Are bit torrents for downloading music illegal?
443176
All downloading of anyhting copyrighted is illegal. If you are not paying for the music/movie/ whatever, then the producer is not making money, therefore YOU get in trouble =(. Any P2P sdharing can be legal, but not if you are downloading copyrighted items, because that is copyright infringement. If you download some neighborhood garage band, then that would be OK, as long as they don't care, but if it is like Britney Spears or something , then yes, it is illegal.
580100
limewire........it isn't illegal unless you makes cd's!! if it's totally illegal why is it there?\n              \nif you want it free go to BASIC NOT PRO!
478308
Limewire\nKazaa\n\n\nBut yeah, it's illegal to download music without paying.
639795
try limewire, bit torrent
96314
Unlimiteddownloads.com is probably actually free, but it is illegal to download copywrited music/movies/etc, without express permission from the copyright owner. The way that these sites, which offer free downloads, work is they are a P2P(person to person) service which is not illegal. That is how they are able to claim that the service is legal (which it is) but downloading music(as stated above) without permission from the copyright holder, is illegal.
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!
537188
Chances are that it'll be illegal if you aqquire the music for free. Don't try it unless you know the artist has allowed the song to be distributed for free over the internet, otherwise you could face legal charges.
357434
it is illegal and people are putting out a program that would "track" the computer that would download those illegal songs. So it is easy for someone to get in to trouble a lot easier.
434516
yeah kinda what he said: its not illegal to own limewire but it is illegal to download music, video and programs as its counted as piracy i dont think it matters with downloading pictures though but again there are so many people that do it you probably wont get caught ever. so go nuts --- Fizzy
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.
1028272
it's told that It's illegal that someone uploads your music but apparently it is not against the law to download music. i advice you to use Ares, It's the best but don't let people download yours.
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.
33845
It was never wise to do.  In addition to being illegal, it was also a mecca for hackers.  P2P has become one of the leading "release points" for computer virus.\n\nIn addition, both RIAA and MPAA have joined forces to catch people that use these services.  Early on, they concentrated on people who were shareing files.  However, they are more and more doing "reverse stings", where they themselves put something out to share.  They then sue anybody who tried to download it from them.\n\nStay safe and legal, use a "fee" based legal system like emusic, itunes, or something else.
1178810
The program itself is legal. However, you can do illegal things with it, like download music and burn it on CDs and distribute that. But the program itself is legal.
411801
it's only legal if it has a license to go with the download. the first song you click on will usually get a message that asks if you would like to download it even though limewire can't find a license for it.
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.
653271
Actually, if you downloaded the songs BEFORE the anti-piracy laws came into effect, you should have no problem because you cannot be punished for a crime that was commited before it was considered a crime.  That I'm almost positive of.