Some people say others no. Does anyone know for sure?
2007-10-11 07:46:41 · 10 answers · asked by sweetbeesma 5 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
Limewire isn't illeagal, its what you do with it that can be illeagal
downloading copyright material like Hollywood movies, and music is illegal.
downloading free wear, trial software etc is not and is the intended function of limewire, although nobody uses it for this reason =P
Call it a legal loophole for limewire to keep going
2007-10-11 07:51:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Asking if Limewire is illegal is like asking if a gun is illegal - it's all in how you use it. If you use Limewire for sharing or downloading open source software, or music you wrote and performed yourself, then that's legal. The problems come when copyright is involved. Copyright was developed to make sure that artists get paid for their work. Copyright laws enforce this. If you use Limewire, or anything else, to download or share files that are under copyright (commercial music, software or movies etc) without paying for it, the artists don't get reimbursed for their work and it is therefore illegal. The crime is copyright infringement, and it carries a fine of between $750.00 and $150,000.00 per file shared or downloaded illegally, and there's also the possibility of prison time. It doesn't matter if it's for personal use. It doesn't matter if you've paid for Limewire. The bottom line is that you've deprived the artist of compensation for their work, so it's illegal.
Use common sense. If you would have to pay for something in a store, or to download it from a legitimate site like iTunes, but you can get it free elsewhere, it's pretty obviously illegal.
Some references in case you want more sources:
http://www.chillingeffects.org/piracy/faq.cgi
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070827-judge-sides-with-riaa-file-sharing-apps-lead-to-direct-infringement.html
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9791383-7.html
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode17/usc_sup_01_17_10_5.html
http://www.wiredsafety.org/law/copyrights/riaa/dlm8.html
2007-10-11 15:02:35 · answer #2 · answered by Fraggle 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Don't get busted!
People DO get caught stealing copyrighted "stuff" using P2P filesharing programs such as Limewire, Kazza etc and torrents, and face huge fines. Don't steal stuff if ya can't afford the fine.
People as young as 12 years old.
"The music industry has turned its big legal guns on Internet music-swappers — including a 12-year-old New York City girl who thought downloading songs was fun."
"Brianna LaHara said she was frightened to learn she was among the hundreds of people sued yesterday by giant music companies in federal courts around the country."
"I got really scared. My stomach is all turning," Brianna said last night at the city Housing Authority apartment where she lives with her mom and her 9-year-old brother."
More at:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,96797,00.html
_____________________________
Or this one from just a few days ago:
" Jammie Thomas makes $36,000 a year but says she's not looking for a handout to pay a $222,000 judgment after a jury decided she illegally shared music online and did it on purpose...Record labels have sued more than 26,000 people they accuse of sharing music online in violation of copyright laws."
From:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071005/ap_en_mu/downloading_music;_ylt=ApirmfZK39rMKHXP_OLN.lQjtBAF
Good luck.
2007-10-11 14:57:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Limewire is NOT illegal
Usint it is NOT illegal
Using it to share or download copyrighted material IS illegal.
Quite simple really
2007-10-11 14:50:44 · answer #4 · answered by stu_the_kilted_scot 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Limewire itself is legal to own....The usage is illegal if you are downloading material that someone other than the owner is letting you have.
If you use it to download original material from the copywrite holder then all is good. If you are getting copywritten material from someone other than the copywrite holder it is illegal.
2007-10-11 14:52:15 · answer #5 · answered by seamus1066 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lime wire is legal if ur downloading non copyright things. if u download music no its not legal. unless the music is 100 years old lol.
2007-10-11 14:53:30 · answer #6 · answered by Xtreme 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Limewire is spyware
2007-10-11 14:56:47 · answer #7 · answered by ★Greed★ 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
It is not illegal as long as you are not out there making copies and selling what you load. It is just friends sharing.
2007-10-11 14:56:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
it is perfectly legal for downloing files not copyrighted
ccopyright download =crime
2007-10-11 16:24:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Depends How you abuse it
2007-10-11 15:00:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