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