Is using P2P software totally illegal?

[overst33r]

What if someone uses P2P software to download stuff besides illegal software, movies, music, and porn. Would that be illegal?

 

[Aves]

I wouldn't think so. As long you aren't downloading/sharing illegal then what's the prob?

 

[liquidnexus]

Many things traded on p2p networks are, but uses can include larger files like, linux, and other open source files, along with free homemade movies.

 

[TallBill]

Hahaha, of course its legal.. since when is downloading legal files illegal?

 

[Rallispec]

the P2P apps are not illegal. You can use them legally. (although i'm sure the RIAA is challenging this in court).

it's just that most people use them for illegal song swapping or file sharing. Which definetly is illegal.

 

[Injury]

using the app is not illegal at all.

using the app to engage in copyright infringement is illegal, just as it would be illegal to use a spatula to somehow engage in copyright infringement. It's not the tool that makes it illega, the tool has nothing to do with it. It's what you are doing that is illegal.

 

[meltdown75]

I don't think so. The P2P technology is way too sweet to abandon just because it is mostly used for illegal warez etc. Heck look at Bit Torrent - sites such as www.filerush.com are using the bit torrent technology (sounds strange to say it that way - noobish) to facilitate downloads of legal game demos. The speed is blazing and it doesn't tax the servers. I love it.

 

[preslove]

Well, downloading anything is NOT illegal (it's a grey area) though most would say it is unethical. UPLOADING copywritten material is.

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: Rallispec
the P2P apps are not illegal. You can use them legally. (although i'm sure the RIAA is challenging this in court).

And that is one of the many reasons why the RIAA and MPAA freakin suck. :|

P2P applications are like stones; they can be used for good things (downloading open source software, or decorating your sidewalk), or they can be used for bad things (downloading warez, or killing somebody).

 

[her209]

Nope.

 

[Quasmo]

The day the MPAA starts fighting for porn is the day they truly care about copyright.

 

[edm917]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
I don't think so. The P2P technology is way too sweet to abandon just because it is mostly used for illegal warez etc. Heck look at Bit Torrent - sites such as www.filerush.com are using the bit torrent technology (sounds strange to say it that way - noobish) to facilitate downloads of legal game demos. The speed is blazing and it doesn't tax the servers. I love it.

Agreed. We're working on software which restricts sharing only to your closest friends and protects you from strangers. This type of sharing (via P2P) is one of the only ways that blogging, photo sharing, file sharing, etc. will reach the masses. The old kind of P2P (anonymous, mass scale) is giving this kind of scalable architecture a bad name. Guns don't kill people, people kill people.

 

[piroroadkill]

Originally posted by: mariok2006
What if someone uses P2P software to download stuff besides illegal software, movies, music, and porn. Would that be illegal?

Of course it's not illegal. If it was, all P2P software would be banned. It's all about the content you download.

 

[Ausm]

It is legal until some arshole in congress tries to eliminate that type of software.


Which would never happen BTW.

Ausm

 

[KingPhil]

I remember "back in the day" when Napster first came out, I SWORE I heard that it was legal to download music, as long as you deleted after 48 hours. Kind of like a trial and then go buy it if you wanted it.

I now prefer getting my music / files / movies from News groups. Much safer, just not nearly as easy to find stuff as it was with Kazaa or Napster. You kind of stumble across things rather than searching for specific items.

 

[quakefiend420]

Originally posted by: KingPhil
I remember "back in the day" when Napster first came out, I SWORE I heard that it was legal to download music, as long as you deleted after 48 hours. Kind of like a trial and then go buy it if you wanted it.

I now prefer getting my music / files / movies from News groups. Much safer, just not nearly as easy to find stuff as it was with Kazaa or Napster. You kind of stumble across things rather than searching for specific items.

you know...i remember hearing that as well....

 

[ribbon13]

Laws depend on where you are. Heres some info on swedish law.
http://static.thepiratebay.org/legal/

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Rallispec
the P2P apps are not illegal. You can use them legally. (although i'm sure the RIAA is challenging this in court).

it's just that most people use them for illegal song swapping or file sharing. Which definetly is illegal.

I believe they've already tried to challenge it once, and been defeated (based on the substantial non-infringing use precedent set by the Sony Betamax case).

 

[ribbon13]

That's the grand prize the MPAA/RIAA is after...

Overturning Sony vs Universal would be detrimental to our freedom
http://www.eff.org/legal/cases/sony_v_universal_decision.html

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: mariok2006
What if someone uses P2P software to download stuff besides illegal software, movies, music, and porn. Would that be illegal?

They are working on it to be totally illegal.

Nothing like going backwards in regards to Technology.

Good ol U.S.A.