Legal Question in Intellectual Property in New York

Is It Legal to Download Music From Non-U.S. Sites on the Cheap?

I get different answers on this. Presumably the companies do not have a license but you do pay for the music. They seem to purport to have a license but I doubt they do. Is it illegal to download the music from these sites for personal if you don't know for a fact they don't have license.

I'm listing New York as the location but since this is federal law probably any copyright lawyer can answer.


Asked on 1/18/09, 3:05 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Kristen Browde Browde Law, P.C.

Re: Is It Legal to Download Music From Non-U.S. Sites on the Cheap?

Simple answer: no it is not legal. Unless they have a license to distribute the music, both they and you violate U.S. copyright law when you download and make an unlicensed copy.

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Answered on 1/18/09, 7:55 pm


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