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Does Real Player + Pandora.com (or any other site with media) = Piracy?

1

100Core

Member
With the newest version of Real player, a free download from Real.com, a plug-in is installed for your browser that allows you to download any media that is on the page.

On pandora for example, hovering over the song that is playing brings up the option "download this video?" It downloads in mp4 format! You have it for whatever your heart desires! A simple drag and drop will add it to your itunes library, etc.

So how is this possible? Is it legal of me to download all of my favorite songs in this way? I find it very bizarre.
 
Well then, thank you very much RealPlayer!! They must pay quite a bit to allow infinite downloads of any media on the internet. And why would they do this for a free program? Do they really see profit on the other end with users using there program over Itunes or other media players?

In any case, this is my favorite new way to get songs, etc. Renaming the file is the only inconvience. You can literally get any media that is posted online, for free. Soo.. this isnt piracy in any way? Just unlimited access to any song you want. huh
 
They pay licensing fees so that you can listen to them like a radio, not download them yourself. I would have to say that no, that's not likely legal.
 
My guess is Real does not pay an special fees for the ability to download the particular media. From my understanding, Real Player does not actually rip the stream. It probably just re-records whatever is playing, so you end up with a degraded media file. Maybe that is why version 11 feels so bloated on my system. Also, the free version of Real Player only saves the media in some strange proprietary file that only Real can understand. You cannot even convert into anything. Only the paid version allows converting and/or burning the file.

Actually, ripping a stream using a single program would be almost impossible since there are infinite ways websites handle multimedia. Applian's Replay line of products is similiar, but they are not free. As far as them being legal or not, the player in this instance is not much different than your typical screen or sound recorder.
 
Wrong. 1. It is not saved in a wierd format at all. Literally it's mp4 from pandora. 2. It doesn't seem to degrade the quality at all! I listen to my ipod with pretty solid in-ear headphones (Sony 75$) and they sound flawless. Anyone who hasn't tried this, give it a try and tell me what you think.

If this is illegal, it's pretty easy to unknowingly commit a felony
 
Last time I used 11 was a couple months ago when I tried to convert a saved audio from Real Player that someone sent me. Guy wanted me to convert it to mp3. However, there was nothing I could do with it other than re-record it because I only had the free version. Maybe the newest beta or whatever provides adds more functions, but the freebie I used was limited.
 
Try it, just takes a minute. M tellng you, it works. I've been getting all of my favorite songs in this seemingly legal way. The way I see it, if it's legal, awesome, no need to pirate songs or other streaming media. If it's not, than this is just too tempting. I mean, a pop up that says "download this video?" what! I didn't even think to, but if you insist...!
 
Version 10.5 is my default audio player. On the other hand not only is 11 bloated, but they changed the interface too drastically for me. I might have kept it on my system anyway if it could rip the actual streams. Since it does not, it is no big deal for me. If you think Real 11 is that great, go ahead and use it & don't worry about it.
 
Pandora saves the media files in your temp folder. All you have to do is copy the songs out of the directory to save them forever.
 
Originally posted by: 100Core
Try it, just takes a minute. M tellng you, it works. I've been getting all of my favorite songs in this seemingly legal way. The way I see it, if it's legal, awesome, no need to pirate songs or other streaming media. If it's not, than this is just too tempting. I mean, a pop up that says "download this video?" what! I didn't even think to, but if you insist...!
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It's not real's responsibility to make sure you don't break the law, it's yours
 
Originally posted by: Crusty
Pandora saves the media files in your temp folder. All you have to do is copy the songs out of the directory to save them forever.
Click to expand...

That is probably true of most sites that play relatively small files.
 
