"Legal" Question, on MP3 Distribution.

[ShadowTiger]

Suppose I found a site with ALL of the Metroid Prime MP3's. Yes, it's real, yes, it does exist, and yes, ALL of the links WORK. I'm sure many of you have already found it.

My question is, if you HAVE the game, .. (OWN it, rather.) .. can you legally download these? I've never seen an actual sound track disc for MP, so this may be the only method. (Correct me if I'm wrong, of course.)

In the VGmusic forums, the same link was distributed, and NOT shot down by a moderator. Apparently, if you own the game, you ARE ALLOWED to download the MP3's.

So my question to you, or the staff here, is, may the link be distributed here for those who own the game and have been looking for the music?

[Dart Zaidyer]

In my opinion this should be a non-issue. We've already got Trackers and Midi and SPC and mp3 of "copyright protected videogame music" going into Zelda Classic all the time, and I can assure you that a lot of it has seen Audio CD releases. Banning stand-alone distribution on AGN is not only a stupid idea, but easily retroactive.

[C-Dawg]

Aquiring copyrighted material without the express consent of the copyright holder is infringement. Period. There might be some legal wrangling about things that are basically in the public domain or reverse-engineered creations... but you dont have any money and so no lawyer would argue that for you.

The enforcement is civil, not criminal, so you're OK until the copyright holder chooses to take action against you. Chances are, since you're a kid downloading video game music, they won't.

This is not a legal opinion.

-C

[Saffith]

I've never seen an actual sound track disc for MP, so this may be the only method. (Correct me if I'm wrong, of course.)Very well, then: http://www.cocoebiz.com/catalog/scdc00276.html

[ShadowTiger]

Wow, you found that fast. :p Alright, so this means that it must be illegal to present the link in public, no matter what. Thank you for your reaffirmation.

[Dart Zaidyer]

Okay then, kiss goodbye all links to the Metroid Database, Metroid Online, Metroid HQ, and any really good Metroid fansite because they ALL carry mp3's of Metroid music. While you're at it, Metroid 2002 links should be removed because they contain said music in gameplay videos.

[Melonhead]

Okay then, kiss goodbye all links to the Metroid Database, Metroid Online, Metroid HQ, and any really good Metroid fansite because they ALL carry mp3's of Metroid music. While you're at it, Metroid 2002 links should be removed because they contain said music in gameplay videos.

Oh please. Like NOA would have anything to gain from shutting down fan sites.

[ShadowTiger]

If you ask me, some people are just too agitated about their music being stolen and / or listened to outside of the game merely because people LIKE IT SO MUCH that they decide to rip it or put the musical score online. If someone used things I made, I would be flattered. It's a shame more people aren't like that nowadays. Fan sites should never be erased though. That would be a tyrannical statement to the game players.

[gdorf]

If you ask me, some people are just too agitated about their music being stolen and / or listened to outside of the game merely because people LIKE IT SO MUCH that they decide to rip it or put the musical score online. If someone used things I made, I would be flattered. It's a shame more people aren't like that nowadays. Fan sites should never be erased though. That would be a tyrannical statement to the game players.

Shame on the people who have to work to earn a living. shame shame shame. Just because they don't live with their parents and they have to pay the bills and support families is no reasons for them to charge for their work!! I mean, c'mon, who charges for products nowadays? Flattery doesn't pay for food.

[ShadowTiger]

Naturally. But I bought their game. I spent Fifty dollars on a little disc and twenty page manual. I wasted five or so hours of my life gathering little missiles, and popping aliens with toy guns, and tore out hair at Metroid Prime. Sure, I did all that. Now give me my music. :eyebrow:

I mean, FIFTY DOLLARS, man! FIFTY! I don't usually spend that much money in a month! :eek:

[Thunderbird]

I wouldn't be surprised if the music could be ripped from the game disc somehow. GameCube discs are mini-DVDs, right?

Ripping methods exist for PS2 games. And of course there's always the ole rip via Line In method if you can't rip the music otherwise.

[Kirby of Doom]

Well, regardless of whether it's illegal to have mp3s of music from a game you own, it's definitely illegal to distribute it since you're making it avalible to people who might not own the game. Not that I haven't downloaded VG mp3s myself.

[vegeta1215]

So my question to you, or the staff here, is, may the link be distributed here for those who own the game and have been looking for the music?

No. This violates our copyrighted material policy.

Even if it were ok for everyone that owns Metroid Prime to download the music, how can you guarantee that ONLY those who own the game will download it? You can't. Once you link it, everyone's gonna go get it, whether they own it or not.

If you have such a link and you know some members will enjoy it, you can always private message those members. Also if you have any more questions, message a staff member.