Research suggests that the issue of copyright is “probably” a non issue within certain limits.

This is because this service is providing a “fair use” copy of something you already own.
The “service” is what you are paying for. (Lets face it, you could purchase an appropriate specification computer, and the hi-fi components, and the software needed and spend the time to do it yourself if you wanted, couldn’t you?)

So, it is this concept of “fair use” that needs to be understood. Copyright law is dealing with significant issues surrounding the use of “shared” services, such as the NAPSTER operation for example, and the use of the internet generally for downloading music through legal sites such as dotmusic.com.

“Fair use” means that when we copied our LPs and singles onto cassette tape as spotty teenagers, we were not breaking copyright law because it was for our personal use via a more convenient (and subsequently portable) medium. That concept also holds good for software back ups for our own personal use where we have made an original purchase.

So “fair use” is quite straightforward then? Well, almost.

There needs to be defined limits, for both the provider of this service and the users, within which the “fair use” applies.

1) The original copy material must be owned by you and remain in your ownership with any copy made.
2) Only one “fair use” copy can be made.

What this means is that you cannot sell (or give away) your original and keep the copy. Neither can you sell (or give away) the copy and keep the original. Wherever one goes the other goes too, or the copy must be destroyed.