file sharing

Question

is file sharing legal?  i hear about legal issues with napster and friends tell me about how sites like limewire are perfectly legal, but i am leery about unwittingly becoming the defendant in a copyright (action).  i know that these sites are also good ways to pick up viruses, so is it really worth the risk?  are there ways to discover before downloading a file if there might be a virus on it (if i chose to use a p2p site)?

esquire · Answer

Not always OK   Many shareware user licenses restrict the redistribution of the program without permission - do need to read the fine print   Message Edited by esquire on 05-17-200612:06 PM

RoadiJeff · Answer

It depends on what you're sharing.  Swapping copies of commercial music files or DVDs is illegal. Swapping copies of Shareware programs is okay.

little wing · Answer

then how do sites like limewire stay active? i am sure that you can download copyrighted material from sites like it. since that is against the law, how do they avoid the same fate as napster?

( i am simply curious. i have no desire to infringe upon any laws)

Message Edited by little wing on 05-17-200605:47 PM

msil217 · Answer

When you install Limewire, it has a checkbox asking if you are going to use the program to download copyrighted material. If you check no, it installs. That puts Limewire in the clear, legally. If you download stuff illegally, you may get sued by the RIAA or MPAA.

Beware.

Flooby · Answer

@little wing wrote:

then how do sites like limewire stay active?

For the same reason that blind pigs, bordellos, bookies and outfits that pay for stolen property do. There's always going to be a group of people who don't believe laws apply to them.

little wing · Answer

thanks everyone! now another question about file sharing. is there a way to find out before downloading if a file might be contaminated with a virus? i have been exploring download.com lately, which claims to be virus free, and worry i may inadvertantly download something i don't want. i am running avast anti-virus (from download.com) but i still worry. too many potential problems out there. thanks

rickmktg · Answer

@little wing wrote:

thanks everyone! now another question about file sharing. is there a way to find out before downloading if a file might be contaminated with a virus? i have been exploring download.com lately, which claims to be virus free, and worry i may inadvertantly download something i don't want. i am running avast anti-virus (from download.com) but i still worry. too many potential problems out there. thanks

You should worry. There is no way to check the file before downloading. And besides a virus, you might get spyware, trojans, or other nasty things.

little wing · Answer

after my last post i ran ad aware and found something i have never found before, a chinese mining cookie (or some such thing).  i don't know if it was bad or not, but i quarantined it and deleted it.   i see what you mean about downloading unwanted things.  thanks!!!

msil217 · Answer

If the file is an .exe file, that is dangerous. It's always best to scan the file with a Anti-virus before opening, however, it may still infect your computer when executing the file.

The worst offenders are "crack" or warez sites. If you think you can illegally obtain a crack for software, you may instead infect your computer with Viruses and Malware, and I do mean a lot!!!!

I use Limewire from time to time, and haven't been infected yet. I have GoBack, in case I do.

Windows General

file sharing

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