What is Illegal?
 

Did anyone already post this? Oh well... Well, I was wondering exactly what was illegal about downloading and why? I never knew that... can someone explain to me? I cannot get a straight answer anywhere on the web... does it have to do with file-sharing? I'm really confused... help? Is it okay to download any of Ayumi's stuff online, or what? 'Cause I'd have no idea who Ayumi was if I didn't download the first song that got me into her, Evolution! I am about to buy my very own copies of Duty and I Am..., though... but still, I am uncertain! I searched the forum, and it there doesn't SEEM to be a topic about this, so... yes. Feel pity for the newbie, the poor, helpless newbie... heh. :P

Every country have their own laws about downloading copyprotected material / piracy etc..

Usually, it's ok to download stuff but sharing is more criminal.


Though i think most of those laws suck really bad. In my own perspective, i think there's nothing wrong about fans sharing material with other fans as long as money isn't involved.

Well, its downright illegal and unfair for the artistes involved.. Imagine everyone downloaded from forums and forget about buying Ayu's CDs.. She would never ever sell much or even get into Oricon.

Downloads are for evaluation only, don't burn them and sell them. Just listen to them and purchase them if you like it. Its a sin to keep the downloads you like and listen to them and ignore the prospects of buying the stuff.. :cry

An artist called M.I.A. (maybe somebody knows her here..) whose album got leaked all over the internet even made a mixtape called "Piracy Funds Terrorism".. Dont know how true that is though.. :tired

This should be in enquiries.. (-.-)

a/ A lot of people here know her.
b/ Her 'Piracy Funds Terrorism' mixtape was released well befóre her debut album Arular.
c/ It is somewhat true though, as it's a major source of income for some terrorist cells and groups (but that doesn't mean every illegally downloaded/bought album or movie actually funds terrorist organisations).
d/ Note that M.I.A.'s own stances towards terrorism are quite odd and controversial, so it's quite an odd example, haha. :)

Lepra is right though, laws pretty much differ per country. Here in Holland it's legal to download, but illegal to share/upload.

^OMG. YOU KNOW HER. *faints* I thought I was the only idiot to know her and I actually bothered pre-ordering Arular. Your knowledge is priceless. :cry (tears of joy) Yeah, her attitude and art itself are weird enough, like she is a terrorist..

AHS even has a M.I.A. thread. :)

As for her being a terrorist, well, let's say I wouldn't be surprised if she actually was, with her dad's history and all. That would end up to be quite paradoxical; not piracy, but the sales of her albums would have supported terrorism. Wow.

This would be such an awesome conspiracy theory.

:laugh But I hope that isnt true, although the possibilty is there.. She can make some quite good music from what I've heard on her site. But I think I'm getting off-topic here.. Sorry, continue with the illegal chat.

What will happen if some high authority accuses AHS as a place of spreading piracy? Will we all get prosecuted? :tired

lol, the forum will most likely get shut down, and that's it. MAYBE, just maybe, the owner of the site will get prosecuted, but there's like a 1% chance of that happening.

I think it shoud be posted at ENQUIRES or somewhere else but download area isn't right place for that :shakehead

It's illegal because it's COPYRIGHTED, simple isn't it? In some countries there's no law requlation about that but in some others it's allow to downloading of things which r not distributing in this country yet. However I could say that the most depend from ur own morality. There r ppls who don't have possibility of buying orginal stuff because of money etc. but some others did so because it's faster, cheaper and easier way. I could only say that ppls shouldn't treat copyrighted stuff uploading here instead of buying original releases but only as a temporary files - of course it's only my opinion.

Okay-- I think I understand it. I don't burn any of the stuff; I just check out Ayumi's huge collection by downloading songs to see which albums I'd want to buy... I'm relatively new in listening to J-Pop... but I think out of any type of music, she's my favorite artist. Period. Heh. :P Anyways, thank you everyone! When I read on a site that downloading was illegal, I got all panicked... hehe... :P I don't have a lot of money, but I know when I buy these CD's, I'll probably never get tired of the songs BECAUSE I downloaded the songs to listen to them before making a decision. There are many songs that I love by her, but some of them I like more than others. So now that I'm going to buy my favorite albums/mixes/singles/DVDs etc, I know what to expect. Aha, I feel so relieved... because then I checked it out on SBC! News, looking up 'illegal downloading,' and I found these preteens and teens owing scaaaary amounts of money for illegally downloading/file sharing. I basically freaked. Anyways, I'll stop babbling, and I'll just end with a 'thanks so so SOOO much!' :P

actually even downloading is illegal if they do catch you is just that those guys go after those that host the files or shares the copyrighted file.

Alltough downloading have many bad consequences, I don't think japanses music would reach far out of Asia as it's doing now if it wasen't for downloads. SO even though it might lower sales in Japan, I think the overseassales have increased.

^ yep! If there were no downloads, I wouldnt have got to know about Ayu's newer songs until a year or two later..

it's okay to keep it, ONLY if you bought an official product. That's what I do all the time, since I can't re-upload it to my computer in mp3 format.although I AM still looking for I am... (lol, okay nvm), I still buy most of her products, then buy the album after. I started from Memorial Address album, and pretty much stayed consistent ever since. And then I'm buying CDs backwards.

So basically, as long as you actually purchase the product or legally download it, you can keep it.

It's illegal because if everyone downloaded and did not but the sales would plummet and the record company wouldn't be able to make profit. In my case though I have to listen to the song first before buying so yeah.

But the laws do indeed vary from one country to another.

But sometimes you should just forget downloads and be adventurous! Just buy an album from an artiste you trust or never heard before! You would never know the results, and its dead satisfying if the CD turns out to be good. I did that with Dannii Minogue, and she proves to be amazing too! ^^ Its advised to download though to evaluate first if you dont like the idea of risking your money..

-coughcopycontrol- ....dude...does copy control even work?

anyways yea...*Petit*'s view is what i completely agree with...but Asia could always find ways to promote their artists overseas if they wanted, but by illegal downloading....and overseas sales rising, ooh the irony! don't think they hthough that that could ever happen...harhar :) but yea...as long as you plan to buy the CDs...that's fine....I have a LOT of Ayu CDs to buy....i only have 5 singles and 2 albums

yeah, stardusties, thats a good question. It never works. I dont know why.. The only CD which actually prohibits me from burning or ripping is Ayumi's My Story Classical!

Well..it KINDA worked with my BoA CD...Love and Honesty...where i could only play [and therefore burn] the first 3 songs on any computer program....the rest i had to d/l...

Hmm I don´t think there is a country left that let´s sharing being legal and I doubt there is many left that let´s you download legally =(=(