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So, why do you break the law?
... and why haven't you stopped yet?
Is it OK to...
... download MP3s?
... use P2P (Peer-To-Peer) networks, like Kazaa?
... copy a CD?
... make a compilation CD?
... download a movie?
... copy a song that is no longer available?
... use a game emulator?
...use paid P2P services, like Limewire?
Responses to excuses:
... It's ok, as long as I don't sell it.
... The record companies are ripping people off!
... The artists don't get the money anyway.
... They're so rich anyway -- they won't miss my $15.
... It's how I find out about new songs and artists.
... I wouldn't have bought the CD, so they didn't lose a sale.
... But I paid to use my P2P program!
Why...
... did they shut down Napster, but not Kazaa?
... is the RIAA suing their customers?
... do you hate P2P?
... did you start this site?
... are there ads on this site for P2P programs?
... should I care?
Is it OK to download MP3s?
It depends on where you're getting them and, most importantly, if you have the artist's authorization to download it. Generally speaking, no. If you're downloading MP3s from Kazaa, LimeWire, or other Peer-to-Peer networks, you're breaking the law. Sure, there are probably a handful of songs on those services that are actually legal (that is, the artist has granted the rights for that song to be freely distributed). But, I'd bet that 99% of those songs are completely illegal. Don't do it.
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Is it OK to use P2P networks?
Not necessarily. There are certainly legal ways to use a peer-to-peer network... but that's not what you're doing, now is it? If you're downloading copyrighted music from a peer-to-peer network (like Kazaa, Morpheus, Bearshare, Gnutella, or the like), you're breaking the law. You can, and should, be fined and/or sent to prison. Even if you're only looking for legal resources on such a network, it's far too easy to "accidentally" download something copyrighted. Don't risk it.
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Is it OK to copy a CD?
Yes, but only if you bought the CD and the copy is for your own personal use. If you purchase a CD, then for as long as you own that CD, you are allowed to make and maintain copies of that CD on other media, including CD-Rs, minidiscs, cassette tapes, and even MP3 players. You may NOT, however, use any of those for commercial purposes (including selling them) or give any of them to a friend. That means that you CAN NOT make a copy of a CD for a friend, or likewise copy a friend's CD for your own use, even if it's not for a profit. (Note: The Digital Millennium Copyright Act [PDF] grants the copyright owner the right to use copy-protection technology.)
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Is it OK to make a compilation CD?
Yes, but only if you already legally own the music you compile onto your new CD. For example, if you own 15 CDs from various artists, but like only one song from each CD, you're allowed to make your own "compilation" CD of those 15 songs. However, this only applies to music you already legally own. You are NOT allowed to borrow your friend's CD in order to make your compilation CD. Also, you are not allowed to make a copy of your compilation CD for a friend.
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Is it OK to download a movie?
It is not legal to download a copyrighted (and therefore any major) movie from the Internet, even if you only keep it on your computer for an hour. It doesn't matter; it's still illegal. If you want to watch a movie, you have to go out and buy a ticket, rent it, or buy it on video or DVD. That's it. You can't just go downloading it, even if it isn't available in any of those legal ways. The only exception to the "no online movie" rule are sites like MovieLink, where you can virtually rent movies online.
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Is it OK to copy a song that is no longer available?
No. The same rules always apply, even if they no longer make the CD. Can't find it new? Look for it used. Look on eBay. Look at yard sales. Still can't find it? Too bad. It's still illegal to make a copy of it for someone else.
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Is it OK to use a game emulator?
No. Copyrights apply not only to music, but also software (games) and hardware designs (including Nintendo/Sega consoles). As the The Entertainment Software Association explains: "If the sole purpose of an emulator is to allow the playing of a console game on a PC, and the owner of the copyrights in that console game has not authorized the copying, performance, display, or derivative work created when a console game is played on a PC, then the creation and use of that emulator constitutes an infringement of the copyrights in the console game." Go buy the console and the game. A lot of people spent time designing both.
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Is it OK to use paid P2P services?
No. It is illegal to use any P2P service to copy or distribute copyrighted material, even if you paid for the program and even if said program claims to provide "100% legal downloads!"... and even if they're advertised on this site. This includes programs like Kazaa, Limewire, and WinMX. While the program itself is not illegal, the use of it to download copyrighted music IS STILL ILLEGAL, even if you paid for the program. See alternatives for a list of good and bad music services.
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Excuse: It's ok, as long as I don't sell it.
Wrong! The U.S. Copyright Law says that you can make personal copies for yourself, but not for others, even if you're giving them away! That means that you can't make a copy of a CD for a friend, send someone an MP3, share your MP3 collection, or anything of the sort. It's only for the person who bought the music.
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Excuse: The record companies are ripping people off!
Oh, please! You're not Robinhood, you know. Sure, the record companies are getting rich. That's what companies are supposed to do! What did you expect? Think that $15 is too much for a CD? Don't buy it! But, that doesn't give you the right to steal it! Try walking into your local Wal-Mart and stealing a TV just because you think they're charging too much for it. It's just not right, nor is it legal. Even if the physical CD doesn't cost much to make, there was a lot of work that went into making the content of that CD. However, when you get right down to it, that doesn't even matter. Even if they wanted to charge $50 for a CD, it's their legal right to do so. They made the music, and they own the copyright. They can do whatever they want with it. Who are you to tell them what to do with their property?
