Explaining the concept of piracy to kids can be very difficult especially with the great ease and wide availability of downloadable movies, music, games. TV shows, and software.  We have been accustomed to associating secrecy and shame with criminal acts that it is sometimes hard to reconcile that what appears to be socially acceptable is in fact something legally prohibited.  How do we explain to our children that such acts of downloading are categorized as piracy of copyrighted materials?

The best way of teaching children to go the right way is to lead by example.  This requires parents to avoid illegal downloads since no one can preach what one does not practice.  You cannot be saying one thing and doing another.  Inconsistency between words and actions only leads to confusion especially for young minds who usually take the words of adults at face value.  It has to be clearly explained that not because it is easy to do and their friends do it, it does not mean that it is right. 

The justification that the download made is purely for personal use and not intended to be exchanged for any monetary consideration is beside the point.  There are ethical and legal consequences of illegally downloading copyrighted material and kids have to be made aware of this.  Many download innocently but we all know that ignorance of the law excuses no one.

Modern pirates now refer to people who download music, movies, games, and software .  They use the creative works of  other people without paying for them.  Computer users should be aware that they can be turned over to authorities by their ISP Provider once connection to an illegal site is detected and large file download is flagged.

It is best to guide kids towards the right path early on so that they are made aware of responsibilities associated with using technology.

The so-called peer-to-peer (P2P) phenomenon or file-sharing specifically of music has been sought to be stopped at the threat of legal prosecution.  The Digital Millenium Copyright Act of 1998 reinforced the earlier existing copyright laws of the United States.  The legal move was based on the premise that illegal downloading of music infringes on the intellectual property rights of musicians and artists as it reduces the amount of money they should be earning. 

Internet music piracy has been blamed for decreased CD sales although not everyone is convinced.  This is because majority of those who choose to download in this manner are not actual potential buyers.  They share music in the same way that they share other things to their friends since these people are teens and college kids.

File-sharing has been credited for playing a big part in furthering the popularity of songs.  This move is generally spontaneous and those who do it for no financial consideration rarely have criminal inclinations of copyright infringement.  That said, it doesn’t change the fact that illegal downloading remains legally unacceptable, although it appears to be socially acceptable.    

Even when the Recording Industry Association of America or the RIAA has conceded to the truth that file sharing is only one of the many factors that negatively affected CD sales along with slow economic conditions as well as competing forms of entertainment, ceasing of illegal downloading of music is still being actively campaigned for.  Not because you pay a site to download music automatically means you are not violating any law.  It can happen that the site itself has no right to distribute the music which you downloaded. 

Given the very complicated situation, isn’t it possible to harness the strength of P2P towards the benefit of the music industry, especially since there appears to be nothing yet that can absolutely stop file sharing?

It appears that in spite of best efforts by the music industry to push CD sales and legal download, not enough revenue is being generated to sustain people of particular interest to the recorded music industry.  These are the music publishers, the rights owners, and the companies offering downloads.  Because of the prevailing situation, companies like Apple and Amazon are pushing for a cloud-based alternative to digital music services.  All indications point to the inclination of consumers towards access over download.  This simply means that music lovers will more and more prefer to stream their desired songs rather than to  physically own records and albums.

Subscription to mobile music streaming services is expected to become mainstream by the year 2016.  This forecast if realized, spells positive developments for consumers as well as the mobile music streaming providers and the middle men in the business.  Musical artists will have the advantage of unlimited access to various options for product distribution although there are serious concerns about the income-generating capability of selling recorded music.

In a survey conducted in September 2011, streaming music online for free and downloading digital music files for free have percentage shares akin to current mainstream activities including buying physical copies of CD or vinyl and purchasing music files online.  The same survey shows that a very small number of consumers would pay to stream music online.  Industry observers are almost in complete agreement that digital music consumers will travel the same path as that of online social gamers where only a few opted to pay for the privilege of getting premium service and many settle for less as long as there are no monetary considerations involved.

The increasing usage when music and service is offered for free is observed universally.  This is the reason why internet service providers and electronic device manufacturers are scrambling to bundle music access into their offered packages.  Concerns about audio quality take a backseat for now to instant access.

Pictures which are not subject to copyright protection are those in the public domain.  Public domain images include works that have been released by their owners for use of the general public.  A desired picture may not readily reveal if it is public domain or not which may necessitate further checking of copyright status, if any.

Copyright law allows for the “fair use” of any pictures without the need to seek permission from the owner.  This would usually include non-profit seeking purposes such as for a school report or for a community activity.  Thumbnail images lifted from other sites have been declared by courts as falling under “fair use”.  There are of course other considerations like the number of times it was used and how it was used.

Since copyrights to an image is not always clear, determining whether it is public domain or not may be tricky.  Generally, photos that are considered public domain includes government photos, photos taken after the year 1989 except when otherwise stated, photos with expired copyrights, and photos posted on public domain websites.  These sites are quite clear about the restriction-free nature of their posted images. 

