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Friend is using p2p filesharing...is it legal

CarsByrdCarsByrd Registered User regular
edited December 2006 in Help / Advice Forum
my friend- we'll call him 'R' -is trying to get me to use a 'p2p' filesharing program called Ares....R showed it to me and it looks like you can download software, music, videos- stuff like that. But, i'm not entirely sure that it's legal to use...anyone have any experience with these programs? Can R get busted and spend time in jail/paying a fuckload of money?

CarsByrd on

Posts

  • DocDoc Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited December 2006
    CarsByrd wrote:
    Can R get busted and spend time in jail/paying a fuckload of money?

    No, yes. In that order.

    Doc on
  • OtarOtar Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    P2P programs are only illegal if you use them to download illegal software or copywritten material.

    Otar on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • EverywhereasignEverywhereasign Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    Although P2P has legal uses, people use it to distribute things already under copyright. In most places, this is generally not legal without the permission of the copyright holder.

    Take from that what you will.

    If you want free software, consider open source. Many frequently stolen programmes have equal alternatives that cost nothing.

    Everywhereasign on
    "What are you dense? Are you retarded or something? Who the hell do you think I am? I'm the goddamn Batman!"
  • VirumVirum Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    Isn't it legal in Canada though?

    Virum on
    http://www.joshuanitschke.com
  • RaneadosRaneados police apologist you shouldn't have been there, obviouslyRegistered User regular
    edited December 2006
    Virum wrote:
    Isn't it legal in Canada though?


    no?'

    clarification: I believe downloading music is legal, but not downloading programs. And the uploading of either is still illegal

    Raneados on
  • OrikaeshigitaeOrikaeshigitae Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited December 2006
    downloading is legal, because you can make a copy for your friends, and it doesn't qualify 'friends'

    but uploading is illegal

    also we get double-plus extra tax on CDRs and MP3 players to compensate musicians and copyright holders

    Orikaeshigitae on
    http://www.mediumdifficulty.com
  • RaneadosRaneados police apologist you shouldn't have been there, obviouslyRegistered User regular
    edited December 2006
    Orikaeshigitae wrote:
    downloading is legal, because you can make a copy for your friends, and it doesn't qualify 'friends'

    but uploading is illegal

    also we get double-plus extra tax on CDRs and MP3 players to compensate musicians and copyright holders

    makes sense

    Raneados on
  • DaedalusDaedalus Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    Otar wrote:
    P2P programs are only illegal if you use them to download illegal software or copywritten material.

    Or upload. Don't forget uploading. In fact, for the most part, the various rightsholders' organizations go after the uploaders first, because these people are easier to catch.

    Daedalus on
  • ThanatosThanatos Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    Like everyone else says, as long as you're not uploading or downloading protected material (copyrighted, trademarked, or patented), then P2P sharing is perfectly legal. Otherwise, it's not.

    I'm declaring this thread "solved" so we don't end up going places where I have to ban people.

    Thanatos on
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