Ok so it sounds like this is illegal. I guess that makes sense, but it just seems like such a natural use for the real-player plug in. It could get pretty tricky trying to figure out exactly what media you are allowed to use this feature on, and what media you cannot. I guess its anything with copyright? In any case, this feature just makes it too convenient to resist. I can see many users who would never consider pirating, use this feature, and not really realize its wrong because "the program offered." RealPlayer doesn't have any known connection to what is considered pirating, (like a torrent or p2p app), and this feature would most likely become available completely innocently (with no intention to pirate, that is).
 
I guess its anything with copyright?
Click to expand...

By default everything is copyright the original artist, you only have rights to do anything with the work if it's explicitely given to you by the copyright owner.

In any case, this feature just makes it too convenient to resist. I can see many users who would never consider pirating, use this feature, and not really realize its wrong because "the program offered." RealPlayer doesn't have any known connection to what is considered pirating, (like a torrent or p2p app), and this feature would most likely become available completely innocently (with no intention to pirate, that is).
Click to expand...

The amount of convenience is irrelevant, it's still your responsibility to make sure what you do is legal. My car goes over every speedlimit very easily but can I blame Chevy when I get a ticket? No, of course not. I can think of at least 3 people that can get me weed at a moment's notice, can I blame them if I get caught with it? No, of course not.

Just because you have a tool that can be used for illegal purposes doesn't mean you can use it and then claim ignorance, common sense still applies.
 
I am not a lawyer. But I believe there are two copyright laws to consider.

First, by classical copyright, you haven't done anything wrong. If Pandora were a regular radio or TV station, you would have the right to record it, and to make copies as backups and for yourself and your immediate household. This is called fair use. You do not have the right to distribute copies or make money from such distribution, but I don't think you're doing that.

The only other law I know you could run foul of is the Digital Millenium Copyright Act. It says that, "No person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work...." Now, the definition of "effective" is a matter that lawyers are still hashing out. However, if RealPlayer did fall under this definition, they would be in bigger trouble than you are, because it's illegal to distribute technology that is primarily designed for such circumvention. I'll also add that I don't believe anyone has been prosecuted for using such tools if they didn't distribute either the tools or the media.

Overall, I think you're probably OK either way; but Real may or may not be in trouble!
 
Real Player is not doing any cracking of DRM music. In fact, any sound utility could record Pandora or almost any other audio stream. Even the lowly Windows Sound Recorder could do it if done in increments. As mentioned already, some people do not even bother since the audio files are often in your cache anyway.
 
Originally posted by: Nothinman
The amount of convenience is irrelevant, it's still your responsibility to make sure what you do is legal. My car goes over every speedlimit very easily but can I blame Chevy when I get a ticket? No, of course not. I can think of at least 3 people that can get me weed at a moment's notice, can I blame them if I get caught with it? No, of course not.
Click to expand...
It is not as clear cut as you assume, at least legally.
 
Originally posted by: 100Core
Wrong. 1. It is not saved in a wierd format at all. Literally it's mp4 from pandora. 2. It doesn't seem to degrade the quality at all! I listen to my ipod with pretty solid in-ear headphones (Sony 75$) and they sound flawless. Anyone who hasn't tried this, give it a try and tell me what you think.

If this is illegal, it's pretty easy to unknowingly commit a felony
Click to expand...

going from streaming to recompression isn't going to result in noticeable depredation at the 75 dollar level. its hard to tell regardless, its not like it was super high quality to begin with. just don't think that quality isn't being degraded though if it is being recompressed, somethings always lost.
 
now that i looked into it it seems that they use 64kbps aac😛
its degraded to begin with, it is "radio" quality already
 
I've always condidered the Uploaders of copyrighted material the thieves and the Downloaders
akin to receivers of stolen property. Anyone agree.
 
Originally posted by: 100Core
So how is this possible? Is it legal of me to download all of my favorite songs in this way? I find it very bizarre.
Click to expand...

I think this is similar to VCR and PVR. I've never heard of anyone being arrested for owning a TiVo, so I assume you're allowed to save web content the same way. Giving out copies of that saved content is probably illegal.
 
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