What's the point of limewire?

Question

I mean I know it's illegal but if they don't want you to download illegally why did the make it up?
What was its original purpose?

Thanks <3

Answer 1

Limewire isn't illegal.
It was designed to be a decentralized filesharing network.

Answer 2

Whoever told you it's illegal? Limewire is a completely legal peer-to-peer client that uses the Gnutella datasharing network. P2P is in some ways far better than the simple http protocols we use. For example, you don't have servers and clients in p2p -- just think of every time your browser showed the 404 page. Servers may fail due to a variety of reasons, including overloading -- it can't handle too many clients trying to access data. But in p2p architecture, there are only equal 'peer's -- everybody in the network shares data with everybody else. So the cumulative bandwidth, data storage, and computing power of all the peers is big and the network runs excellently.

So without getting technical, p2p is better than your usual http or even ftp (which uses servers too). Limewire is just another JAVA-based client application that makes use of this technology (Gnutella network). It's under the GNU public license and definitely NOT illegal, but it can't restrict what data you will share with your peers -- only you can do that. That's why they stop at making you accept that agreement. Anything you do after that is your responsibility. This is true for most such apps -- KaZaa, eMule, whatever. People developed this software so that other people may have a better way to share data, and that was its original purpose-- a good purpose, don't you think?

Answer 3

P2P networks were originally designed to make it easier and faster to share files, regardless of what teh files were. For a while it was mostly legal, with people sharing things like Linux distros. Now it's primarily used for illegal sharing. In the case of Limewire, it's currently in the hands of the legal system. Limewire has been sued for allowing massive piracy on their network. The plaintiffs have asked for a fine of $150,000.00 per file illegally traded. Based upon legal precedent, including Supreme Court decisions of file sharing, Limewire is expected to lose and face hundreds of millions of dollars (or more) in fines.

http://www.slyck.com/story1258.html

Answer 4

Limewire isn't illegal. I use limewire all the time. I have over 1,000 songs. The truth is if it was illegal the government would have already shut it down, because it would cause to much controvesy with artiest. Like you said, if it's illegal why did they make it. If it's illegal then the government will shut it down, but till further notice I will legally be downloading music. :)

Answer 5

Its purpose was to just share files in general. Word docs, programs, that is not illegal. But it was obviously just created to download music, but they don't openly say that. Its a P2P network, Peer to Peer. Sharing files. But its gotten out of control.

Answer 6

the software itself isnt illegal but the whole idea behind it is to steal. I bet less than .0001 % of things done on there are legit

Answer 7

It was originally made to download things illegally. They put that B.S. agreement so they can't get sued.

Answer 8

It's the same reason pipe shops say "tobacco use only" even though they are selling bongs. THey say it's ditributed for legal use but really it isn't.

Answer 9

That music provider is like retarded I prefer bearshare the old one...I think it's bearshare lite it's cool,simple,easy to use etc...
-Nick

Answer 10

...there isn't any point...

...on a completely unrelated topic, do you want tot buy a Sony-tapedeck for $25.00 (+freight costs)?