I don't understand the legal aspects of file sharing.?
86042
Legal aspects of file sharing are not difficult to understand, it is just the term is misnamed.  It's not  file sharing, it's file stealing. You are not really sharing the file, you are distributing it away, and the author does not receive payment for the additional copies of the work.\n\nYou can read a book, and share it with a friend.  Only one person has the book at any one time.  You can not however xerox or copy the book and give the copy to your friends, or post it on the internet.  That is copyright infringement.  \n\nSame wtih music.  If you have a CD, and lend the physical CD to a person, that is okay.  Only one person has the CD at a time.\n\nBut if you copy the CD and give the person the copy or the files, then two people have it, and the author only got paid once.\n\nNow, if you copy the CD, and 'share' the files over the web, 1000's of people can now access the work but the author was still only paid for one sale.\n\nNow multiply that by ALOT of people doing the same thing.\n\nThe recording and movie industries are going after people in order to set examples, and make people think twice before 'sharing' files that they really should buy.  If you download a song or movie for free, you are in possession of 'stolen' property.\n\nNow, is the industry doing it the right way, prosecuting grandfathers and children?  Possibly not, but everyone is talking about it, and that is partly what they want.
1107218
I don't know, but I do know that a lot of those P2P music sharing sh**, have viruses in the songs. You download a virus while you are downloading your music. \n\nBe careful
902039
Its not like if you go to a site with them you get arrested. You would have to go through many steps to download it, and even then you would still have to actually file share. I think you're safe.
833423
When you're on a P2P network, you are broadcasting your IP address.  The RIAA, MPAA, etc. can waltz on in and start gathering IP addresses.  Theoretically, they can take down your IP address, send a subpoena to your ISP, and find out who you are, and sue you.\n\nTheoretically, that is.  In practice, ISP's aren't that good at keeping track of who had what IP address when, and the trade associations haven't been good at submitting the requests quickly enough to get them in before the IP's get all shuffled around (unless you're downloading on a T1 line or paying for a static IP and filesharing, in which case, pull the plug RIGHT NOW).  \n\nFurthermore, the RIAA MPAA has had a long string of bad press from suing the wrong people, using extortion tactics, or getting caught trying to sneak bogus technical information past the courts, and have been starting to narrow their focus to really blatant unambiguous offenders like Internet 2 hubs on college campuses.  The risk of getting caught is small, but it's there.\n\nAs for legality... Do you live in the US?  It's illegal.   There are some countries where it's not illegal, and others where maybe it is but the courts won't do anything to you.  But the bottom line is, if they hold a copyright, they choose to sell it to you, and they don't choose to let people give it away for free, you're stealing.  Even if you are downloading a song that from an album you bought then lost or broke, you're giving it to people you have no right to give it to.\n\nThat said, if you're having trouble finding what you want on Limewire, get a bittorrent client and look at http://torrentportal.com/ or http://torrentscan.com/\n\nAll the same stuff applies, though.
888716
The program is legal However file sharing is not. So if you get limewire turn the file sharing off in the tools section.
251385
Downloading and uploading are both legal in and of themselves. The only problem is when you make copies of copyrighted material without the permission of the rightful owner. Exceptions exist if the copy is being made for personal backup, for news reporting or education.\n\nSometimes artists and production agencies won't "go after" uploaders or downloaders, depending on which file-sharing systems are used and how easy it is to locate the users. My suggestion is that even without a threat of prosecution or a lawsuit that you cease from future illegal file-sharing because the artists and their agencies have the ethical right to control the fruits of their labor, not you.
66186
The system isn't illegal, no.\n\nHowever, if you distribute/or download copyright-protected media, that is illegal. That's basically abusing the principle of Peer-2-Peer and other File Sharing programs.
451198
These kinds of programs were created as a means to share files from person to person that could otherwise not be transmitted through servers or Internet Service Providers with megabyte limitations.  You are supposed to be using these programs to share things that you own but have evolved quickly into the type of filesharing that most of us are familiar with now a days.  People put up their music, movies, programs, or whatever else they bought legally and share it with those who didn't.  The uploaders then in turn download the stuff others have put up there for free.  This is definitely illegal but difficult to regulate.  Giant corporation can catch you easily (Internet Protocol (IP) tracking) if you download their materials illegally, however it is time consuming and costly for them to do so.  Imagine presses charges on the millions of people who download illegally.  You will most likely be targeted only if you keep large collections of media in your library.  That will put you on their radar and you will become a juicy target to make an example of.  They target large collectors because they are also a large source from which others can download more stuff in sort of a viscious cycle.  Hope that info helps.  Good luck!
494985
It's just like Napster but slightly different technology. You can get more than just music. Like movies, programs, etc. THere's also sponsored links if you want to be legal.
