Expert: Fr. Michael - 6/15/2007

Question
Hi Father,

My friend bought the new "The National" cd and asked me if i want a copy of it.  (you know, copy files to mp3 format and send them to my computer for free.)
Do you think it's a sin to get free music in this way. let's say i only do it every once in a while.
I buy music too; i don't get it all for free, but it just seems too much to go and buy every single piece of music to which i would like to listen when my friend can get it to me in 2 minutes for free.

Thanks,
John

Answer
A man has a right to just compensation for his creations and efforts.  Copying an entire CD that might be sold for about $20 is not trivial.  If you were just going to sample the music and then delete the files, buying the CD  only if you liked it, that is one thing.  But to do a complete copy to keep instead of purchasing it really doesn't sound fair, does it?