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File Sharing & Peer-To-Peer Programs

 

Are you sharing copyrighted material?

File-sharing is the process of exchanging files over the Internet. One of the most common forms of file-sharing is using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) programs. Most P2P usage (which comprises a significant portion of file-sharing) is against the law because it involves the sharing of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright owner -- usually music (MP3) files or movie files, but also TV programs, books and images.

It is probably okay to copy songs from a CD you've purchased so that you can listen to them on your iPod or other portable digital music player, but it's NOT okay to give that song to your friend without permission from the copyright owner, or allow it to be shared on a P2P system that will give others access to the song without paying for it. And, it is not okay to download copyrighted songs, movies, books or images for your personal enjoyment without paying for them (unless you have the express permission from the copyright owner).

Ways you can violate the law:

• You receive a copy of a copyrighted song by e-mail and then e-mail copies to your friends.
• You make a copy of a CD that you bought and then give that copy to a friend.
• You make an MP3 copy of a song off of a CD that you won and then put it on a file-sharing network so that others can download it.

 

This is a brief explanation. For more information on file-sharing and P2P, visit www.riaa.com/faq.php.

 

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