Is it OK to import a CD to itunes if an immediate family member owns it?

Attorney answers (3)

1. Licensed in CA

   

   Pamela Koslyn

   Los Angeles Business Attorney

   Contributor Level 20

   1

   Helpful vote

   Answered February 18, 2011 00:18. No. There's no "brother-same-taste-same-household" exception to the copyright law barring reproduction by anyone except the actual copyright owner, who's the record label. You won't be caught if you make copies of the CDs you've bought for your brother, or vice versa, but it's still copyright infringement.
   
   Disclaimer: Please note that this answer does not constitute legal advice, and should not be relied on, since each state has different laws, each situation is fact specific, and it is impossible to evaluate a legal problem without a comprehensive consultation and review of all the facts and documents at issue. This answer does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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2. 

   Daniel Hamad

   New Haven Real Estate Attorney

   Contributor Level 15

   Answered February 18, 2011 11:56. Absolutely not legal. Sharing CD's is no problem because when one of you has it, the other doesn't. But if you both import the CD to your computers, there's now two copies where only one is paid for.
   
   Time- and space-shifting can be fine (in other words, importing a CD that you own to your computer can be fine) but you can't copy it to your computer then give the CD to someone else, and you can't have two different people with copies.
   
   I am not a CA attorney and this is not intended to be legal advice.

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3. 

   Laurence Donahue

   Albuquerque Business Attorney

   Contributor Level 7

   Answered February 18, 2011 17:04. LOL ... The two esteemed attorneys before me gave the correct answer.
   
   So, my answer is going to be technical, not legal. You said the magic word "iTunes." If you have a home network, you can share each others' music library.
   
   In iTunes, go to help, and look for "Share music." There is a "Share your iTunes library" function, where you can share your library on your local network.
   
   I know, not a legal response, but should accomplish what you're trying to do.
   
   Good luck. Larry.

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