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The distribution
of copyrighted materials over the Internet for which the
distributor (any server - including your computer) does not have
permission can be a violation of federal criminal law, a law
called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (DMCA). Most
of the music, games or videos downloaded through file-sharing
programs like Morpheus or KaZaA lack permission of the copyright
owner. And, those very programs that you use to download material,
automatically open file-sharing services from your computer.
So, without
your knowing it explicitly, by downloading the program and the
files your computer is programmed to share files back out into the
international Internet community. You are therefore liable to be
in violation of the DMCA, even if all you did was download a
single song. Each criminal offence carries with it a fine and a
potential prison sentence.
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For the average person
who is downloading and serving copyrighted files on the Internet without
permission of the owner the odds that she or he will be identified,
arrested and sent to prison or sued are probably very small. The
recreational downloading of copyrighted materials is not without
consequences, however. It is a violation federal law. And it is a law
enforced not only by federal investigators, but also by the owners of
copyrighted materials. There is some smaller number of people who do
intentionally engage in an extremely high volume of file sharing
activity. They should know that they are at greater risk for prosecution
of copyright violations.
In simple terms:
The use of any of the
networks or software found on this site is completely legal. It is
however, a criminal offence to share any file to which you do not own the
copyright.
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