iTune,mp3,mp4,Zune,Cellphone,Digit... camera,DV,CD/DVD/VCD/SVCD.

Answer 2

Oy vey......

dont worry about doing all that mumbo jumbo...

Use Respektonline.com

her recordings are so rare that any song you find on YouTube, like "The Virgin Queen", the Mustard Musketeers, or One more time with feeling..... (ones that arent published)... all come from this site.

if you dont believe me, check the sources of the vids on Youtube (Usually under "Info"). They match the dates from the site that tells when and where tehy were recorded and the track is exactly the same.

They have the video feed from TONS of performances..... even Lollapalooza--

and after you hit "download", jsut go to either your "downloads" file on your computer or "videos" and simply drag theinto your ITunes collection. Really easy.

Just click, wait for it to download, and drag it.

This is teh only way I can get ehr music-- I am technologically impaired, lol

Answer 3

"There are a couple sites out there where people who recorded her concerts post the songs online for others to hear. This isn't illegal is it?"

Yes, yes, yes it's illegal, UNLESS these recordings are the result of the copyright holder (the music company) posting them online. People smuggle cameras into concerts and get away with it, but I assure you, it's illegal in any country in the world.

"And what if I download them?"

You are allowed to make a copy of material for your personal use, which includes making your own mix on your iPod, or for archival purposes, if you paid for the music/recording OR it was distributed legally. If not, you are in possession of illegal copyrighted material.

"If that's legal, what can I do with the songs? Can I just put them on my iPod?"

You can do this. If it's just for personal use, you will likely never get caught. But consider if you did, and have hundreds of illegal copies of other songs. This can be bad news, but is fairly unlikely.

"Or put them in a movie and put it up on YouTube?"

No matter what the status of the video you have, legally obtained or not, once you do this you've crossed the line and are illegally redistributing copyrighted material. In most cases, YouTube will just pull the video with a warning, but technically you can be sued for this.

EDIT: Jaraad, to answer your latest edit, it's because YouTube's policy states the content is the responsibility of the uploading party. But this hasn't kept them out of trouble, and being the enabling force for copyright violations, thy are headed for big trouble if that doesn't change.

A couple recent articles for you, it is all over the news:

Viacom sues YouTube

http://news.cnet.com/Viacom-sues-Google-...

Viacom YouTube Smackdown

http://www.eonline.com/news/article/inde...

The end result of this is going to set serious precedents in protecting copyrighted material.