If I download music from limewire, bearshare, or any other file sharing sites, am I breaking the law?
456071
Well as the others say, yes, technically, in probably most cases, the music is will be copyrighted material and so it is illegal to take it for free, or indeed to give it out (share it) for free - without the copyright-holder's permission. Despite some high-profile cases where individuals have been, successfully of course, prosecuted by record companies for illegal filesharing, this is obviously a scare tactic by the record companies, and we are talking about a handful of individuals being prosecuted - out of, I imagine hundreds of millions of file-sharers - so the risk to you is really extremely small.\n\nAs regards what Mr. Edwards says about viruses, well I have to say it seems like he is anti-filesharing and therefore he would say that to put you off - although I may be wrong(?). In reality I would say, although he is right there are many viruses on filesharer's computers, the risk is no greater really than that associated with using the rest of the internet - I mean to put it in perspective, if you don't use filesharing because you're worried about downloading viruses through it then you shouldn't really use the internet either.\n\n**This is not to say of course that you shouldn't be careful** Take all the precautions that you do with the rest of the net - make sure you have proper anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware software and use it! Virus-scan your downloads - you'll find, handily that many popular filesharing software - this may help you choose - will have a setting in the options to *automatically* scan all incoming files using you installed anti-virus software.\n\nAnd if you do get a virus etc through filesharing, just bear in mind it could *equally* happened through email, browsing etc.\n\nRather an essay there but hope that helps!
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.
743563
Legally no, there is no possibility of getting music for free. \n\nLimewire, Bearshare and other "file-sharing" programs are still illegal since you are not paying for the music yourself. Going down to your local Best Buy or buying the song/album from iTunes is legal but not file sharing. \n\nAs for services that you legally pay for online Rhapsody and Napster have the best set ups out there, they've been around the market a good billion times. I'd also suggest Pandora, a free site that lets you explore your musical interests. From their site you can buy songs and/or albums. I'll post the link to all 3 sites for you in the sources box.
1126531
its illegal but here are some\n\nwww.bearshare.com\n\nwww.limewire.com\n\nwww.aeres.com\n\n\nbearshare is the best... id say\nalot of people like limewire though but i found that if you have itunes bearshare works the best in like putting it onto your ipod and its easy so yeah bearshare for sho
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.
705886
They are legal as long as you trade files you\nown copyrights and distribution rights.\nDistributing "commercial" music and videos is\nillegal.\nDistributing music you have composed yourself\nor your own interpretation of music that is in the\npublic domain (i.e., classical music) is legal.\n\nEven if Limewire or Bearshare are found to be\n"illegal" in the sense to been found cooperating\nwith people distributing illegally "commercial"\nmusic or videos, that wouldn't affect you if you\nwere not part of that infringement.\n\nDisclaimer: IANAL (I am not a lawyer).
772002
Are you aware that you can download music for free?
457343
yeah, it's illegal...\nbut you would attach a song just like any other file.
368412
Without Filesharing? No Where!\nWithout Breaking The Law? No Where!\nIf You Want Some Songs Try iTunes Music Downloads, 99 Cents Or Less Per Song, All Legal.
65574
Several sites have p2p programs that allow you to easily download music, but downloading anything copyrighted is illegal.\n\nLimewire.com\neMule & eDonkey\nKazaa (full of spyware)\nAres
251385
Downloading and uploading are both legal in and of themselves. The only problem is when you make copies of copyrighted material without the permission of the rightful owner. Exceptions exist if the copy is being made for personal backup, for news reporting or education.\n\nSometimes artists and production agencies won't "go after" uploaders or downloaders, depending on which file-sharing systems are used and how easy it is to locate the users. My suggestion is that even without a threat of prosecution or a lawsuit that you cease from future illegal file-sharing because the artists and their agencies have the ethical right to control the fruits of their labor, not you.
1012711
Technically it is illegal to download most music from Limewire, P2P programs, and Torrents. .How much you download is up to you.  The idiots that are dumb enough to get caught by the RIAA are the people who download thousands of songs and then share them all.\n\nIf you download, and only share a little, you have about the same chance of being caught as you would be to win the lottery.\n\nPersonally, I don't have a problem with downloading music, movies, etc, because CDs are too expensive, and the record companies take most of the profits.  It also doesn't bother me because I already have a CD collection and a movie collection.
576738
No. \n\nYour question must be for a specific incident. Are you asking about software, movies, music?  Software downloads are in various categories. Freeware, Shareware, etc.. Free ware is FREE, Shareware can be free or after a specific number of days require a Small donation/payment to use.\n\n\nMusic can and cannot be free. Acquiring music, software, etc from p2p, that is illegal ( most of it). Itunes has a free Weekly Download artist listed every Tuesday I think. You can download it for Free, but the next week  it is .99cents.  It is usually a new artist..\n\nI hope this helps
219860
Limewire itself is not illegal, if used to share legal stuff.  You can't share copyrighted stuff legally without permission of the copyright holder.
386872
So, you want to steal music eh?  Go download Limewire, bearshare, or any other P2P program.
58889
Well, as long as you're not selling them to make a profit, it's ok. Just make sure you're not doing anything illegal. I don't see a problem with sharing music like that. It's like if one of my friends brought some CDs over and I ripped the music to my computer. I could listen to their music all I want and they could still keep the CD in their car or w/e. As long as it's legal, you shouldn't feel guilty.
522210
Getting free songs is illegall. But you are probably say to yourself "who cares" So if you really want some free music download a file sharing program (google search "file sharing") It lets you search for any song in the word, download it in 1 minute, and at no cost. I hope that that helps.