Limewire..Illegal?

Question

Is it illegal to download songs from limewire? They say it is file sharing... How would I get caught or be fined??

Answer 1

Like most filesharing programs, limewire isn't illegal, but is often used in ways which are illegal. Limewire doesn't promote or condone downloading protected content, but it happens.

Answer 2

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RE:
Limewire..Illegal?
Is it illegal to download songs from limewire? They say it is file sharing... How would I get caught or be fined??

Answer 3

They do log your IP address, so there is the possibility of being tracked, but Limewire has been around for years and years now, many people use it and I'm sure if it was illegal it would've been shut down by now because it's no secret. In fact, it's the largest file sharing network on the web. It IS completely legal, I use it all the time, don't worry about it.

One thing, I prefer to use it only for "sampling" (downloading only a few songs by that artist), which is more fair to that artist. :o)

Answer 4

Interesting question

Answer 5

Is Limewire Illegal

Answer 6

They track the ISP address, and they have your personal information.

And I thought it was illegal, but I hear about so many people using it. That and Bearshare. Napster was almost the same thing, and it was illegal, shut down, then reopened legalized because yuo have to pay now.

Answer 7

thats uncertain and there are actually several potential answers to the question..

Answer 8

It's illegal.
I thought everyone know that, though O.o
But, i use it all the time.
Daily almost. Chances of you getting caught are slim to none.
I haven't heard of anyone getting caught in years.

And limewire is a file sharing program, but the files being shared are copywrite material, which no one has the rights to use, so that makes it illegal. You're distributing illegal songs, movies, programs, ect.

Answer 9

Go Directly To Jail
Do Not Pass Go
Do Not Collect $200

Answer 10

Downloading copyrighted music (which is most music on Limewire, and probably most music you're looking for) is most certainly illegal copyright infringement if you do not have a license from the creator to do so, which you wouldn't.
The person who is sharing has only a right to listen to the music they have purchased. Making a copy and providing that copy (which is what your doing) is illegal (except for backups). Likewise, you taking that copy and using it, even for personal use, is illegal. This is all very clearly spelled out in the Copyright law, 17 U.S.C. s. 101 and after.
(And just because lots of people do it doesn't make it not illegal. Lots of people speed; but that doesn't make it illegal. This is a diferent kind of "illegal," though, because most of the time it doesn't result in charges by the government, but rather a lawsuit by the copyright owners -- record companies.)
People have been caught -- here's a link to a description of what happens at Haverford College. They also note that in 1 year, there were more than 50 (!) complaints by record companies that Haverford's students were illegally downloading:
http://www.haverford.edu/acc/docs/policies/copyright.html

They catch you by logging on to limewire, seeing who's downloaded, getting that IP address, finding out who used the IP address by subpoening your internet service provider, and suing you. Of course, there are thousands of Limewire users, and the record companies cannot go after everyone, but they DO go after people who have downloaded (and are not selling) and seek to hold you liable for thousands of dollars in statutory damages PER INFRINGEMENT--that means they can ask a court to award them $2500 for every song you've downloaded without paying the copyright owner. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor, if you live in Alabama or Hollywood, they are definitely out there.

Now, if you take that music and SELL it, you've committed a criminal offense and may be charged by the U.S. Government. You can be fined or even imprisoned (that's what that copryight notice is about on the front of every DVD or video).

There are many sources where you can get legal music--you can buy it from iTunes; you can buy fairly cheap, monthly subscriptions to listen from places like the new Napster. You can listen to Internet radio (without downloading) generally for free.

What shocks me so much is the responses on here that downloading copyrighted music is not illegal. Would you steal a CD from a store? No. Would you go into a store, put the CD into your laptop, copy all the data, and walk out? No. Using Limewire is basically no different.

Once again, the program itself is not illegal, but using it to download copyrighted content almost always is.
BTW: Limewire HAS been sued by the recording industry. It is hard to know whether Limewire itself will be held liable, or whether the recording industry will still just have to go after individual users.

All this means is that you are taking a risk (small though it may be) of being sued when you use LImewire to download copyrighted material--regardless if you're just "sampling" some artists' work, downloading hundreds of albums, or somewhere in betwee.

If you have questions or comments, feel free to e-mail me. I'd be happy to answer.