How many people on here use P2P software or torrent websites? Why do most think it is acceptable to do this? It is the equivalent of walking into a shop and stealing a DVD/CD etc. but most see no wrong in it.
I know many people who download illegally for free,some even pay to join torrent websites on a subscription basis.Downloading an album legally these days is quite cheap on sites like Play.com and HMV so why don't they do that instead? If these people get prosecuted by the copyright holders they will soon be moaning about it!
You also put your PC at risk with illegal downloads,not everything is what it says it is,many are virus's in disguise. You may end up having to pay a fortune to have your computer fixed as well as getting fined or barred from the internet by your ISP.Is it really worth it just to initially save a bit of money?
I do use P2P, what I do though is, I'll hear a track I like on the radio so I'll download a couple more by the same artist and if I like them too I will then buy the CD.
Most sites will let you listen to portions of an album before downloading it,or there is always youtube,although a lot of the videos on there are also breaking copyright laws.lol
the problem is though youtube won't often have much from new bands and the clips you can listen to on sites before buying tend to be the catchy parts from the "highlight" track from the album.
I don't ever pay to download music from anywhere as if I am going to buy an album then I would rather own the actual CD and I do firmly believe that if an artist has written and performed an album that I think Is good and I'm going to listen to then they deserve to get a sale from it
I do think that because of the tax we pay on DVD's and CD's in the UK that we are being ripped off,very little of that money goes to the artist concerned in the case of Music CD's.That doesn't mean I will start stealing the songs though.