On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 18:12:09 GMT, "Michael McKelvy"
wrote:

Making copies of personally owned material onto other media for
personal use isn't a violation of copyright laws unless the source
material is encrypted.

At least not yet, it would be if the record companies had their way.

This would mean that it's technically illegal
to make any copies of virtually all DVDs and legal to make copies of
virtually all CDs, LPs, or tapes.

So, media shifting is certainly legal and time-honored, as long as it
doesn't involve cracking some anti-copying device.

Then I shouldn't have to pay extra for fees that go to record companies when
I buy blank media.

Well, AFAIK, you aren't legally required to buy that media (it's
different in Canada I think). I don't think that ordinary "data" media
has that charge.

However, I don't think you should begrudge the songwriters that extra
quarter, or whatever it is. It's already dirt cheap for you to use
blank CD media. This is just a way to get some royalties to the
songwriter. I'm not sure if any of that fee goes to the record company
unless they own the copyright to the songs, but I could be wrong about
that. When you can get 50 blanks for $20 (and usually far cheaper on
special), I don't see the burden on the consumer.