11-04-2010, 08:49 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-04-2010, 09:34 PM by OneHitGamer.)
Purely info on USA where i live. tend to forget about other countries. some countries have NO copyright laws.
But also, to go into more depth on the subject, COPYRIGHT LAWS are not actual laws. a law is something if you get caught doing, you get punished. whereas a copyright law is more like the country saying to the developer/publisher of said game, "we will support and enforce if you wish for no one to be able to copy your material". this is why if you was copying a game, and even giving it away for free and a police officer seen it, he couldn't do anything about it. its up to the creators of the game/movie/music to pursue you in court. but no matter where you are on earth, if sony says "YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COPY OUR CRAP" then thats just it, you arent allowed. however, in order for them to enforce it, they have to have the country your in support it and enforce it. america for example, enforces it ten fold. but theres loop holes as well. for example, its not illegal in USA to download copyrighted material. companies say it is, but usa wont back them. its illegal to sell or give away, or UPLOAD and share, but not to download. this is an act of a privacy law that was passed many years ago. there was a 14 year old girl years back who got arrested and fined for "downloading" 6 ac/dc songs/ in truth, she was punished for accidently SHARING them in her p2p program. not because she downloaded them. billions download, but mere hundred thousands upload.
Remember that commercial in the movie theaters "You wouldnt steal a purse, you wouldnt steal a DVD............BUYING bootlegs is a crime" or something like that? they never mentioned DOWNLOADING. they trick people into thinking downloading is illegal when its not. its not illegal to download copyrighted materials, but it IS illegal to have them. and companies have the right to pursue you. but dont have to. its tricky to think about really. but if you live in the USA, download away, but dont dare sell or upload. privacy laws protect you, whilst copyright laws attack you.....NUTS!
But also, to go into more depth on the subject, COPYRIGHT LAWS are not actual laws. a law is something if you get caught doing, you get punished. whereas a copyright law is more like the country saying to the developer/publisher of said game, "we will support and enforce if you wish for no one to be able to copy your material". this is why if you was copying a game, and even giving it away for free and a police officer seen it, he couldn't do anything about it. its up to the creators of the game/movie/music to pursue you in court. but no matter where you are on earth, if sony says "YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COPY OUR CRAP" then thats just it, you arent allowed. however, in order for them to enforce it, they have to have the country your in support it and enforce it. america for example, enforces it ten fold. but theres loop holes as well. for example, its not illegal in USA to download copyrighted material. companies say it is, but usa wont back them. its illegal to sell or give away, or UPLOAD and share, but not to download. this is an act of a privacy law that was passed many years ago. there was a 14 year old girl years back who got arrested and fined for "downloading" 6 ac/dc songs/ in truth, she was punished for accidently SHARING them in her p2p program. not because she downloaded them. billions download, but mere hundred thousands upload.
Remember that commercial in the movie theaters "You wouldnt steal a purse, you wouldnt steal a DVD............BUYING bootlegs is a crime" or something like that? they never mentioned DOWNLOADING. they trick people into thinking downloading is illegal when its not. its not illegal to download copyrighted materials, but it IS illegal to have them. and companies have the right to pursue you. but dont have to. its tricky to think about really. but if you live in the USA, download away, but dont dare sell or upload. privacy laws protect you, whilst copyright laws attack you.....NUTS!