Illegal Downloading

In the insightful words of popular Canadian band Barenaked Ladies, "When the Gap went online, T-shirts didn't become free." Of all industries that have been revolutionized by modern technology, few have been hit as hard as the music industry. The internet has made music distribution easier than ever. This digital era has unfortunately for music producers, made it easier than ever for consumers to get music access without paying for it. Stealing music, let alone anything in existence, is strictly against the law. Despite the legal offense of the matter, stealing music over the internet betrays the recording artists who create it. Inescapably, stealing music threatens the occupation of the thousands of working people who contributed to producing the music. In all, this sweeping music thievery is detrimental to the entire music community, and to those downloading illegally.

For centuries, artists and other creative people have been granted the right to own and control their original work. These rights are protected by what is known as copyright. When you make illegal copies for someone's creative work, you are stealing and breaking the law. In the United States, copyright protection is guaranteed under the Constitution. The Constitution states, "Congress shall have the power to... promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries..." (Article 1, Section 8). Easier understood, it is against the law to make unauthorized reproductions, distributions, or digital transmissions of copyrighted songs. The Copyright Law also makes sharing song files via internet unlawful. This law includes the Federal Law's providing of "severe civil and criminal penalties" (Title 17, United States Code, Sections 5-1 and 506), for the illegal distribution of sound recordings as well. You might not even know if you are breaking these laws. However, if you illegally offer recordings to others, you are breaking these laws. Circumstantially, burning CDs and distributing them to your friends is considered unlawful. The FBI investigates allegations of criminal copyright infringement, and violators are prosecuted. Illegal downloaders can receive up to five years in prison, and $250,000 in fines. If a minor, parents are forced to pay copyright holders up to $150,000 in statutory damages, or $750 per song.

Despite the legal offense of the matter, stealing music over the internet betrays the recording artists. For the artist, hard work requires not only a major emotional and intellectual commitment, but also long hours and intense concentration. Artists sustain imagination, soul, and talent in their jobs. In addition to their long hours, making music is about their careers and financial well-being. Platinum Award Winning artist, Mandy Moore confesses her opinions on this topic as she states, "While I admit that what I do for a living is a dream come true, it's still a job and how I make a living. Illegally downloading music is the same