Laws Regarding Music Steaming?

[dancanmt]

Is it illegal to direct link our personal music files for the purpose of presenting them (listening only) in an online jukebox on another internet forum? I am only talking about listening to the music, not allowing downloading!

[RoseD1]

Well if the RIAA had their way with their mob like tactics it would be.If you worried ask a lawyer but as often as its done why worry?I fight them on every front I can and I worked in the music biz:cool:

[Puniksem]

How is MP3 treated differently from audio "streaming" under the law?

MP3 technology allows consumers to download an audio recording for storage and playback on command at near-CD quality. Audio streaming, on the other hand, is more akin to a radio broadcast (or, legally, a "public performance") than a distribution.

With streaming, audio information is transmitted for listening in real-time, and it generally is not possible to store the streamed audio information. Also, at least currently, the quality of streamed audio is significantly inferior to that of MP3.

The Recording Industry Association of America has taken the position that streamed audio is not only a "public performance," but also a distribution, in that a copy of the streamed information is actually buffered (and, thus, copied) in the memory of the listener's computer, at least temporarily. As a result of a compromise on this issue,

Congress enacted legislation last year providing that webcasters that send audio streams via the Internet are required to pay compulsory license fees for the transmission of master recordings included in the webcast. This license is in addition to any fees for performance licenses from BMI, ASCAP and SESAC.

On the other hand, there is no compulsory license available for distributing sound recordings via MP3. Without direct authority from the copyright owner, users may not upload MP3 files to a web site, and web site operators may not post MP3 files for download by others.

Ultimately it relies upon the laws of the country where you reside.

Click here (http://www.csusa.org/face/softint/faqs.htm) to read the full report.