Once an image is declared public domain, it can be used for any private or commercial endeavor subject to certain restrictions of owners when applicable.   Sites who offer these images typically requests for link backs or any credit, although most are not compulsory.  Images with higher resolution are also usually offered for a fee.  Public domain images collected in a site may come from various sources.  Public domain pictures should stay as such and persons who have used it cannot claim copyrights on them.

Illegal downloading of anything which is considered an intellectual property is said to be a non-traditional form of stealing.  This is most often done with music and movies, albeit unknowingly by many consumers.  You can help create awareness for the important issue and promote your blog as well.

Downloading copyrighted materials is against the law.  It has serious economic effects due to uncollected tax and decreased job opportunities for those directly involved in the production of the downloaded materials.  Rules of ethics dictate that it is wrong to deprive people of the rightful fruits of their labor.  This means paying for the enjoyment of the music,movie or book  that we choose.

Websites can only distribute materials in which they hold distribution rights to.  In the absence of such rights, they and their customers can be liable to possible consequences including payment of fine, arrest, and suspension of Internet service.  The concerned industries have been trying to prevent illegal downloads through certain blocking technologies and reporting the download to the consumer’s Internet service provider but illegal downloading still remains a big issue among concerned industries.

Legal downloading websites can make their presence known through a blog review.  For a standard fee of $ 14.99, a blog is reviewed and then published  with backlinks to the blog itself.  The membership package brings with it additional traffic, feedbacks, and links, which are all-important factors for blog success.  The sign-up process simply requires blog details and the payment of the fee.  Confirmation is given through email.  All members can avail of advanced membership packages to take advantage of more exposure and support.

Project Gutenberg

This is one of the best known sites for downloading free books. Like so many other sites, Project Gutenberg allows you to download titles which can be read on either a computer, an iPad or various other eBook reading devices. There is a comprehensive search option included with the site to help you find what you are looking for quickly. If you just want to browse titles, the site is updated each day with new books so there will always be fresh titles for you to read.

Planet eBook

Calling itself ‘the home of free classic literature’, Planet eBook holds a range of classic titles by writers such as Daniel Defoe and Charles Dickens. The site allows you to preview the title by reading a free page or two so you can see if you will enjoy it before you download it. Once you have selected a title, press the ‘download’ button and you will be given the option to view the book on one or two pages in any PDF reader.

ManyBooks.net

Operating in much the same way as many other book sites, ManyBooks.net does have one distinct difference – an interesting ‘books to read before you die’ list. The list encompasses a wide range of titles from literary classics to more modern pieces by new authors. You can also choose to read a ‘random book’ if you are looking for something completely different.

FreeBookSpot

FreeBookSpot organizes its titles slightly different. The majority of the books in its library are on specialist topics and so users can browse new titles via category – for example, scientific and engineering titles are two popular choices on the site. In all, FreeBookSpot has 96 categories to choose from, equating to around 4485 eBooks, all of which are free. You can download the site’s entire catalogue if you like, but you will need to have around 72GB of free space on your computer before doing so!

4eBooks

Many people who download eBooks do so because they need specific information on a particular topic. If you need eBooks that deal with computer programming issues, this is the site for you. Each title available comes with a review so you know how useful it is and you can find titles dealing with a variety of computer topics such as domain names and computer programs.

Not all forms of music downloads are allowed.  It is highly possible that songs and albums are being illegally obtained without the knowledge of the user.  Free music downloads are usually comprised of unknown songs from unknown singers as a form of exposure and promotion.  Pay sites typically have exclusive tie-ups with popular artists.

Anything that is much sought-after has a corresponding price and that includes the music we listen to.  We all know that the making of a song has necessary expenses.  It is but fair that those who took the chance in financing its realization are rewarded for their efforts.  When users download music illegally, they are in effect depriving the rightful persons of their due.

We can still get to enjoy the music we love for a reasonable price from trusted sites on the Internet such as iTunes, Napster, and MP3.com.  With the large number of sites offering music downloads, it is very easy to confuse the legal sites with the illegal ones.  The key is to find reasonable pricing that will allow downloads per song or based on the amount of music files.

It is important to download from a legal music site to ensure that you get to enjoy your music continuously.  A music which has ceased to operate may mean ceasing of the music as well as provided by the particular download.  The Recording Industry Association of America can provide a list of sites where music downloads can be had without worry.

Some artists and labels have chosen to sell their music throught their own websites.  Many sites offer free downloads to attract enough traffic before they initiate charging.  Others offer freebies in form of streams which cannot be transferred to an MP3 player or saved on the hard drive.

