The legality of ripping sound files

Factual Questions
1

I know file sharing is illegal, but I’m talking about taking a bunch of songs from different CDs and putting them onto one, or taking a song from a tape or record and putting it onto CD. From what I’ve experienced in different places, it seems that just doing this is legal, yet I always notice those “Any reproduction of any kind is strictly illegal” or whatever notices.

So, is it really legal to just rip sound files? What about in Canada, where I’m concerned, are the laws very different here? Do you see those “Any reproduction of ay kind is strictly illegal” notices on CDs in the states or anywhere else?

2

It is illegal to rip sound files unless you have permission from the copyright holder. Only the copyright holder has the right to make copies, and ripping is making a copy.

The same rules apply to Canada – AFAIK, they’re signatories to the Berne Convention, so ripping is illegal. (Berne Convention rules are slightly stricter than US copyright law.)

Note that in either case, the copy is a civil crime, not a criminal one. The copyright holder would have to sue you, and you would be required to pay a fine, not jailed.