The Confusion Around Music Copyright Law. There are many ways to download free music from the internet. This has led to confusion and conflicting opinions about what is legal.
Okay, so it is illegal to burn a CD and then distribute it. Are you saying that I can’t burn a mix disc and give it to some of my friends?
“It is illegal to download peer-to-peer songs, but I can download a song from a friend via Dropbox.”
Many feel that song copying and distribution is illegal and the laws are outdated. They continue to download music illegally.
This problem has been made worse by the increasingly popular “YouTube mp3”, which allows you to grab the mp3 file from a YouTube video that someone has posted.
Is this also illegal?
Let’s take another look.
The FBI Warning
For those of you who still watch movies on DVD, you know the feeling: the familiar FBI WARNING appears on the screen. It tells you that the material is protected and that it’s illegal to copy any of the material.
This copyright law (or internet piratery) applies to music, despite some old articles.
What does this mean?
It is illegal to redistribute any type of music without permission from the artist. Participating in illegal activity is also possible if you knowingly download music that has been distributed without permission.
IBM’s article compared the use of these third-party websites to rip YouTube music to “using cassette tapes for songs of radio”
Peer-to-peer servers, as well as other websites, that don’t technically host the files, continue to participate in this illegal activity. Copyright companies will continue to crack down on this activity in the future.
Do You Have Other Options?
Yes. There is hope. There are many options. It’s incredible how many people still work so hard to get music for free despite all the options. Those were the days I remember.
It makes me cringe to think of editing the properties of each song again so it looks neat and ordered on my iPod.
Never again.
You can subscribe to music streaming services, which many do. However, if you don’t have an internet connection, and want to listen to your music cheaply, and also own the songs, Mp3million is a good option. It allows you to download songs for as little as nickels and dimes. These sites are legal provided they pay royalties for song licenses. With that being said, you should be able to continue music downloading without too much interruption.
Also Read: The Top 6 Health Benefits Of Caffeine.