Not every downloadable content should be downloaded for one’s own protection.  Sites we encounter online are not always what they seem to be.  Responsible and selective downloading is the practice of searching for relevant contents from trustworthy sites and downloading them with no intent to infringe on other peope’s rights.

Dubious sites are often the source of malware that can drastically affect computer systems.  Even sites that are considered safe and reliable can unknowingly pass on viruses after being victimized by malicious intent themselves.  It is considered standard practice to run a virus scan on any downloaded content before it is opened.  In this way, the protection is doubled instead of simply relying on other people’s promises.

Downloading that has been specifically allowed by content owners may carry certain limitations that users should be aware of.  Downloadable web sites, programs, documents, RSS feeds, flash contents, videos, music, games, or pictures typically provide the means to accomplish the task very easily.  Within seconds, the desired content is ready for use as files provided by the Internet host is quickly transferred to a computer’s hard drive.

The availability of a wide range of downloadable materials has served computer users very well in terms of having instant access to information when it is needed.  There appears to be no topic left untouched by the far-reaching arms of online capability.  Answers to questions are are just there for the picking.

One need not be a computer expert to master the skill of downloading.  In fact, the so-called computer illiterates among us can manage just fine.  As early as practicable, internet users should consider getting a downloading manager utility before the task becomes troublesome.

Convenience

One of the biggest factors in favour of downloading is that you can do it all from the comfort of your own home! You no longer need to drive to a store to see if they have the particular album or film you want to watch (only to find they sold out last week). Instead, you can simply log on to one of the thousands of legal download sites and access great content within minutes.
Sharing

In the past, if you wanted to share a great album with your friends, you would either have to physically meet up with them and play it to them or record it onto a cassette for them (which was actually illegal anyway). Nowadays, when you download a file you can share it almost immediately with whoever you choose. You may not be able to give them their own copy but with email and other communication technology you can share your favourite content with your friends quickly and easily.

Cost

Downloading music may even save you money in the long term. The average cost for each song you download is around $0.99, meaning that a 10 track album will cost you $9.90 – this is usually cheaper than the majority of record stores that you could buy it from. Additionally, you may not want to buy the whole album and may only want to own a song or two from it. By downloading select tracks you can save yourself money and ensure you only get content that you really want to own.

Protecting the Industry

Although it may be tempting to choose illegal sites that allow you to download for free, it is always worth paying for your online music in the long term. The fact is, a portion of the money you pay for downloads is pumped back into the music industry, improving the quality of music releases further down the line. Illegal sites take money away from artists and record labels and while this may not affect the major worldwide pop stars, it does have an effect on smaller, more independent acts (who are usually the ones which produce the most interesting music anyway!).

Avoiding Problems with the Law

The basic fact is that downloading content without paying for it is illegal. Although the chances that you are caught by record labels or production houses are small, there is still a risk that if you get caught doing something illegal you could get punished by the law. Overall, it is best to avoid the unnecessary headaches that come with illegal downloading and stick to getting your content from legal sources.

Rob Schoewe loves computers, technology, and exploring the web. He recommends others in his profession seriously consider using IT staffing services to find work in the field of information technology after completing their educational programs.

This site provides a number of TV programmes that users can watch for free. However, as the selection is a little dated you may want to stick to renting newer releases from the site. You can even buy certain films to keep for yourself.

IndieMoviesOnline.com

Although most download sites cater for the mass market and attempt to get the latest releases before anyone else, this site allows viewers with a more specialist and eclectic taste to watch a wide number of independent films. Many of these titles are made without big studio budgets and so focus on storytelling and character portrayal, rather than having special effects. You can watch as many films as you like however many times you wish, and when you sign up you will be entered onto an email database and informed of the latest films that are available.

LoveFilm.com

Love Film is a movie rental site where you can pay a monthly subscription free and have the latest movies sent out to your home. However, you can also stream and download a number of titles using the service. Occasionally the choice can be limited, although if you happen to find something you like it is a worthwhile investment. There are two tiers of use, one of which is free and the other which requires a monthly payment. Users who choose to pay monthly get access to a much wider range of titles so if you use the site regularly, you may find its worth your while to sign up to the site.

Crackle.com

This site offers a range of TV programs and movies that are available to watch for free. However, because the site is free to use it makes its money from advertising, meaning your viewing pleasure can often be disrupted with ads. If you don’t mind seeing the odd advert during your films then you may want to give this site a try.

SamsungMovies.com

Samsung is one of many brands that are moving into the download market. SamsungMovies.com enables users to get access to a range of new film releases for a one off cost for each. Given its status as a telecoms firm, many of these films are also available to watch via your mobile phone handset, meaning you can now watch films while on the move and no longer have to be near your computer to view content.

Guest post by: Holly Zinner is a huge fan of the web and technology. She works in the healthcare field and specializes in finding traveling jobs for nurses for both experienced professionals and new graduates.