Free music downloads are popular, but established artists rarely offer their music for free. Peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing programs allow users to download music from other users, but it is often illegal and can result in legal consequences. The No Electronic Theft Act criminalizes illegal downloads, and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) prosecutes individuals guilty of file sharing. Users must decide if they want to risk the consequences of downloading music illegally.
With the popularity of portable audio players, interest in free music downloads is understandably high. While some newer artists welcome free music downloads, more often than not established artists don’t give away their music. Free Internet downloads are therefore normally relegated to artists looking for exposure. The primary method used to acquire free music downloads from popular artists is through peer-to-peer (P2P) network sharing programs. However, there is a legal problem.
Peer-to-peer programs allow users to connect with each other by creating a network of hundreds of thousands of participants. Using the provided software, users search other computers for their favorite songs and download them at will. When downloading a song, a user is downloading it from one or more other users, not from a company that supplies the song. The more users provide the song, the faster the download. Since this method allows participants to download everything that other users are sharing, it is a very effective way to expand your music collection for free. Unfortunately, this method is often used to get free music downloads illegally.
The vast majority of downloaded songs are owned by artists who have not agreed to offer their legally protected music for free. The artist receives no compensation for free music downloads, and many if not most artists and labels consider P2P sharing to be theft. It’s no surprise then that free P2P music downloads have created a legal uproar.
In November of 1997, the No Electronic Theft Act was passed. This act criminalizes illegal downloads even in cases where there is no financial gain. Since then, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has aggressively tried to prosecute many individuals guilty of file sharing.
Free music download has been widely contested by both sides. Downloading an artist’s work on P2P networks without the consent of the artist or label can result in monetary damages or jail time. Although file sharing networks are free, each user must decide if he wants to risk these consequences to download many of today’s popular songs for free.
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