[Hajman]

If I was in a band and spent 6 months on the road living in a bus eating crap every meal just to support my newly released CD, I would feel like I was robbed if my music was being offered for free on the internet.

You got that right. I'd also look for another line of work.

Maybe Hajman is knowledgeable about such legalities.

For the nitty-gritty legalities of such things, I can't claim to be an expert of any level. moehoward would probably be the person you'd want to get specifics from. However, for BOBWADE's statement, even though I'd have to agree that I'd 'feel robbed', I'm afraid I couldn't allow emotions to determine the legal aspects of things (though I'd like to if I was in that situation). If I was in a band, spent 6 months on the road living in a bus, eating cruddly food just to support my newly released CD, I would also feel robbed if I didn't get much compensation if the music industry didn't want to give my CD very much visibility. However, technically speaking, this wouldn't be considered theft, even though I'm losing potential value because of the actions of someone (creating a potential value loss isn't theft, and it isn't illegal. It might, however, be completely and totally unfair :).

-The Hajman-

[BOBWADE]

I agree with your view that it isn't legally theft and that it is really a matter of infringement. My only point was that some people would still feel like it is theft even when the applicable law would refer to infringement.