LimeWire and FTC statements

Good grief. The LimeWire section seems to indicate that if I download I will be in violation of the copyright laws. But, the FTC document seems to explain how to setup the filesharing software to avoid security issues, spyware and other problems. Obviously, I have to research this a little harder.

Well, looks like my solution is not a solution at all. As far as I can tell, the songs that I want would all be copyrighted. Therefore, I would not be able to legally get those songs. I guess I am going to have to give up on any new music until I have more confidence is the CDs offered in the stores. Too bad.

Updated 12/03/2005: I just saw a reference to iTunes and their 99 cents per song price. This sounds like a good deal. I shall check them out and see if they might offer the kinds of music that I normally buy.

Swearing off the purchase of CDs had a good side benefit. I was completely out of space for storing my CDs. I have 4 huge boxes in storage (for B) and about 200 in my office and 200 in B's CD changers. There is always a silver lining to everything.

The rest of this post is a copy of the Limewire statement on Copyright Infringement and their quote of an FTC statement on file sharing. I'll leave it posted here as background information:

Copyright Infringement: Copyright laws and laws pertaining to patents and inventions protect original works of authorship and inventions. Individuals who reproduce, distribute copies, receive copies, publicly perform or display works or inventions other than their own and without the consent of the owners or holders of rights, or their authorized agents, in original works of authorship or inventions, may be in violation of copyright, patent or other intellectual property infringement. Lime Wire LLC does not encourage or condone the illegal copying of copyrighted material. This is not intended to be legal counsel or advice. If you have any questions, consult your attorney.

Excerpt from FTC document "File Sharing: A Fair Share? Maybe Not":

Shared Folders File-Sharing: A Fair Share? Maybe Not.
Every day, millions of computer users share files online. Whether it is music, games, or software, file-sharing can give people access to a wealth of information. You simply download special software that connects your computer to an informal network of other computers running the same software. Millions of users could be connected to each other through this software at one time. The software often is free and easily accessible. Sounds promising, right? Maybe, but make sure that you consider the trade-offs. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, cautions that file-sharing can have a number of risks. For example, when you are connected to file-sharing programs, you may unknowingly allow others to copy private files you never intended to share. You may download material that is protected by the copyright laws and find yourself mired in legal issues. You may download a virus or facilitate a security breach. Or you may unwittingly download pornography labeled as something else. To secure the personal information stored on your computer, the FTC suggests that you:• Set up the file-sharing software very carefully. If you don't check the proper settings when you install the software, you could open access not just to the files you intend to share, but also to other information on your hard drive, like your tax returns, email messages, medical records, photos, or other personal documents.