IS IT LEGAL TO DOWNLOAD MUSIC USING LIMEWIRE PRO?
2007-02-08 09:43:28 · 5 answers · asked by FedUp 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
No. Just because you CAN download music using Limewire, doesn't make it legal. The songs you are downloading are copywrited. You are not paying for this music. Neither the Artist nor the Record Label is recieving any money from you downloading the songs.
They shut down Napster for the same thing, it's only a matter of time before they get Limewire.
2007-02-08 09:51:11 · answer #1 · answered by Answer Schmancer 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
NO. Listen... sharing music on Limewire is ILLEGAL if the music is copyrighted (that is, if either the UNDERLYING SONG sung by the artist OR the RECORDING ITSELF is copyrighted). Every major label release, and just about every independent release, is copyrighted. If you're caught, penalties are usually statutory damages, that can be thousands of dollars PER INFRINGEMENT.
Don't let people say "it would have been shut down by now." If limewire hasn't been shut down, it's only because (a) the record companies haven't gotten a judgment against it (like they did against Napster or Grokster) or because the technology of Limewire doesn't subject limewire itself to liability, but rather the individual users.
Every time you copy from someone else's limewire account, that's copyright infringement, if the song is copyrighted. I have seen average americans sued by the record companies, seeking tens of thousands of dollars, based on peer-to-peer file sharing. Sure, there aren't too many lawsuits, but they do exist, and the Record companies go across the country suing people.
http://www.riaa.com/issues/music/downup_faq.asp
I have to say, that I'm completely befuddled that people believe that downloading copies of Fergie, or Gwen S., or Justin T., or whomever, without paying for them is legal. Would you steal a copy of a CD from a record store? Would you steal a CD from your friends? Would you go to a record store, ask them to take out a CD, put it in your laptop, copy it, give them back the CD and say "Okay, I got what I needed, bye."?
Yes, "fair use" may come into play, and you can make multiple copies of things for backup purposes (or to transfer media -- i.e. you can buy a CD and rip it to your computer for use on your iPod), but you can't just download and copy other peoples' music.
2007-02-08 10:02:42 · answer #2 · answered by Perdendosi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's legal as long as the music you are downloading isn't copyrighted. Otherwise, it's illegal.
PS. If you ARE downloading copyrighted music, then don't use Limewire, since you run (a small) risk of being discovered and sued by the RIAA. If you want to be safe, use a network that provides a high degree of anonymity, for instance i2phex. Details below.
http://www.i2p.net/
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/I2Phex
2007-02-08 09:47:27 · answer #3 · answered by bergab_hase 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are paying to download music. Then Yes its legal. <3
2016-05-23 22:36:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't you think if it was illegal, it would have ben shut down by now? It's tottaly legal, trust me.
2007-02-08 09:48:14 · answer #5 · answered by lexi 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