Dowloading mp3s

[Eastkun]

Is this wrong? I don't have any money. How could i buy these songs? What about songs from other countries?

[Stephen]

If the band puts the mp3s online for download on there site, its legal. If you are downloading them otherwise...chances are its illegal and wrong.

[TrigunX89]

Check out [url]purevolume.com[/url]. They have lots of free and legal MP3's.

[Eastkun]

Thanks guys!

[Joshua Christopher]

Some bands don't care if you do. For example, I've read a quote from angsty nu-metal group, Linkin Park, saying they didn't mind fans downloading their music.

Personally, I figure if you either just get it to listen to once, or buy the album, it's no big deal. Whatever.

[ShiroiHikari]

I download before I buy, usually. With Japanese stuff... I download, and then try really really hard to buy but usually can't.

[Slater]

legally, if you download music on a P2P network or something, you can keep it for 24 hours then need to delete it.

[shooraijin]

That "rule" shows up a lot -- emulator ROM sites, for example --, but t/b/h, I haven't seen anything to defend it legally. It's a reasonable rule of thumb, but I'm not aware of anything actually written in law to uphold it.

[umathurmanlover]

most talented musicians who actually love to merely play music and expose their art to others promote illegally downloading. I'm a musician and I actually would be flattered if others showed interest in any music I made and downloaded it. Definitely check out purevolume.com for any rock groups your'e interested in. But when you have the money, buy the cd if it's a lesser known artist. All in all, it's music. Just enjoy it any way you can and do what you think is right.

[Kaligraphic]

The thing is, a lot of the music available on p2p networks isn't owned by the artists. The recording itself is commonly considered to be "owned" for legal purposes by the distribution company. Yes, it's a bad system, but until a better one comes along, the artist would have to either have a very nonstandard agreement or a separate recording for p2p distribution.

And IANAL but AFAIK, the 24 hour thing is an urban legend.

[Joshua Christopher]

And IANAL but AFAIK, the 24 hour thing is an urban legend.

Oh, I know it is, but regardless. I really see no difference in streaming it legally and downloading it, and getting rid of it within a short period of time.
Though, to be 100% honest, I do have some MP3s.... now, I will say that the majority of them are CDs that I own, ripped onto my computer.

[Fireproof]

You know, some artists who simply want publicity do offer free MP3 downloads. Just saying.

[Kaligraphic]

Yes, but that's usually on the band's site, not on p2p networks. And they may or may not extend the right to further distribute.