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Excuse: The artists don't get the money anyway.
The artists certainly get some of the money. After all, they're agreed to some kind of contract with the record company before that CD was ever made. There are two angles to this excuse. First of all, the artist is probably pretty happy with the money they're making, even if it means that the record company is making money, too. As I said, they signed a legal agreement to get paid exactly what they're getting paid. The second part to this excuse is... what does it matter what you think? Even if you don't think the artist is getting paid as much as they should, I don't see them asking for your help. If they're getting ripped off by the recording company (and I assure you that they're not), don't you think they'd hire a lawyer and sue? I don't think they'd ask you to steal their music... do you?
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Excuse: They're so rich anyway -- they won't miss my $15.
So we're back to the Robinhood thing, are we? Fine. So who are you to decide how rich is too rich? I mean, compare yourself to some of the people less fortunate than yourself. What if they got to decide that you're too rich and that you won't miss that $20 in your pocket? Stealing is stealing, no matter how rich the owner or how poor the thief.
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Excuse: It's how I find out about new songs and artists.
Too bad. You'll have to find another way of finding out about music... stealing doesn't cut it. Turn on the radio. Turn on the TV. Tune to one of the free steaming sites I mentioned in my legal alternatives page. I mean, come on. How did you find out about music before you started stealing? You still remember those times, right?
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Excuse: I wouldn't have bought the CD, so they didn't lose a sale.
So it's good enough to steal, but not good enough to pay for? Whatever. I don't care if you're too poor, or if you think music isn't as good as it ought to be, or whatever other stupid excuse you come up with. It just doesn't matter. If you think the music is good enough to download and listen to, then you should be out there buying the CD or downloading it legally. You may not think that they're missing out on anything just because you're too cheap to pay for what you enjoy and use, but that doesn't make it legal.
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If Kazaa is illegal, why didn't they shut it down like they did Napster?
That's a very interesting question. There are, apparently, a few complications to this, including the fact that Kazaa is owned by a company outside of the United States. However, a big part of it is that the software itself isn't illegal -- it's just what you do with the software. Have you ever bothered to read their end user license agreement? You agreed to it when you installed the software. Included is a little phrase that goes like this: "Users are entirely responsible for their conduct and for ensuring that it complies with all applicable copyright and data- protection laws. In the event a user fails to comply with laws regarding copyrights or other intellectual property rights and data-protection and privacy, such a user may be exposed to civil and criminal liability, including possible fines and jail time." That means that you get sued, not them... which brings us to my next point.
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Why is the RIAA suing their customers?
Now this is an easy one! The Record Industry Association of America is suing their customers because... (are you ready for this?)... because they're breaking the law! I know, I know... it's a huge shock. Seriously, though, there are a few reasons to this. First of all, they can. If you're downloading copyrighted music, you're breaking the law. I think we've pretty much covered that. If you're still unclear about that, scroll up. So, as long as people are stealing music instead of buying it, the RIAA is going to protect it's interests the only way it can -- legally! And they'll win, too. They're right. Those stealing the music are wrong. Say what you will about the RIAA, but you'd do the same thing if you were in their position. If someone stole something from you, you'd want to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.
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Why do you hate P2P (Peer-To-Peer Networks)?
I don't really hate P2P. Really, I don't. I don't really like them because they've brought out the worst in people. I, personally, don't see a lot of use in such networks existing. I mean, there isn't a heck of a lot that you can legally do with a P2P network. Not a lot that most people would be interested in, at least. I just hate people breaking the law and then pretending that they're not. If you break the law, you should know that you're doing so and be prepared for the consequences that should come to you.
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Why did you start this site?
I started this site because I'm sick and tired of hearing excuses and lies concerning stealing intellectual property on the Internet. I'm tired of hearing people saying, "oh, it's ok if..." and it really concerns me that a lot of people just don't know that what they're doing is wrong. I'd like to believe that, in some way, most people are good and honest. Hopefully, just by knowing that what they're doing is wrong, they'll reconsider their actions instead of going along with the herd until they're all shot down. If you know something is wrong, and even illegal, then you shouldn't do it. It's really as easy as that.
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Why are there ads on this site for P2P programs?
The ads are served by a third-party company and I don't have the ability to review them before they appear on the site. As a result, a lot of "questionable" sites may appear in those advertisements. Please don't take their presence on this site as an indication that they offer a legal way for you to download music, even if they say otherwise.
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Why should I care?
Because it's illegal! I mean, come on. We live in a civilized society made up of laws. If you don't like the law, you should work to change it, not break it! You'd probably feel differently if you were on the other side of the table. When it comes down to it, I don't think most people would steal anything in real life. You know that it's wrong to walk into a store, grab something that isn't yours, and leave without paying. When you're online, you have a few things going for you: (1) You feel that you're anonymous (although you're not, as you might be able to tell from the RIAA lawsuits). (2) You think everyone else is doing it. (3) It's just so easy, and there is no perceived consequence to any party. Well, you're wrong. Stealing intellectual property on the Internet is the same as stealing anything else in the world. You're taking something that doesn't belong to you and breaking the law. Do the right thing, and encourage others to do the same.
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