535023
Limewire's Legality:\n\nLimewire 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. \n\nHere are more opinions and tips: \n\n\nLimewire says its legal because technically its just a "file sharing" service and it is not held responsible for the files that are downloaded onto the system. Only the users are responsible. That's why when you download songs from Limewire, it's legal for them, but NOT for you. \n\nIf you are not paying some sort of fee to download, it is illegal. \n\nDon't be fooled by the fee you pay to use the pro version of Limewire. The artists of the songs you download don't get a penny of that! ("LimeWire offers two versions of the software: LimeWire Basic which is free of charge; the other is LimeWire PRO which costs a small fee, features faster download speeds and better search results, including up to 6 months of free updates and customer support via email.") \n\nEven if you download a coyrighted song for your own personal use, it's still illegal. Perhaps one could skate around the issue if they already own a legal copy on a CD, but then why download it if that's the case. Any fees paid to Limewire are for purchasing the software and that's it. \n\nLime Wire is not illegal software. All it is is file sharring. However many people abuse this by sharing songs without the copyright. For example if you have produced a song, then share it on Limewire, anyone else can legaly have it for free. But when you haven't made it, but an artist has, who has copyright on that song (which they all do) downloading that song without permission from the producer, it is totaly illegal. \n\nBasically, yes, downloadig music from any free service is probably illegal. You may be paying Limewire for the software, but that's just for the software, so the money goes to Limewire, you are not paying for the song. To be safe, do not download music for free. If it's free, nobody has paid the artist. \n\nDownloading songs and other copyrighted material is illegal, but if you wanted to share a music file of you singing or playing an instrument, then that is perfectly legal. \n\nLIMEWIRE IS ILLEGAL! Although with Limewire you will probably never get caught, if you even bring your computer in for a repair and a worker sees the program or any music you downloaded from Limewire, he is ordered BY LAW to tell his boss, and you will get a fine (I had to pay like 200 dollars.) It's not pretty. Although we all want Limewire to be legal, it isn't. \n\nThe Limewire software itself is not illegal - that is why the site is still up and why you can still download it. However - if you donwload a song from the program and you do not pay copyright on it then that is illegal. Songs from the 1950's or before are legal to download because their copyright has expired. Anything from after that is illegal to download. However - you are all going to do it anyway so this just makes you aware! \n\nDownloading songs on limewire is illegal and always has been. However, as for the legality of the program itself, its confusing. The program is legal, but I believe I read somewhere that the supreme court recently ruled that file sharing services can be held accountable for sharing music. \n\nIs Limewire illegal? No It is not. It CAN'T leagally be held accountable for what it's users do. Let's put it like this. A major virus takes out the whole internet. But when they trace the source, it leads to runescape servers for example. Runescape is an online game that gives its users access to its servers, kind of like limewire. Now are the people owning runescape responsible? Nope, but its users ARE. Same thing with limewire. My advice to you, do not use it to access "free" music, or "free" programs...images...and so o
824380
BitTorrent, the tool for transfering files that that mininova.org centers around, is completely legal and legit. I lot of schools, companies, regular people, etc. use at as a great way to share large files.\n\nBut, like any file sharing program, it can be used for pirated programs, media, etc. as much as legit stuff.
1133010
If you don't pay for it is is illegal. But I can't really see too much of a problem with it. The artist get so little of the money you would pay for it you're not stealing from them, just from the record companies. Furthermore there is a small legal loophole. Downloading and Sharing are different offences. You usually only get a warning the first time around too-but don't get caught!
439037
any media p2p downloading is illegal that's what they are. Kazza is sppyware too... anywho...I have no idea about the torrentclient, also Bearshae, a gnutella network is also illegal if you use it wrong. look, just don't use any of em to upload or download copyrighted content, and don't use Kazza or bearshare free period.
125018
Because the programs themselves are not illegal in most areas, although the recent Grokster decision said that they may be if they actively encourage piracy.\n\nBut a program like Limewire or eMule never says "Hey, look! Free pirated mp3's here!". In fact it states NOT to download copyrighted files. Of course, most p2p files are illegally downloaded, but the programs themselves are still considered legal.\n\nIt's like a Xerox machine. You can illegally copy a book using it, but the machine itself is legal.
100356
Are you sure that you're not referring to "BitTorrent"?  It is a filesharing application that is fairly popular.  If it is or is not, I've included the link to their site below.
324801
P2P is "Peer to Peer" where both PCs need to run compatible software to share.\n\nThe only "free" option would be to set up a wide area network or use remote access although you would be as well emailing the info between you as you would have to be connected to one person at a time.\n\nThe whole point of p2p is the vast number of users (and files)and the (partial) anonymity it offers.
840941
Dood you better be carefull, those images are Copyrited. Get enough traffic and you be in court fast. Web aint what it use ta be, Apple,Microsoft and Metallica are to thank for that. \nLook at the DRM,WIPO then look at Creative Commons and FSF/GNU. \nYou are makeing a profit off of others property, thats is called Internet Piracy. \nIt sux, but thats the law now.