Uploading/Downloading Material From Peer-To-Peer Networks

Full Question: Is it legal to upload and download copyrighted works to or from a peer-to-peer network?

Answer: Uploading or downloading a copyrighted work without the copyright owner’s permission is a copyright violation. An exception or limitation in the copyright law could allow it but it is extremely unlikely. Since many of the files available for download on peer-to-peer networks are protected by copyright and have been uploaded without the copyright owner’s permission, you should not download material from these networks unless you are confident that you know the source and either have the copyright owner’s permission or are confident that the material is not protected by copyright. In addition to the risk of infringement, when you download from a peer-to-peer network you also run the risk of exposing your computer to viruses, malware or spyware. To avoid these risks, consumers are advised to go to authorized online services or platforms to download or stream copyrighted works.