My Neighbour is 'borrowing' my whole CD collection

[ultimatewoman]

We have very nice staunchly christian next door neighbours. One day the husband asked to 'borrow' a 'few' of my husband's quite extensive cd collection and we of course agreed - no problem.

It transpires the next door neighbour is copying them to his MP3 player and has now been into the house on numerous occasions returning the 'few' and then asking to borrow a 'few' more. He has now borrowed hundreds of pounds worth and I'm not over happy about it but feel it would be out of place to say no.

What to do.....

there is good advice on here, esp along the lines of investing in a copy of "cradle of filth."

itunes cost 79p a pop. He is saving his hypocritical christian self an awful lot of money

It's perhaps a bit cheeky to copy ALL of your CD collection, especially when places like Play.com have deals on like the two for £10 on lots of CDs so their not really that expensive.

I wouldn't mind though I'd recommend bittorent too as a better way of getting them. It does feel a little one sided and what ought to happen is that he gives you a present without being asked as a 'thank you'

The bit about them being Christian makes me smile. Does he ever look down on you for being a sinner? if so then stop the copying to save his soul.

legal position: can't copy a cd without permission from the copyright owner.

sorry, but i think this is NOT ok. i lend cd's to friends and they listen to them. then they give them back, without copying them. if they like them, then they buy their own copy!

warthog, if you buy the CD and then copy it onto your own MP3 player, that is OK legally, is it?

technically that's illegal but no-one would be able to enforce that!

Really? You're supposed to pay for it twice?

The copyright issue wouldn't bother me but the taking the piss element would, I think, if I wasn't particularly close. And I don't mean him saving himslef money. I just mean the systematic way he seems to be working his way through your cds.

I'd start hiding them. [Or would I? Suddenly feels ashamed at pettiness of thought]

Yes, you were never supposed to tape your records were you? All copying is illegal.

yes, you are expected to pay for it twice.

tres cheeky considering download price and copyright issues too its musicans that lose out and they have to eat too
tell that to your christian next door...

and not very neighbourly to work through whole collection methodically.. very strange imo

I think I assumed, since those twin-tape cassette players first came out, that copying was OK

Re the neighbour, I'm wondering now how he asks - I mean does he have a catalogue of OP's CD collection, or does he just come round each time and ask for another dozen he hasn't already borrowed?

Message withdrawn

I read your post and didn't think it was delete-worthy, although it could probably be seen as a personal attack (as it was) but still...I'm sure that kind of thing is said on MN all over

blimey he has some front if he isnt a close friend

i would say that you have just found out that it is illegal to copy and you are really sorry but couldnt possiblt break the lasw

what can he say to that without compromising his/your morals