RIAA states on their web page that copying any CD to "Audio" CD-R is legal since "Audio" CD-R pays royalties to recording artist fund. Now, you can copy it to HD, but need to keep this CD-R, since you have to keep one copy that paid royalties. Here is exact text:Actually that will be illegal, at least in USA. When you buy a CD (or a vinyl) you buy the license to use it (for personal, non profit mode), you can make a copy for personal use only, but when you donate or sell the CD, you don’t own anymore the license to listen to it, therefore you should delete the copy. It is the same reason you cannot rip a CD that is borrowed from a library.
Copying CDs
- It’s okay to copy music onto special Audio CD-R’s, mini-discs, and digital tapes (because royalties have been paid on them) – but not for commercial purposes.
- Beyond that, there’s no legal “right” to copy the copyrighted music on a CD onto a CD-R. However, burning a copy of CD onto a CD-R, or transferring a copy onto your computer hard drive or your portable music player, won’t usually raise concerns so long as:
- The copy is made from an authorized original CD that you legitimately own
- The copy is just for your personal use. It’s not a personal use – in fact, it’s illegal – to give away the copy or lend it to others for copying.
- The owners of copyrighted music have the right to use protection technology to allow or prevent copying.
- Remember, it’s never okay to sell or make commercial use of a copy that you make.