Donate SIGN UP

downloads

Avatar Image
por 354 | 00:01 Wed 29th Nov 2006 | Technology
4 Answers
is it illegal to download music from sites like limewire
Gravatar

Answers

1 to 4 of 4rss feed

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by por 354. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
99% yes but there are some legal tunes to be had.
Question Author
thanks for that guess iam in trouble then
Limewire isn't a site. It's a program which enables your PC to connect to a file-sharing network called Gnutella (in the same way that Internet Explorer enables your PC to connect to the worldwide web). While you're connected, your PC can copy files directly from other PCs connected to Gnutella (whether by Limewire or another program, such as BearShare). Similarly, other users can copy files, which have been stored by Limewire, from your PC. It's this fact which can have significant legal consequences.

In most cases, downloading copyrighted files is only a civil offence. i.e. you can be sued for it (possibly for many thousands of pounds) but you can't be fined and you can't be sent to prison.

Downloading only becomes a criminal offence if it is done 'to such an extent as to affect prejudicially the owner of the copyright' or if it's done for the purpose of 'sale', 'hire' or otherwise 'in the course of a business'. So, someone who downloads thousands of files or who sells the files, can be prosecuted under criminal law and face fines or imprisonment.

Remember though, that Limewire makes files on your PC available to other users. This is uploading or, in the eyes of the law, 'distribution' which is also a criminal offence and, consequently, can lead to fines or imprisonment.

Section 107 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/Ukpga_198 80048_en_7.htm#mdiv107

Chris
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Inte rnet/Question322610.html

not sure if this link will work - never done it before!!

1 to 4 of 4rss feed

Do you know the answer?

downloads

Answer Question >>