How to Download Free Music Legally - By: Pete Nisbet

If you want to download free music, you can do so legally using file sharing software that enables you to download any music contained on the hard drives of any other members of the membership club you join.

This is not illegal, as long as the music files you download are not protected by copyright. In other words, when you download free music files, the music must be in the public domain. The same P2P software can be used to legally download free movies and games, the same proviso applying: all downloads must be in the public domain, and not protected by copyright.

One major problem is that the same perfectly legal software can also be use to download bootleg movies, illegal music and games that are not in the public domain. This means you would be breaking the law by downloading such files. However, that decision is yours to make, since the software itself is not illegal, just the way it can be used.

Most people would be expected to download free music and movies legally from the public domain, such as the original 'Night of the Living Dead', and 'The Lady Vanishes', but some tend to step over the line and download current music hits and the top movie blockbusters. That's not what this software is for, although it is capable of doing so.

The way file sharing works is that you pay a lifetime membership fee which provides you with software that connects your computer with all other computers belonging to members online. This takes place in the background, and it enables members to download music, movie and games files from designated folders or directories on the open drives of other members (hard or USB connected).

Your liability lies in making sure that when you download free music, it is permitted, and this can be the case when, for example, a) the music files are old enough for the copyright to have lapsed, or b) they are in the public domain, or c) permission has been given by the copyright owner.

In the case of c), such a situation arises when young artists want their work published online and offer it for free download so they get their name known. Once they feel they have a good following, they will advertise their album and/or gig dates and wait for their fans to respond. In other cases, there are some very good old music tracks available for free download. Used illegally, you can download today's top 10 hits. Don't do that!

However, because the same software is used to download free music, movies and games, there are often complaints that this is being done illegally, because current hits are being downloaded - not just singles, but entire hit albums. Because an entire current #1 album can be downloaded in less than 45 minutes, this can be a problem.

However, given that you use your membership software to download free music legally, and perhaps to download free movies online legally, then you will be fine because the file sharing software is not illegal to use. It's those that use it illegally that are at fault, although the temptation is high. Still, my advice to you is 'don't do it!'

About the Author

More information on how to Download Free Music legally is available from Pete's website where you will learn more about the legal aspects of music downloads. Visit Pete's website Online Free Movies, and learn how to stay within the law when downloading music, movies and games online from the same membership sites.

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