# RE: How does copyright work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [November 7, 2006, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-does-copyright-work/379477 "2006-11-07T22:38:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-does-copyright-work/379477/41 "2013-05-24T13:20:19Z")
> [@willydj1](#): > > Where are parts 2-4? I can only find part 1 in the archives! h, I meant to dig those up! When the site was done over a little while back all the files were converted … well, most of the files were converted. Not all of them came through the transition; spme went awol. I’ve tracked down quite a few missing columns and reports but these got by me. I will get this done later on today. Let you know as soon as they’re on site. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-does-copyright-work/379477/42 "2013-05-24T14:35:19Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > That the RIAA was both legally and morally correct is manifest. The protest that “it’s so easy to steal, and I want it for nothing” is not much of a defense in either case, but it is equally rampant. Although the RIAA is on firm legal ground, I would argue that their moral ground is a bit shaky. The RIAA has been shown time and time again how they screw over the artist both in terms of contracts with hidden costs to the artist and ficticious bookkeeping. For them to say that they are using copyright law to protect the artists’ interests is nothing but a lie. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-does-copyright-work/379477/43 "2013-05-24T15:04:43Z")
So because the RIAA steals from artists, it’s okay for consumers to steal from artists? That’s a separate moral issue. Exapno was discussing the morality of copyright infringement, not the morality of hidden costs and ficticious bookkeeping. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-does-copyright-work/379477/44 "2013-05-24T15:40:37Z")
Just to be clear here, 1. the RIAA is an industry association. It doesn’t sign artists. 2. The fact that some record labels have screwed some artists isn’t relevant to copyright law. 3. The record labels do not represent the universe of people protected under copyright law. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-does-copyright-work/379477/45 "2013-05-25T15:43:33Z")
What I’m saying is that the RIAA’s argument that it is trying to stop copyright theft to protect the artist is bullshit. They are protecting themselves. I don’t believe copyright theft is moral but I at least want the RIAA to be honest in whose interests they are protecting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-does-copyright-work/379477.md?page=2)