is all versions of limewire illegal?

Answer 1

There are versions of Limewire which are illegal!

If, for instance, you use another piece of file sharing software to download a cracked version of the Limewire software, thus not paying the fee Limewire charges, then you would be using an illegal version of the software.

If you legally purchase a copy of Limewire, or any other peer to peer or file sharing software, it is completely legal.

The legal questions start when you use said software to download stuff.

If you download copyrighted material eg MP3 tracks and video then you are breaking the law and can be prosecuted for it.

The chances of someone who downloads a few music tracks ever getting caught is very slim though. If you regularly download gigabyte upon gigabyte of stuff you are far more likely to become a target to the authorities.

There are also tons of files available on p2p and sharing software that are completely legal: MP3's of unsigned bands, home videos etc. but lets face it, even though file sharing software was originally created for sharing legitimate files, its main use is now to share copyrighted material.

The average home user should not really be too worried about getting caught by the fuzz. The average home user should be concerned about the moral issue as it is technically stealing, but if you are happy with it, there's is not much anyone can do.

Because of the way p2p and file sharing works it is very hard to pin down individual users as the whole thing is spread out over millions of computers and usually, the software that networks it all together, like Limewire, is big on user privacy. Limewire would not be the success it has become if every user knew that when, not if, the Limewire software is shut down, the authorities would be able to trace every user.

I am not passing an opinion on the moral issue here, except to say that the easy way to stop, or at least slow down, piracy is to make everything cheaper in the first place. Not to shackle people with digital rights management and the like.

There are, I feel, legitimate reasons to download copyrighted materials and I will give some examples:

I have previously spent over a hundred pounds on a legal music download site. Everything was right for a while until I had to re-install my operating system. I backed up my licences as I was advised to.
Upon re-installation and re-installing my licences, would you believe it, I cannot play any of the music I bought. Countless e-mails and phone calls to the company in question made no difference.
I figure I have been robbed by the music industry so I got my money back another way. I made a list of all the files I legally bought and downloaded them illegally.

I see nothing wrong with that.

The second one: Microsoft Windows XP.
I have four computers in my house. I should have puchased 4 different copies of Windows XP to run on them because of microsoft's inclusion of online activation keys.

This means that if you install a copy of Windows XP on more than one computer, it checks it's little online lists and tells you "NO!"
After 30 days you cannot use your computer.

Microsoft says that the online activation process is to cut down on pirate software copies of WIndows XP.

I am not a software pirate, but why should I have to buy four seperate copies of the same operating system because somebody out there may make copies. It is not fair.

By using this tactic, Microsoft themselves turned me into a software pirate. I cannot afford four copies at £80 a shot. So what do I do?
I buy 1 legal copy, I have now paid my dues, and I steal a cracked copy from the internet for my other computers.

I see nothing wrong with that.

And the question has to be asked: how many other people have done the same thing? Microsoft introduce a pirate avoidance technique that actually creates more pirates! (Oh and coincidently increases revenue)

Answer 2

That depends upon your point of view. Most if not all download clients are illegal, due to nature of what there used for ie downloading music and movies, actually owning or downloading a client is not illegal, so the answer to your question is no the free version of limewire is not illegal, however what you choose to download once you have it may very well be illegal.

Answer 3

LIMEWIRE itself is LEGAL.... is what you do with it and what you download that's potentially ILLEGAL.

But yes, all versions of Limewire are legal.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Limewire and other file sharing software is legal. Using it to upload or download copyright protected media - music, videos, images, software - without the copyright holder's consent is illegal because it is theft.

Answer 5

Did you bother searching for the answer before asking?

It's the user's intent that makes the act legal or illegal. The tool itself cannot be legal or illegal (unless it literally cannot be used for anything legal, or is based on illegal stuff).

This question is asked about once every 48 hours.

Answer 6

Downloading it, no. Downloading songs from it, yes. It's stealing from artists, and if you like their music, buy it. Don't steal it. Or else maybe Elton John will come to your house with a gun.

Answer 7

None of them are illegal just downloading copyrighted material is.

Answer 8

the software itself isn't illegal, what you do with it might be though.

it's like owning a gun, it's legal but if you shoot someone dead, then that's illegal.

Answer 9

none are illegal, downloading copy writed tracks is though

Answer 10

all programs like that are illegal but what you should do is use torrentspy.com but go to bittorrent.com to get the download to use the torrents less spy wear.