Copyright is it illegal?

Working in our job over the years, you learn a lot in regards to "licenses" and what you are "legally" allowed to do.


A hot topic of discussion regarding is it illegal to and breaking the law when you breach copyright?
In one simple word - yes.


At the end of the day, when you read through any legal documentation of terms and conditions you see pretty quickly the same terms constantly used.
Illegal
Legal
Rights
Copyright
Law
Breaching
License
You quickly see that the copy you own is actually a "limited license" which allows you the right to use that copy and that's it.  The copy provides you no rights, express or implied, to the software itself.  This is not down to interpretation on any level.
If you are caught copying someone's copyrighted materials you can face legal action.  Although there is a chance you may spend your life never getting caught, this is absolutely no different to stealing a copy of the software from a shop.  Remember those old video clips "you wouldn't steal a car" this message is from the companies involved and it's no different.  It doesn't matter if you plan on selling a copy or not, you are breaking the "Copyright Law".


"This agreement is governed by the laws of the United Kingdom"


I'm simply not making this up, the above quotations are coming directly from "Terms and Conditions of Use" which comes along with every piece of software, music or film produced on to a CD.


"By placing this DVD-ROM in the DVD drive of your computer, you agree to the terms of this license"


In simple terms it is your responsibility not to breach the Copyright Law.  This law alone is a very large document to read due to the amount of infringement types there is.  Regardless of what "type" you come under for breaching the copyrights you are still breaching something that is "illegal" and in a simple term "law".


So let's look a bit more detail at this one single page describing "Terms and Conditions of Use".


Section 2 shows "Copyright"
All titles and materials contained within the DVD ROM are protected by copyright and all other applicable intellectual property laws and international treaties.  Therefore, you may not copy the DVD ROM except for making one copy of the DVD ROM solely for backup or archival purposes.  You may not alter, remove or destroy any copyright notice or other material placed on or with this DVD ROM.


Copyright laws and property laws is mentioned.


Ripping CDs still illegal in the UK


The term "illegal" not in line for interpretation, simply one word - illegal (in breach of law)


High Court Quashes Regulations to Copy


Remember this?  Originally before this, it had been legal to create your own copy of purchased music.


This regulatory law was introduced to prevent any misgiving's on the law.  You may not agree with it, I may not agree with it but at the end of the day it is breaching the law to create even your own copies as a backup.


Remember once you start copying discs illegally, how many will you have copied over a ten year period?


All of this just simply because technicians have been asked to create copies of discs so other people can use them without purchasing additional licenses.
No matter how small the crime may be, if it's illegal you are still breaking the law.  Although individually copying cds for your own personal use has not created a major court case - you have to be aware that sooner or later an example will be made of some one.  Like it or not, you may not get punished but you are still breaking the law - regardless - YOU ARE.