Illegal Music Downloads?
140413
These programs still exist because of the vast amount of loopholes that can be used by a company to promote their product as perfectly legal. And in a way... they are.\n\nIf you've tried to download Limewire within the past few months, you'll notice that you have to agree to not use the product for sharing copyrighted material or for other illegal purposes. The stated intent of the program is to be able to share (non-copyrighted) material across a huge peer-to-peer network.\n\nNapster was shut down because it was advertised as a program to download music, and the program was constructed to serve this purpose. Limewire and other programs are built to share a multitude of files. But most users say they agree to not share copyrighted material but do anyways.\n\nSo in this sense... it's the USERS who are breaking the law, not the program creator.
1116642
you don't, that's illegal if you are not the owner of the music. If you are, the law allows you to make copies for personal use. Try searching the internet, there are tons of software programs out there that you can download for free or you can buy that will do it.
438172
For me, not with music\nMy friends said they got trouble from .zip files on limewire
586809
Keep in mind: some Peer-to-Peer software that makes it easy to steal music will put adware / spyware on your computer - either from the software maker themselves or other file-traders.\n\nSometimes there are legal, free songs and sometimes downloading certain songs is illegal. Who cares if Madonna or U2 doesn't make an extra .99 cents from you today? But it can be illegal and you could get caught - (but 99.7% likely nothing will happen - though it's probably 99.7% likely that all your downloads are being tracked by folks who don't agree with the services - that's easy to do from what I understand.)\n\nDownloading music from artists (especially the non-castle-living kind) against their will and against their copyright though is a pretty lousy thing to do. I'm a musician and I release some stuff free - but if people could take anything they wanted against my will - that's a kick in the teeth. If that's not a concern keep in mind you may pay for it afterall by having spyware folks taking away some of your privacy and personal information.\n\nThere are places like http://www.myspace.com and http://creativecommons.org/audio/ where you can get music that musicians want you to take free.
1026
The stirctest answer is no, it is not legal because you are downloading music or files from other people's hard drive who have purchased it and are sharing it.  That's the problem while you CAN get in legal trouble by downloading stuff this way, chances are the person sharing the files is going to get in trouble, if they are ever caught.\n\nIf you want to stay safe, you can download files relatively safely without getting caught, it's the sharing that gets you in the most trouble.\n\nI would say it lies in a grey area and there is no definitive answer.  If you want my opinion, no it is not really legal but there is nothing in place to really stop it.
611272
It is not illegal to use limewire per se - it is a file sharing system, just as if you put some files on a flash drive, brought it to your friend's house and loaded the files onto their computer. The system is not illegal, but it can be used to breach copyright, which is illegal.\n\nif you own the copyright to a song, then you are free to let anyone download it. \n\nhowever, downloading mp3s without the express permission of the copyright holder is definitely illegal.
135971
Limewire is a free P2P program that will let you...but as a disclaimer, it is also illegal since that music you are downloading is liscensed.
81925
Most will be illegal! But there are cheap alternatives like itunes/amazon etc or some sites like emp3finder.com (don't know if it is legal or not).
777976
You cannot unless there is a free video or song available.\n\nDownloading free music can lead to piracy and it is against the law.
411801
it's only legal if it has a license to go with the download. the first song you click on will usually get a message that asks if you would like to download it even though limewire can't find a license for it.
934256
doesn't look legal or too illegal to me. I'm not an expert and I only went on the site to answer your question, but you've been on it more (I assume), so you might be able to work it out.or go on a law website or something. I think the site stole the music illegally, but you probably won't get in trouble for using it.
74265
There is no place to get legal free music. Limewire and all of those are sadly illegal. And itunes costs.
147143
Interesting question.\n\nFirst. If the music is copyrighted, and 99.9% of music is, you can't. I should say you shouldn't unless you want to be shut down.\n\nOther than that try Geocities.
457343
yeah, it's illegal...\nbut you would attach a song just like any other file.
190468
Limewire, the program itself, isn't illegal, but downloading copyrighted material (and not paying for it) is illegal!
139570
If you are legally downloading songs from a music store or source that is paid, no.\n\nIf you illegally download free music, you could possibly be fined.  The RIAA has been pursuing suits against illegal downloads, and there are many cases that are currently in process.
1147810
Limewire is illegal under certain circumstances. I.E. When you download songs that don't have a license. But if you pay for the service (my friend says it costs a dollar a year), then it is legal. Most songs don't have a license so mostly everything you download will be illegal (I have never seen a legal download on it but there are some out there). But if you use it download your song(s) and then sign off as soon as your through that way it will be hard to track. Good luck!