is it legal to record audio streaming?

[angelaf]

Hello,
I recently started listening to an audio streaming station.
I would like to save the music to my computer and possibly convert them to mp3. however I want to make sure I do the right thing and if it is not legal and I could get into trouble, I do not want to do it.
I did contact the internet radio station and they told me I was not supposed to download the music. however I have read on the audio streaming website that if the music is not drm protected or protected in some other way, that it would be the same as recording on a vcr, dvr, ect.
the music is being played through windows media. I would only be using it for my own personal use, not making copies for other people.
thanks for all your help

[Stream Ripper]

Check out the fpllowing threads:
- Is it legal to record audio streams? Can it be considered as a piracy?
- Is it legal to record video streams? Can it be considered as a piracy?

They should explain everything clearly. :-)

Originally Posted by angelaf

I did contact the internet radio station and they told me I was not supposed to download the music.

Does their web-site have any Terms of service (ToS)? Does it state that you shoudn't download any music from this internet radio station?

Originally Posted by angelaf

if the music is not drm protected or protected in some other way, that it would be the same as recording on a vcr, dvr, ect.

+1

Originally Posted by angelaf

the music is being played through windows media.

You can capture packets coming to Windows Media Player using WM Recorder in the PRO mode or freeware WebVideoCap. Your content provider can't notice that you capture packets from Windows Media Player installed on your PC.

Originally Posted by angelaf

I would only be using it for my own personal use, not making copies for other people.

That's great, because all streaming media recorders are intended to be used as personal archiving tools only.

[angelaf]

thanks for all your help.
the website does not have any terms of service nor does it say anything about me not being able to download the music.
I will look into the software that you recommended.

[angelaf]

are there any other software that would work in a similar way. I do not believe our windows media is new enough to work with WM Recorder.
thanks

Originally Posted by angelaf

are there any other software that would work in a similar way. I do not believe our windows media is new enough to work with WM Recorder.
thanks

WM Recorder is one of the first stream recorders on the market. It believe it can record/capture more Windows Media streams than any other software. If you have problems with a particular stream, please post or PM the URL.

There are no other programs that I know that can capture packets from Windows Media Player.