Is it legal to burn MP3 tracks to CD?

Question

Wanna know if it is legal to burn MP3 tracks to a CD for my own personal use?

Answer 1

yeah but don't sell them to other people

Answer 2

As long as you legally own the MP3 tracks in question (either by purchasing OR by making the MP3 files yourself), you are legally entitled under the FAIR USE POLICY of copyright law to back up the music in your desired format (Audio CD to MP3, MP3 to Audio CD, ect.). HOWEVER, you must treat the backup copy as if it's the original... so you loan one copy (say the back-up files) to a friend, you're not permitted to utilize the other copy (in this case, the original files) until you reclaim that copy from said friend.

There's also the First Sale Doctrine to deal with as well as the Digital Millennium Copy Act (DCMA) that legally prevents people from breaking any DRM on said files (even if you legally own them) & all other stuff that makes things a bit complicated... which is why I'm not a Copyright Lawyer (nor a law student).


As long as you're doing it for personal use ONLY (& nothing else) & not sharing it with others... you're pretty much in the clear as far as the law is concerned.

Answer 3

yes as long as you don't steal mp3 music.

Answer 4

Yes, if you own the rights to them.

Answer 5

Go for it - as others have said what is illegal is then selling the cd's to others.

Answer 6

If you purchased the mp3s

Answer 7

Depends on where you got the mp3. if you ripped a cd that you already own, then that's technically illegal as a copyright offence, though if you do it for personal use you shouldn't have any problems; sell the copies or distribute them and the copyright owner might take an interest

Answer 8

Yes. What is illegal, is burning the tracks the SELLING the CD. That would in effect be stealing the music. But for our own use,m or for educational use ( a teacher rips ONE TRACK form a CD, for illustration in her class . . . OK, a little more involved than that legally . . ) you are fine.