How to Legally Download MP3 Music

With personal media players becoming omnipresent, the lure of downloading audio files continues to grow. However, it is important that you download MP3 music files legally, or you may find yourself in a sticky legal situation, facing strict penalties or fines for your actions. Luckily, today there are plenty of ways to legally download MP3 music files for your personal enjoyment.

Things You'll Need

• MP3-playing software or device
• Computer with Internet access and speakers or headphones

Instructions

1. Look for a music-download service provider on the Internet. There are many legal services available today. Most require the payment of a fee either per download or on a regular basis (monthly or annually). These services then pay royalties to the copyright owners of the songs you download in compliance with copyright law.

2. Avoid peer-to-peer filesharing services for uploading potentially copyrighted MP3 music files. These online communities have developed to make filesharing of all kinds easier, and while the concept is appealing, many times participants in these communities are not wholly abiding by copyright laws.

3. Understand that with the Digital Millenium Copyright Act of 1998 in place, Internet service providers have been given limited liability for copyright infringement by their users, placing the legal consequences wholly on the user of the service, not the provider. As part of this act, your Internet service provider may employ outside resources to determine whether illegal filesharing is occurring and may take action such as account cancellation if you are found in violation of your user agreement.

4. Become familiar with the Creative Commons license, which may allow the free download and use of MP3 music files whose copyright-holders have extended the right to use and duplicate to the general public. You can find music available through a creative commons license by searching for "creative commons music" on your preferred search engine.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure your computer or download device has enough memory to successfully complete the download process once you learn how to legally download MP3 music.

• Downloading copyrighted material, including MP3 music, without the consent of the copyright owner is illegal. You may be faced with consequences such as lawsuits and fines as well as other legal penalties if you illegally download MP3 music.