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[I145]Illegal Downloading Of Music

by Jeff Dorschner, Jef

Filesharing and illegal downloading has been a big issue for media companies since the late 1990s. It should come as no surprise, but an extensive new UK study by Entertainment Media Research shows that illegal downloads are at an all time high just as paid download growth is slowing. Cinema isn't doing well, it's probably affected just as much as music where illegal downloads are concerned. Every month, some five billion illegal downloads are passed around the internet, and the entertainment industry sues several hundred people.

Despite the years of litigation, illegal downloads are 10 times as common as legal digital sales and are still growing at 60 percent a year. Currently illegal downloads are cutting into DVD sales. The number of people buying music online has doubled since last year, but illegal downloads are also on the rise. But if it is true that illegal downloads are injurious to content holders, you would think that they would be embracing legal download services with prices at least approaching that of movie tickets, or if not current PPV ( still exorbitant ). The consequences of illegal downloads are very real: from the risk of legal action to the likelihood of computer viruses, spyware, identity theft and other threats from the peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing software typically used for downloading. Steps taken by ISPs to arrest piracy could be anything from sending primary warnings to a subscriber about his illegal activity to limiting the speed and quantum of downloads by the particular subscriber, and jamming the line while the illegal downloads are in progress.

The biggest reason for why illegal downloading is still occurring is that most people don't have enough knowledge about copyright law. Whether that is the case or not may remain to be seen, but it doesn't change the fact that illegal downloading is still a crime. Many free illegal downloads are not of any great quality and to find one online among thousands of similar downloads is too time consuming in the end. There can be no doubt that the need for action against illegal downloading is now urgent. Illegal downloading is not fair to the artists, musicians and actors who put a lot of time and effort to make the songs/movies for us to enjoy.

It might not seem like a big deal when you download your newest favorite song or album to stick on your mp3 player, but the truth is, when you take music for free off download sites, you're actually stealing. You're taking something that isn't yours, doesn't belong to you, and that you should be paying for. The rights to that music – to reproduce it in any way – belong to the artist, their record label, the songwriters… anyone who put their own hard work and effort into making that song you claim to love so much!

What does that mean? That means that when you reproduce a song or album without paying – that includes downloading and putting it on a portable music player or laptop – you're stealing. And stealing is illegal, right?

First of all, downloading music illegally is just that: it's illegal. It's stealing. Would you walk into a music store and take a CD off the store shelf and walk out without paying? No, and just because the CD you stole isn't sitting in a bricks-and-mortar store – making it harder to get caught – doesn't mean it's okay. That doesn't make it legal. The music you download is protected by a copyright law, and when you take it off the internet without paying for it, you're breaking that copyright law and, if you're caught, you'll be paying stiff fines and heavy penalties for it.

Also, when you download illegally, you're basically telling the artist whose song you love that their music is worthless. It has no value. Think music is only made by rich people that don't deserve more money anyway? Think again. What about the guy who wrote the song, or the technician who helped to put the sample tracks together, or even the receptionist who sat at the front desk of the studio and took phone calls every day?

All these people were involved in the creation of that song you stole, and every time you refuse to pay, you're telling them that their work is basically trash. Someone might not be able to put food on their kids' table today because the studio couldn't pay their salary. Why? Because somebody would rather steal the music for free than pay a few dollars in appreciation for hard work.

When you download music illegally, you're damaging the music industry's ability to make music. And if the music industry can't make music because you've illegally downloaded it instead of paying, there's going to come a day when no one can afford to make music anymore. Then what will you listen to?

Article Source : Prepaid Legal Services Inc

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Both Jeff Dorschner & Joshua Wills are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Jeff Dorschner has sinced written about articles on various topics from Legal Matters. The best and safest way to download movies and music is to use a legal downloading service.. Jeff Dorschner's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.

Joshua Wills has sinced written about articles on various topics from Office Furniture, Jewelry and Office Supplies. Watch (legally) at our site. Also. Joshua Wills's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.