| When the Internet was young, many people that | | | | The first sign is obvious; if they do not say |
| used it did not totally understand that the | | | | the free download is legal, it probably is |
| file sharing of copyrighted material, be it | | | | not. Look for websites that proclaim that |
| pictures or music, was illegal and immoral. | | | | their free downloads are free. How can this |
| Websites allowed for free downloading of | | | | be? How do they make money? There are many |
| copyrighted music without even trying to hide | | | | ways. Sites and services that allow you to |
| their actions from legal action, because they | | | | download legal music for free have some way |
| may have not thought it was a big deal. | | | | of making money of their visitors. Sometimes |
| However, once legal action was taken by the | | | | they pay the RIAA for the music, provide it |
| RIAA, these websites either went under or | | | | for free, and then make their money off of ad |
| started going legal. File sharing programs | | | | revenue for the ads on their site. Another |
| tend to avoid legal action because there is a | | | | way they can make money off of the downloads |
| legal precedent that technology that allows | | | | is to have the visitors fill out a |
| for the production and duplication of | | | | questionnaire and then sell the results to |
| copyrighted material is not inherently | | | | other companies for collecting data on the |
| illegal. However, the illegal file sharing | | | | public's opinions and preferences. Don't |
| itself is still illegal and many stories have | | | | worry, this doesn't mean they are going to |
| hit the news about people getting arrested | | | | steal your identity. You may just have to |
| and sued for sharing copyrighted material. | | | | fill out a form answer questions about music, |
| | | | television, movies, or other subjects and |
| So how you can avoid breaking the law and | | | | then companies pay for the results so they |
| doing something immoral? Do not download | | | | can produce products inline with the public's |
| music that is copyrighted unless you are | | | | preferences. |
| legally allowed to. If you have to pay a fee | | | | |
| to legally download the music you can be sure | | | | Many bands and companies also release music |
| you are not breaking the law. But what if you | | | | for free to generate a buzz for their album |
| want to download legal music for free? Well, | | | | or product. Some television shows provide |
| it actually isn't that uncommon for free | | | | free downloads of music related to the show |
| music to be available officially and legally, | | | | as a service to fans. Some bands release |
| you just have to be able to tell the | | | | legal free downloads to help get their music |
| difference between free legal music and free | | | | to more people to help sell more copies of |
| illegal music. | | | | the full album. Free legal music is out |
| | | | there, you just need to know what to avoid. |