Should the act of downloading and transferring free music from the web (e.g. limewire) be legal?

Answer 1

very much so

Answer 2

Well, here's the first question -- who owns the music? Or put another way, is it really free?

If someone holds the copyright to that music, and earns their income from the royalties and sales of their artistic works, then the music really isn't "free". Much the same way clothing and toys displayed on the sidewalk in front of a department store (and offered for sale by the store) aren't free. Just because people can steal them, doesn't mean the people have a right to steal them.

On the other hand, if someone puts their own creations on the web, and offers them for free download, more power to them. In that case, the music really is free -- free as in no charge, and free as in legally allowed to be copied. But that's a choice the owner of the song makes, not what someone else decides.

Remember that just because something is not tangible doesn't mean it doesn't have value. Most people here (well, ok, maybe not here, but most people out there) work and get paid for their labor. Artists and musicians get paid by what they create. If someone steals their work, that cuts into how much they earn.

Just like if someone stole your time and your labor, and refused to give you anything for it. If you volunteer, that's one thing. But if you don't, then anyone who wants the benefit of what you have done should pay for your time and effort. Just like anyone who wants the benefit of what some artist has done should pay for that artist's time and effort.

So, it all depends on what you are downloading, and whether the owner of that work agrees that it should be free.

Answer 3

OF COURSE as long as it's not for profit! Why not?? Today Spain gave a good example of this in a trial where the defendant faced 2 years time and a huge fine but was declared NOT GUILTY because downloading stuff was not done FOR PROFIT. Europe has been defending the individual's right to share music files for some time now, in spite of plenty of lawsuits from the big music companies.

Answer 4

yes. free tranferring of music is one step in the right direction of ending the recording industries hold on us and on music artists. If we chose who makes it big based on concert ticket sales and merchendise sales then the honestly good music will be the most popular, not who they want you to like.

Answer 5

Yeah! The purpose of music is expression and you want it to be heard by as many people as possible to get your message out there. Unless.....You're simply a corporate whore and sell music just to make money. Then more power to you, sell sell sell! Skank it up

Answer 6

would it be nice....sure...save a ton on buying music.

but think of it like this......

you create "widget A" and know it will make you a lot of money. you post it on your web site so everyone can see your creation. but then you realize everyone downloaded "widget A" from your web site without your permission. now since everyone has "widget A"...you can't sell it and make any money.....YOU WERE ROBBED!!

same w/ music.

Answer 7

no. If it was free, the entertainers would be out major money, which means they'd raise the prices of everything else related to the music or they'd just stop doing it because of the lose of money.

Answer 8

Should going into stores and stealing CDs be legal? No.

Answer 9

some songs like instrumentals should be but not #1 hits, i mean how are we gonna get paid?

Answer 10

No. As a musician, I should not have people stealing my work.

Answer 11

of course