From: johnf@Auspex.COM (John Fereira)
Newsgroups: rec.music.cd
Subject: Re: Repost: RARE CDs FOR SALE!!! (over 800 CDs)!!!
Keywords: NIRVANA, PINK FLOYD, LED ZEPPELIN, U2, SPRINGSTEEN, METALLICA
Date: 15 Apr 92 21:15:02 GMT
Organization: Auspex Systems, Inc.

In article <35116@uflorida.cis.ufl.edu> jry@reef.cis.ufl.edu (John Young) writes:
>I just have a few more words to say on my behalf...
>
>First, to equate selling bootleg CDs with selling drugs over the net is the
>most asinine thing I have ever heard...

Selling drugs is illegal.  Distributing bootlegs in the United States is
illegal.  You can be arrested for doing either of these activities.  The
difference is in how the product for sale is viewed.  I don't think you'll
find a "drugs for sale" article in alt.drugs.  Someone who cares might be
watching. I think that there might be a few record companies interested in
your "RARE CD's For Sale" article however.

>Secondly, as someone pointed out...the laws which govern live recordings
>in Italy are VERY different than the U.S.  There used to be a 20 year wait
>before live recordings entered the "public domain"...then it was reduced to
>15 years...now, who knows?

I would think it would be your business to know.  Of course, if you ever go
to court for this you can always use the "I didn't know it was illegal"
defense.

>  I have a Great Dane CD recorded last year on
>Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever tour that you can buy on your Master Card direct
>from Great Dane in Italy...do you know why?  BECAUSE THAT CD IS LEGAL IN 
>ITALY...that's why!

Yes, but is it legal to distribute that CD in the US?  Let me use the drugs
analogy again.  In some countries it is legal to possess and purchase
marijuana.  Yes, MARIJUANA IS LEGAL IN SOME COUNTRIES.  Can I mail order
a couple of pounds and distributed in the United States.  No, because the
sale and distribution of marijuana is illegal in the United States.  The
sale and distribution of bootlegs is illegal in the United States.  Get it?


>  And if you were to call Great Dane up and order it
>they would charge you $30.00 (shipping not included) for it...and they
>are the ones pressing the CD in the first place.  Which then begs the 
>question...how can someone else (like myself) get the CD for less than
>the price Great Dane sells them for...
>Simple...you have to buy thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from them
>to get a break...and I'm not talking about ordering 100 different CDs...
>I mean someone (generally) orders 50 of the same CD title!  So now 
>you can understand how it works.
 
Yes, I understand.  You are running a business.  You forgot to mention
that you can sell them for a lower price because you are using the net
for free (to you) advertizing.  Perhaps you should read news.announce.newusers.
You find articles describing what is and isn't proper use of Usenet.  The
use of Usenet for advertizing a business is one of the no-no's.  The use
of the net for illegal purposes is also prohibited.  

>Another ridiculous comment is that the CDs cost only $3 to $4 tops to 
>produce.  While this may be true...but by the time the discs get from
>point A (overseas) to point B (U.S.) the cost of the CD has tripled (this
>is no exaggeration).  The bootleggers in these countries don't feel like
>getting into trouble either so you had better believe that they are going
>to make you pay for the risk involved.
 
Gee, why would the bootlegger get into trouble?  Could it be that perhaps
what they are doing is illegal?

>One last note...in other countries like Luxembourg, the public domain laws
>are nearly non-existant...
 
Fine. So limit your distribution to Luxembourg.
-- 
+=============================================================================+
| John Fereira                Al Bundy for President          
| johnf@auspex.com         "He's as good as the next guy"                     |
+=============================================================================+
Newsgroups: rec.music.cd