Stuff to think about before you click the "Download Now" button or copy your friend's CD

Most people would agree that we all have a little voice inside our head that tells us whether something we're doing is right or wrong. Brainiacs call this a "code of ethics," and every person's code is unique.

There are many ways to argue about whether downloading songs from the Internet is right or wrong. Below we've gathered some of the more common arguments about downloading to try to get a handle on the issues from all sides. Take a look, and see if you - and your personal code of ethics - agree or disagree with these issues. Thinking about them will help us come to a decision about the part each of us wants to play in the downloading controversy.

"Everybody's doing it."

"I think the laws about downloading and copyright are dumb."

"My favorite band thinks songs should be free on the Internet for everybody to have."

"I'm only downloading a couple of songs."

"The musicians and record companies already make millions - they don't need my money."

"I'll never get caught."

"Everybody's doing it."
Think about speed limits for a minute. The people who make our laws decide that driving at a certain speed (or below it) makes a particular road safer for drivers, pedestrians and residents. Yet we've all seen some people drive faster than the speed limit - in fact, we may even do it ourselves! Although it's against the law, we speed - and hope that we don't get caught.

It's the same with downloading and sharing music files on the Internet or copying and sharing CDs. Millions of people do it, even though it's against the law. Now that the music labels are cracking down on illegal file swapping and the copying of CDs, many file-swappers are hoping that they won't get caught.

Just because it seems like everyone else is doing something illegal like file-swapping, it doesn't mean they are. Either way, is it right? It's worth thinking about.
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"I think the laws about downloading and copyright are dumb."
Some people agree with this argument and believe that copyright laws should be changed or done away with. Others think that without the protection of copyright laws, people will stop developing new music. Know the facts!

If you decide to swap music files online, you should understand that you run the risk of a lawsuit or other legal action. It's your call.
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"My favorite band thinks songs should be free on the Internet for everybody to have."
If the artists we love make their music freely available for downloading, then we should go ahead and enjoy the tunes - and tell everyone! Just remember that not all music artists agree that file-swapping is cool. And some are being hurt creatively, as well as financially, by file-sharing because fewer CDs are being produced and sold. (We can read about the impact of downloading on music makers by clicking here).

It's a good idea to listen to what artists have to say on the issue and then make our decision based on our personal code of ethics.
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"I'm only downloading a couple of songs."
Many people recall that taping of records and cassette tapes was no problem and think that this is a fair comparison to downloading a few songs now and then off a P2P network. The difference here is that while a recorded cassette may have reached a few hundred people, the Internet enables thousands and thousands of people to access and make copies of songs.

The larger issue here is that we might only download a few tunes, but what happens when millions of other people do too? That's millions of songs that aren't being paid for, creating a world where producing and distributing new music suffers from financial challenges. By downloading even a couple of songs illegally, we are putting the future of music at risk.
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"The musicians and record companies already make millions - they don't need my money."
Some artists and record companies make millions of dollars from the music they create. And some artists may not care if we download and swap their tunes online. Some may even encourage the practice. But for every famous artist, there are many more people who work in the music industry that are not millionaires and who rely on the revenues from music sales just to make a living. Without those revenues, it will be very hard for new talent to break through.

The law says that the work musical artists and labels create is their property and they - and only they - have the right to distribute it. So despite what we may think about how much companies charge for their CDs or how much money they make, they're entitled to be paid for their work.

There’s no one way to support musicians – we have to decide for ourselves how we want to help keep music around. Why not talk it over with our family and friends?
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"I'll never get caught."
Most likely not. But if we are, we could get sued. We should understand the risks - both legal and moral - of downloading, swapping or copying music before we do it. For information about downloading, check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
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