When Using DSL Cable or Satellite Internet Beware of Certain Illegal File Sharing

Navigating the world of Internet is fraught withthat is normally not offered for free is illegal. If a
legal considerations that you may have neverprogram or software is normally purchased, either
considered before. However, in order to use theonline or in stores, then it is not legal to download
Internet properly and fully, you should be awareor share the program or software in a file sharing
of a few basic legal realities. Each state varies innetwork. The network itself remains a legal, but
laws regarding the Internet but the following canthe information changing hands makes the activity
give you a basic knowledge of the lawsitself illegal.
surrounding file sharing, the practice of distributingSecond, downloading or sharing a copyrighted
digitally stored information. Whether file sharingmovie is illegal. A copyrighted movie cannot be
through the use of cable, wireless, or satellitetransferred to others legally through file sharing.
Internet, the following considerations should beThe best way to protect yourself is to ask
noted.whether the movie you are about to download or
The most popular method of file sharing isshare can be purchased. If the movie can be
peer-to-peer networking, which involves the usepurchased, chances are high that you are dealing
of multiple computers sharing information. In thiswith copyrighted material. This certainly limits the
method, you access a file sharing network andnumber of movies you can legally view online for
can use the files on the computers of the othersfree. Just because all your friends seem to be
on the network. For large documents or files,doing it does not make the activity legal. You may
your computer will likely take pieces of the filesjust be the only one caught.
from several peers and then reassemble the fileThird, downloading or sharing a copyrighted
once the downloading is complete. During all thetelevision show is illegal. The same is true fro
downloading that you may be doing, other peerstelevision shows. Granted, with DSL cable or
in your networking may be downloading files offsatellite Internet, file sharing can be made
of your own computer simultaneously. If you areextremely quick. This can be tempting for you to
using satellite Internet, for example, you will havedownload or share your favorite TV shows.
fast downloading speeds anyway but file sharingHowever, chances are it is illegal to do so because
allows you to download or share a file evenit is probably copyrighted.
quicker than if the file was coming from just oneThird, downloading music from other people
computer. The times very for each file size andwithout purchasing the songs is illegal. It is also
number of peers being used to share the file.illegal to be the person sharing the songs to
The main thing you should know is that file sharingothers who are not properly paying for the songs.
is not illegal. However, sharing copyrightedPaying for the song properly does not mean
information or downloading music from others'paying within the file sharing network community.
computers without buying it is illegal. File sharing isAgain, to determine if downloading or sharing
not in and of itself, illegal. No state in the countrymusic is potentially illegal ask yourself if they can
has made file sharing illegal. That means that yoube purchased. If so, then downloading them
can technically continue using file sharing networksthrough a file sharing network may be illegal.
to download documents and other files. Here areWhen you hook up to your satellite Internet and
a few examples of when file sharing doesyou find yourself tempted to download files with
because illegal because of the type of documentyour new high speed Internet, ask yourself if the
or file you are downloading.material is copyrighted or able to be purchased.
First, downloading or sharing computer software