Laws Against Downloading Music Off the Internet
Since 1998, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act has served as the strong arm of defense against illegal music piracy. Usually enforced when the Recording Industry Association of America files a lawsuit against an individual, service provider or university that allows unauthorized downloads, it extends copyright protections to digital media files as a way to protect artists as well as the entertainment industry.
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Key Concepts
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The DMCA includes many provisions against downloading copyrighted music.
The law prohibits the following:
- Downloading copyrighted music without paying for it
- Sharing copyrighted music with others (for example, via peer-to-peer sites)
- Transferring or sharing copyrighted music without the permission of the artist and/or recording company
In the early days of the DMCA, The Recording Industry Association of America filed lawsuits against individuals for engaging in these activities. The RIAA has stopped pursuing litigation and now sends warnings to Internet service providers and colleges and universities where illegal activity has been detected. ISPs, colleges and universities can send warnings or block access to illegal content to customers and students under provisions of the DCMA. Should these institutions not comply with the DCMA, they are subject to litigation and fines under the law.
Legitimate Giveaways
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Some artists do offer their music free for download. In 2007, Radiohead reportedly shocked the music industry when it offered a free download of its album "In Rainbows." Consumers were allowed to head to the band's website and download the album for a voluntary donation or for free. Public Enemy and Prince have also been known to distribute their music for free.
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Where to Find Legal Music
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The RIAA has compiled a list of what it determines to be "legal music" download sites. These include Amazonmp3, Youtube, Napster, iTunes and a number of other sites that offer legitimate downloads. The RIAA does not mention any "torrent" sites on its safe list.
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References
- Photo Credit mp3 player and cd image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
