illegal.!!!!!!!!!!
2006-11-13 18:00:24 · 5 answers · asked by Dream catcher 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
When you're on a P2P network, you are broadcasting your IP address. The RIAA, MPAA, etc. can waltz on in and start gathering IP addresses. Theoretically, they can take down your IP address, send a subpoena to your ISP, and find out who you are, and sue you.
Theoretically, that is. In practice, ISP's aren't that good at keeping track of who had what IP address when, and the trade associations haven't been good at submitting the requests quickly enough to get them in before the IP's get all shuffled around (unless you're downloading on a T1 line or paying for a static IP and filesharing, in which case, pull the plug RIGHT NOW).
Furthermore, the RIAA MPAA has had a long string of bad press from suing the wrong people, using extortion tactics, or getting caught trying to sneak bogus technical information past the courts, and have been starting to narrow their focus to really blatant unambiguous offenders like Internet 2 hubs on college campuses. The risk of getting caught is small, but it's there.
As for legality... Do you live in the US? It's illegal. There are some countries where it's not illegal, and others where maybe it is but the courts won't do anything to you. But the bottom line is, if they hold a copyright, they choose to sell it to you, and they don't choose to let people give it away for free, you're stealing. Even if you are downloading a song that from an album you bought then lost or broke, you're giving it to people you have no right to give it to.
That said, if you're having trouble finding what you want on Limewire, get a bittorrent client and look at http://torrentportal.com/ or http://torrentscan.com/
All the same stuff applies, though.
2006-11-13 18:28:32 · answer #1 · answered by druidmatt 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The software developer may be able to, but imagine the time and effort it would take to do anything about it. You will probably nnot be able to get product updates with a stolen or hacked version of something though.
2006-11-14 02:10:56 · answer #2 · answered by anton t 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You run a risk that the downloaded file has a virus attached to it as you are allowing a stranger to send something to you.
2006-11-14 02:05:08 · answer #3 · answered by Carella 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes they can...we are not safe at all when we are on internet...no matter how many firewalls or antivrus softwares we have installed....there always a loophole/exploit
2006-11-14 02:17:58 · answer #4 · answered by junooni81 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think not...
2006-11-14 02:03:15 · answer #5 · answered by eL KaPiTaN™ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