Is it stealing to download or torrent media?

Question

I understand the whole copyright aspect of things. For example, if someone made a DVD rip of a copyrighted film and then made it available for people to download for free. That is probably stealing. However, what if you download it from that person? That person made the media available for you, so is it taking then what they allow you to take? Or is it just second hand stealing because it's from someone who you know has stolen something.

Answer 1

There are several pertinent copyright rules you need to be aware of:



Rule 1: the copyright owners have exclusive rights to do certain things with their productions.

Rule 2: if you violate those rights, you can be sued.

Rule 3: one of those rights is the exclusive right to make copies.

Rule 4: another of those rights is the exclusive right to digitally transmit a copy of that music.

Rule 5: when you are caught infringing registered copyright in the USA you can be sued for up to $150,000 in statutory damages for each and every song.



Ask the Minnesota housewife caught "sharing" 24 song online (using KaZaa -- listing files on remote computes for free downloads). She was sued, jury awarded record company $80,000 per song.



Add; For those saying it's "stealing", you are misinformed (including a certain "law student" who needs to read a few more cases). First, SOME music you find online actually is authorized for download whether or not they ask you to pay for your copy. Second, unless there are physical goods being unlawfully removed from the possession of their owners, it's not technically theft, but rather "infringement" or even "piracy" (the federal crime of making illegal copies available to others, typically for a fee).

Answer 2

properly technically it relies upon on the torrent. A torrent is in undemanding terms a manner of sharing a report or peice of information with as many people as you like. once you are the writer and you have not any situation with people having that information, then there's no legality difficulty considering the fact which you are the writer and characteristic given permission. besides the undeniable fact that while you're taking somebody elses information without their permission and upload it as a torrent then you definitely may be breaking the regulation (in maximum countrys). So in short if the information is yours and you desire to share it then it is not stealing it rather is sharing. If the information is somebody elses and you're sharing it, then you definitely've stolen it.

Answer 3

No, it's not stealing. You're not taking something from anyone, you're making a copy. You are depriving the publishing company of profits they might have had, had the person bought it instead of downloaded it from you, but that's not the same thing as theft. (Although it's still illegal.)



It depends on the jurisdiction whether only providing others with a copyrighted work without permission is illegal, or whether it's also illegal to download it. In most countries, both are not allowed, but the law varies. (If you're using torrents, there is no distinction, because everyone who downloads is also helping with uploading.)

Answer 4

"I understand the whole copyright aspect of things."



Obviously, you don't.

Answer 5

Think of it this way, if you are using something that is not paid for, it's stealing.

Answer 6

yes it's stealing you should not download it

Answer 7

YES

If you don't BUY it, you are stealing.