Is LimeWire Illegal?
Published by: Codrut Nistor, in News
August5th2008
File sharing is one of my favorite topics, especially because of that (very) thin line between legal and illegal. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't enjoy having the authorities go through my files to see if what I downloaded is protected by some copyright or not, and that's why I like using file sharing programs and being up to date with the latest news in the field. I am not out for warez, but I know there's a lot of useful free content out there, waiting to be found.
Now, a very short file sharing history lesson... It all started with USENET, the first global file sharing network, followed by the first P2P-generation file sharing software, using the server-client approach. While Napster faced a lot of legal problems, went down and now is up again, using a pay system, LimeWire is probably the most notorious first generation file sharing program still having a free version. So... is LimeWire illegal, or not?
First of all, let's do this the easy way. Considering the number of habitable worlds in the Universe, it's simply impossible for intelligent life forms not to exist.
Obviously, the fact that - as far as the public opinion knows - we didn't manage to encounter them yet, doesn't mean they don't exist. Now, if we take into account the fact that LimeWire for Windows has been downloaded from CNET, not to mention additional source, over 150 million times, figure it out for yourself!
Don't worry, I won't leave you hanging in the balance, but please write a comment with your own opinion, I'm anxious to hear more about what you think. As for myself, here's what I think - just like with most file sharing applications, it doesn't depend on the program too much. It's the user, obviously. Is LimeWire illegal? Hell, no! Is it possible to download illegal content with it? Obviously, yes. After all, instant messengers, email services, the entire Web itself could be used for illegal purposes, don't you agree?
When asking yourself "Is LimeWire illegal," simply replace "LimeWire" with virtually any other file sharing program, instant messenger with file sending capabilities, and so on. It's not the tool, it's the user of that tool, remember that!
If you're asking yourself about the differences between the LimeWire versions available, I must say none of them is "warez-friendly" more than the Basic version, if I can say that. After all, the "workflow" is this - you download the program from the official LimeWire downloads page or any other reliable source, and you fire it up.
Now, if you are looking for "Ubuntu Linux" or "Hancock," that's nothing illegal. When you find various results for "Hancock," some of them related to "Hancock trailer," and others being like "Hancock.2008.R5.LiNE.XviD.SWESUB-KickFoot," and you download the later, that's "a bit illegal." In fact, it's 100% illegal!
I hope I made things clear, but I am sure we'll get back to this topic in the future, too. After all, is LimeWire illegal? Is BitTorrent illegal? Is Azureus illegal? There are plenty of questions to answer, but if you think well, there's only one answer - "depends on what you make of it!"
Now, a very short file sharing history lesson... It all started with USENET, the first global file sharing network, followed by the first P2P-generation file sharing software, using the server-client approach. While Napster faced a lot of legal problems, went down and now is up again, using a pay system, LimeWire is probably the most notorious first generation file sharing program still having a free version. So... is LimeWire illegal, or not?
First of all, let's do this the easy way. Considering the number of habitable worlds in the Universe, it's simply impossible for intelligent life forms not to exist.
Obviously, the fact that - as far as the public opinion knows - we didn't manage to encounter them yet, doesn't mean they don't exist. Now, if we take into account the fact that LimeWire for Windows has been downloaded from CNET, not to mention additional source, over 150 million times, figure it out for yourself!
Don't worry, I won't leave you hanging in the balance, but please write a comment with your own opinion, I'm anxious to hear more about what you think. As for myself, here's what I think - just like with most file sharing applications, it doesn't depend on the program too much. It's the user, obviously. Is LimeWire illegal? Hell, no! Is it possible to download illegal content with it? Obviously, yes. After all, instant messengers, email services, the entire Web itself could be used for illegal purposes, don't you agree?
When asking yourself "Is LimeWire illegal," simply replace "LimeWire" with virtually any other file sharing program, instant messenger with file sending capabilities, and so on. It's not the tool, it's the user of that tool, remember that!
If you're asking yourself about the differences between the LimeWire versions available, I must say none of them is "warez-friendly" more than the Basic version, if I can say that. After all, the "workflow" is this - you download the program from the official LimeWire downloads page or any other reliable source, and you fire it up.
Now, if you are looking for "Ubuntu Linux" or "Hancock," that's nothing illegal. When you find various results for "Hancock," some of them related to "Hancock trailer," and others being like "Hancock.2008.R5.LiNE.XviD.SWESUB-KickFoot," and you download the later, that's "a bit illegal." In fact, it's 100% illegal!
I hope I made things clear, but I am sure we'll get back to this topic in the future, too. After all, is LimeWire illegal? Is BitTorrent illegal? Is Azureus illegal? There are plenty of questions to answer, but if you think well, there's only one answer - "depends on what you make of it!"
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12 Comments on Is LimeWire Illegal?
On 09/07/2008 at 7:55 pm Wolfaaron said:
What you said is true, there is nearly no possible way to get caught but it would be better to respect copyrights of all those artists.
Illegal stuff will keep on going as long as there is an internet.
On 10/21/2008 at 7:24 am popioi said:
yes
On 10/30/2008 at 8:26 pm hugs said:
I was told by a friend of mine a year or two ago that Limewire is a great cheap place to get tunes...I am glad I checked it out for sure. I think the artist's hard work needs to be respected for sure...Thanks for the article...
On 12/08/2008 at 12:13 am googa said:
http://www.softdistrict.com/is-limewire-illegal
On 01/06/2009 at 4:05 am bwhelan said:
are you a fucking retard you dont say i use limewire on a web page answer blog you fucking retard (not that i have downloaded anything illegal).
its just makes the artists job easier when you post shit about limewire on a webpage you dillweed
On 01/06/2009 at 6:06 am Codrut Nistor said:
Just for the record, I am NOT using Limewire. You also use that language when your mother is around?
On 06/16/2009 at 11:01 pm pp said:
Are vertor torrents illegal? And downloading torrents from vertor through limewire is illegal too?
On 11/18/2009 at 11:21 am lol said:
its kinda hard to explain it works like this limewire is a perfectly legal program in itself but the files on there are illegal mostly you need the authors consent to be able to put music on there which basically every artist has refused think about it who's gonna drive to the record store and pay money if u can hope on limewire download something in two seconds then put it ona cd purchased for 5 cents if you want lol its amazingly funny dude its a fucking war a gigantic illigeal free movie watching site has been closed down its getting insane
On 12/22/2009 at 2:26 am John said:
No, it shouldn't be illegal. Yes, breaking copyright laws is bad,
but it's not like it negatively affects anyone. The only people it hurts are those who are already doing fine as is. I'm not saying it's good to do it, but if someone can't afford CDs or iTunes ($1.29 a song!), it's not terrible, especially if used sparingly.
Technically, burning a CD of music is illegal, but it's not like blank CDs and CD burners are prohibited.
Now if they were to sell illegally downloaded music, that's another thing, but file sharing could even be compared to having your friend come over and listen to the CD you bought. They're hearing it for free, aren't they?
On 04/27/2010 at 9:00 am Limewire Greatness said:
limewire is completeley legal...but some applications can dip onto the other side of the law... the only thing i warn u about is child pornogrophy. that will get you arrested very fast
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Aug 28, 2008: P2P vs Email!?!
Sep 3, 2008: P2P Music Downloads