A few of my friends and I also have this conversation periodically. My views on the issue are as follows. Burning unauthorized audio IS technically stealing. An artist puts out a CD. That is his job, what he does for a living. I do however recognize that the issue is not black and white. I therefor try to factor in several variables in making a moral decision for myself: While burning unautorized material is wrong in that it is stealing, it is up to me as a consumer to create my own moral basis upon which i can base all my decisions. While i've yet toi formulate firm guideline i seem to feel (morally) comfortable with the decisions i make. I realize that i am not entitled to own the Bob Marley box set cause i didn't buy it. I own all the albums tho, have for years. So in that way i justify my burnt copy to myself. I sleep ok at night. Really the problem boils down to availability. If CDS were priced better and artists had easier access to consumers (or vice versa in my case) stealing would be less of an issue. As for buying used cds whereby the artist does not profit, that is a product of the industry. It so happens that the product really doesn't depreciate over time like many other items. A $10 used cd vs. a $20 new one is generally the same thing. I scour used cd stores almost daily. There are no fewer than 5 used cd stores on one street between my home and work (a 12 minute walk). I realize the artist is not profiting from my purchase, but i have little choice. Many of the items i find used i CANNOT find OR afford new. And it does happen that i discover artists "used" and end up buying other titles "new". On the whole i support many artists with a great deal of my income. Those artists who don't see any of my money from used CD sales are being graced with the honour of being heard. I (like everyone else) have my financial limitations. Until music is FREE, i will continue to buy CDs used, and new ones when i can't wait for that used copy to pop up. Many Cds i believe i'll never see used, so those i buy those new aswell. Sorry about the length but i thought i'd just add a couple cents on a subject that interests me. C ya, Adam _________________________________________________________________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail