Very easy to answer. The rule is: legal if you pay, illegal if you dont pay. You have the sites that presents unestablished artists/artist sites where you can download for free. Like www.bestmp3links.com
The answer isn't quite as simple as that. Downloading MP3s is not illegal. Downloading copyrighted MP3s that you do not have rights to is illegal. There are many MP3s available on the web that are free and legal to download. If you pay for it, that doesn't mean its legal. An example are the sites such as AllOfMp3.com where you pay for the music but its still illegal in most countries.
thanks for your reply....I've made some researches. I found about metallica sued napster. Maybe mp3 downloading is illegal.
So, how about posting a couple of songs on your Blog? But not downloadable, they can only listen... Will you be sued, too?
Its still distributing. Regards of what you use so that they're "not downloadable", they are in fact downloaded to the users PC in some form - i.e. streamed. I understand what you mean - that users wouldn't be able to save them to their disk, but technologically speaking, saving the file to your computer and just listening to it by streaming it is the same thing - the data is still downloaded to the users computer.
It is illegal to download music which you did not purchase. It is legal to download music which you purchased.
Why is it so difficult to understand on the intertubes that you can't do whatever you want with stuff you don't own? You think you can just steal songs, so why can't I steal your car?
It is more simple than that and paying has nothing to do with it as: 1) many unsigned bands give free downloads of their music and encourage you to share them (as metalica used to distribute tapes and encouraged people to share) 2) some sites are set up illegally where they charge you to download but dont have the rights to distribute it. Your payment doesnt exhonorate you from the law. You and the person you are downloading from must both have the right to do so for it to be legal.
Im downloading about 20 songs weekly and generally from free sites and from p2p networks sometimes I'm buying from allofmp3 or gomusic.ru , and I really don't care are they legal or not . I think that I'm not the one who is doing it here . Most of people in internet are downloading music from such networks like Kaaza , emule, imesh, winmx and nobody can do anything to stop that. Everybody is willing to get stuff for free , rather pay for the same one . It's a Fact
Yes, over 2/3rds of people break the law, does that make it right? If we all started killing each other would it then be ok as it is "mass market"
I have worked in the music industry for many years and it is ILLEGAL to download music that you did not purchase. It is also ILLEGAL to offer downloads on your website if you do not own the rights to the music or have a license from the owner of the music to sell their music on your website. RIAA is very strict now and they have teams that search the internet also looking for websites who do not have a license to sell digital downloads, and now even some large record labels (Universal, Sony BMG, EMI) have small teams dedicated to checking out stores in major cities and the internet to fight piracy.
Wow, you had to work many years in the music industry to figure this out? What other kind of "insight" can we get from you?
I hate sites like allofmp3 that charge money for other peoples work! I hate the music industry for sueing their customers! If we (music lovers) want good music and talented musicians, there should be a way of paying these, so big labels don't keep pushing talentless idiots in our faces... The owner decides how to publish work - no one else, unless distribution contracts are made! I see a future with music when I look at stuff like Creative Commons and Magnatune...