Legality of Samples? (20 Seconds)

[Juo]

Hey guys,

Ive been working on a script that’s now got pretty mature and will hopefully see the light of day before the month is out. It basically downloads the Rapidshare links on my website to an offsite server, unpacks the RAR's and makes a 20 second sample from each and every mp3. It then uploads these samples to my server and posts them, too the thread.

The idea is this will help users with two things

1. The user can hear the exact quality of what they are about to download (useful for WEB/Radio rips)
2. The user can actually discover music in a much easier/quicker manner

We all know linking to Rapidshare content etc is perfectly fine but I was wondering what are the legalities of posting 20 samples? I assumed it would be ok but thought id make a post and get some feedback.

Cheers

You can see an example here http://www.warez-dnb.com/index.php?topic=861 at the moment links open in a new thread but I plan on using some jQuery magic to make it play within the window (just havnt got around to it yet)

Juo Reviewed by Juo on 2nd Jul 2009. Legality of Samples? (20 Seconds) Hey guys, Ive been working on a script that’s now got pretty mature and will hopefully see the light of day before the month is out. It basically downloads the Rapidshare links on my website to an offsite server, unpacks the RAR's and makes a 20 second sample from each and every mp3. It then uploads these samples to my server and posts them, too the thread. The idea is this will help users with two things The user can hear the exact quality of what they are about to download (useful Rating: 5

[Bread]

I believe if the samples are from an illegal download, then the sample becomes illegal. That's what I believe. Hope I'm not in the totally wrong area with my opinion.

-Bread

[r0ck]

As a musician myself, I know it is not legal if your getting your samples in a non legal way...however do I care when this happens...no...so the chances of anyone ever saying anything is highly unlikely, and just comply with any dmca notices you get about said samples

[evil.eXe]

I really love the idea and the script. I do however believe that it would still be considered illegal especially since it's on your own server. Good luck though!

[Moby Master]

I believe if the samples are from an illegal download, then the sample becomes illegal. That's what I believe. Hope I'm not in the totally wrong area with my opinion.

-Bread

I agree with you.

[Loget]

You are essentially hosting warez which is a big nono you might want to speak to your host about it and make sure you comply fully with DMCA complaints. This is a good idea but it gives people a very good excuse to take you down and even take you too court so your walking on a thin line here.

[Juo]

Mixed reactions, I might rethink it a bit, Im sure there is a way I can get this online in a user centric manner without me personally hosting the material. *scratches head*

[wildfire95]

It may be illegal, but i reccomend you simply just buy a small offshore hosting package, but with a nice amount of space and do the hosting of the samples theres.

[Crucify]

The user can hear the exact quality of what they are about to download

You answered your own question.

The user watches the samples to download an illegal copy of that sample in full. so yes what u will be doing will be considered illegal.

About hosting, if it were legal samples released by the artists themselves it wudn't be a prob hosting them, but ur taking ur own samples (without the permission of the artist) from an illegal source, so again ur breaching copyright laws.