Downloading Legally

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What the Law Says About Downloading

October 30, 2012

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The law about downloading anything online is quite clear.  Any unauthorized download that infringes on the right of owners of any creative work has corresponding civil and criminal penalties.  Civil liability may run up to thousands of dollars in the form of damages while criminal liabilities may be equivalent to imprisonment, fines, and a criminal record.  Courts, based on recent rulings, have demonstrated their understanding of this law and generally supported what it says.

Online users are reminded not to be misled by the seemingly unlimited freedom provided by the Internet.  It is very possible that many illegal downloaders are not even aware that they are already in effect infringing on the rights of others.  However, an “innocent” download may not be an acceptable excuse to fully escape the hands of the law.

Online users should be aware that a download from a legal source may be converted into an illegal act when followed by file-sharing which enables millions to download it.  Participation in a file-sharing network through downloading copies that have not been expressly authorized is likewise equivalent to illegal downloading.  Burning copies of music through one’s computer to be distributed to friends is another way of violating copyrights of creators.  The measure to determine legality of download is simple.  The source should be legal and no unauthorized sharing should follow.

The lack of commercial intent or earn from sharing the download to another is not necessary for the download to be an illegal act.  As long as it is done without authorization,  the law sees that as illegal.  The apparent strictness of the law with regards to the interpretation of illegal download is said to be necessary to protect threatened sectors such as the movie and music industry.

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