Digital Piracy and Jewish Law Essay - 2268 Words

The rapid development of technology over the past few centuries has certainly left an impact on the world of halacha ¸ or Jewish Law. Poskim, the formulators of the halacha, have had to make decisions on a variety of topics to accommodate fast-paced advancements in areas ranging from travel (When does one crossing the International Date Line celebrate a holiday?) to home appliances (Under what circumstances may one use a refrigerator on the Sabbath?). One issue that has been particularly relevant in recent years is that of digital piracy. The ubiquity of personal computers, the Internet, and the spread of peer-to-peer programs like Napster and BitTorrent have made a never-ending stream of media accessible to many Orthodox Jews.†¦show more content†¦Shiyur In an article published in Techumin, an Israeli halachic journal, Rabbi Zalman Nehemiah Goldberg, rosh yeshiva of Sadigua and the Jerusalem College of Technology, deals with a particular set of questions involving the legality of making unauthorized copies of audio cassettes. To answer these questions, Rabbi Goldberg writes a detailed analysis of a novel approach to the issue of copyright: shiyur. To understand the legal concept of shiyur, Rabbi Goldberg describes a case from the Talmud. This case involves a person who gives a coin to a poor man, stating that he may only buy a shirt with the money. The poor man is not legally permitted to purchase anything other than a shirt. The Talmud explains that this case is an application of the rule of â€Å"whoever violates the wishes of the [original] owner is considered a thief† (Bava Metzia 78a). But what exactly is the poor man stealing? Rabbi Goldberg first presents the possibility that he is stealing the coin, as he only acquires the money on the condition that he will buy a shirt with it. Once that condition is not fulfilled, the acquisition is retroactively undone, making the poor man a thief. Rabbi Goldberg rejects this possibility on technical grounds that are beyond the scope of this paper. Rabbi Goldberg concludes that when the poor man buys something other than a shirt, he is actually stealing the right toShow MoreRelatedThe Censorship of Art Essay example14698 Words   |  59 Pagesand rock music since the founding of the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) in 1985. I. SETTING THE STAGE: THE PARENTS, THE SENATE, THE LABEL Concerns over rock ‘n’ roll music have lead to public debate, political and legal actions, and law enforcement activities ever since its invention in 1955 (Jones 1991:75-76; McDonald 1988a:294-302). However, since the formation of the PMRC in 1985, a new, more organized and systematic attack to control popular music has been launched. 1. TheRead MoreInternational Management67196 Words   |  269 Pagesaccountability. The advent of social networking and other media has transformed the way citizens interact and how businesses market, promote, and distribute their products globally. The same can be said for mass collaboration efforts occurring through digital, online technology for the development of new and innovative systems, products, and ideas. Both social networking and mass collaboration bring new power and influence to individuals across borders and transform the nature of their relationships withRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesFlorence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform Michael Adas, ed., Agricultural and Pastoral Societies in Ancient and Classical History Jack Metzgar, Striking Steel: Solidarity Remembered Janis Appier, Policing Women: The Sexual Politics of Law Enforcement and the LAPD Allen Hunter, ed., Rethinking the Cold War Eric Foner, ed., The New American History. Revised and Expanded Edition E SSAYS ON _ T WENTIETH- C ENTURY H ISTORY Edited by Michael Adas for the American