Downloading Free Music;Can You Really Be Sure It's Not Illegal?
File-sharing programs are probably the most controversial
way to
download and burn free music on the Internet, but file sharing has never
been more popular. Programs like KaZaA, Limewire, Ares, Shareaza, WinMX and
iMesh seem to be the most popular for gathering totally
free music to download.
Lawsuits by the music business have slowed some of the illegal sharing of
pirated music, but there are new file-sharing programs that use methods to allow
users to be anonymous.
Such file-sharing programs are also called P2P, or
peer-to-peer programs. Unlike the old Napster network that ran all exchanges
through a central server, this entirely
free music download software, using P2P
networks connects users directly to each other allowing them to download and
burn free music.
It should be mentioned that file-sharing programs are not
illegal in themselves, and their creators like to emphasize their many
legitimate uses. Some unsigned bands use the file-sharing networks to distribute
their music through
free music downloads
and several organizations use them to
exchange documents.
Lots of people are confused about what is legal.
- Are there actually places to download and burn free
music on the internet?
- Can
downloading music put you at risk for legal action?
- Is file-sharing legal?
It's no wonder people are confused when we all know that
the Net is full of legal
music download sites advertised as "napster
replacements" which are 100% legal. Sites like Mp3 Advance, DownloadShield and
MP3 Music Subscription are just a few that offer a lot more than just music
downloads. The vast majority of totally free music download programs shared on
P2P (peer-to-peer) networks like KaZaA, Limewire, Ares, Shareaza, WinMX and
iMesh seem to violate copyright laws because the music was posted without
permission of the artist or label.
Since it's almost impossible to determine which free music
downloads may be legitimate, the only certain way to stay legal is to avoid
these type file-sharing programs altogether.
Unauthorized copying of commercial music is clearly
illegal These totally free music downloads usually means songs that are made
from CD's and then placed on the internet by individuals who haven't sought
permission from the artist or music company.
You may ask; What do copyright laws really allow? You may
make a copy of your own CD for your personal use, to put it simply. That means
you may record whatever you want to a cassette tape or to
MP3 files. What you
cannot do is giving the copy to another person. Some people seems to think that
if no money is involved, then no law has been broken. They should think one more
time. It really doesn't matter whether you give the copy away or sell it, this
is still a violation of copyright law.
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