Using iTunes is now illegal under UK copyright law

Apple itself might need to prepare some updates for its UK iTunes software however.

The government legalised copying for private use last year, a practice most thought was already legal.

A recent ruling from the UK’s High Court has apparently made that quite illegal. But Apple Music and iTunes Match are not immune from prosecution since both back up music in the cloud. Well, that according to current law you’re not allowed to use all of iTunes’ features, Apple is breaking the law by advertising them, if you ever back-up your computer that’s another strike because you’re likely to have copyrighted material on it and also the world has just gone bonkers.

While only CD-to-MP3 conversion is specifically mentioned, the law covers all types of conversion.

“It is now unlawful to make private copies of copyright works you own, without permission from the copyright holder-this includes format shifting from one medium to another”, a UK IPO spokesperson told the site. This means transferring your old VHS tapes to DVD is now against the law in the UK and so are those newfangled vinyl-to-MP3 turntables.

So does this mean you’re going to be hauled off to prison for exporting your music collection?

So while it’s probably unlikely you’d be taken to court for backing up your iTunes filled with CD-ripped music, the fact remains that you could be.