Confusion about file sharing

[Thermal]

Are file sharing sites like megaupload/rapidshare/4shared illigal?

There terms of use really don't cover it, I assume downloading material for free would be, but it's sharing meaning it was brought even if the down loader didn't buy. If it is illegal would the downloader be doing the illegal thing or the person who put it on the site? Because I used it yesterday and Didn't even know if it was legal or not, the terms of use don't tell you, perhaps I'm gullible but I really don't know either way.


And yeah don't give me a warning if this has to be closed, I just want to know the answer, thanks...

[rajpoot]

If I were you I wouldn't download any software off these sites, unless the link has been provided to you by someone trustworthy, because as far as I know all sorts of people upload all sorts of software on these sites, and the lines of legality, are, more often than not, crossed.

[Lemur]

Short answer: Bittorrent is a neutral technology. It's used by WoW to update clients, for instance, and plenty of legitimate media are using it to distribute their goods. The easiest way to download Europa Barbarorum is via torrent.

On the other hand, the sites you mention largely traffic in warez and pirate booty.

RapidShare is the odd duck in your flock. That's a hosting site where you can post files of a certain size (I believe it's 100 megs, but I'm not sure). Once again, this is neutral technology that can be used for good or evil. Or pr0n.

A simple way to navigate these waters: If a group (such as Europa Barbarorum) has a Bittorent tracker for their stuff, it's likely legitimate. If the site consists of nothing but trackers from all over the place, it's probably criminal.

Now I have to decide whether this belongs in the HW/SW Forum or the Backroom. Lemme think about it for a minute.

-edit-

I am an idiot. I just checked the two other sites you mentioned. They're both hosting services. None of what I said about Bittorrent applies. I should have checked them before posting. The sites themselves are not illegal, but they can be used for that purpose, in much the same way that you can use a knife to cook or use it to murder.

Since the real thrust of your question is about piracy, I think this should go in the Backroom.

[Caius]

It depends who uses it. If you need to pass some images of RTW and you don't know how to host them, sure thing, you can zip or rar them and upload it in those sites. But if you use for "other things"... well, you know.

I wonder if it is in their policies to "encourage piracy to have more customers".

[Monk]

Megaupload will nuke (delete) copyrighted material if they catch it on their servers, but they don't actively look for it. I believe their site runs off of a report system, and they rely upon said reports to catch and dispose of material that is not okay.

[Thermal]

So if i downloaded something that was copyrighted its illegal, and if not copyrighted legal? How would I know if its copyrighted or not?

Maybe backroomers might like to see into this

[Crazed Rabbit]

A good guide might be to ask yourself if you would have to pay for the material you are downloading if you got it from some other place.

Now here's a question; what about downloading out-of-print books that are still copyrighted? Probably illegal...

CR

[Caius]

They're both hosting services. None of what I said about Bittorrent applies.

Actually, this is about file sharing. Bittorrent is a file sharer program. Which is the same, except that you use the program instead of a site.

[Beefy187]

Actually, this is about file sharing. Bittorrent is a file sharer program. Which is the same, except that you use the program instead of a site.

But when you use Bittorrent you normally go off to sites like Mininova and stuff.

And majority of the stuff in Mininova is illegal.