You may not be able to distinguish the difference between illegal and legal music downloading. Illegal downloading occurs when you use peer-to-peer (P2P) services such as the old Napster (the new one is a 100% legal, paying service). As long as you download (transfer onto your computer) or upload (transfer onto the internet from your PC) any copyrighted material for free, then you may very well be committing a felony. Don't worry, you most probably won't end up in state prison. You will most likely get sued by the RIAA.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) can very easily track you and issue you a nasty letter in the form of a lawsuit. How do they find you ? Here's how it happens. At the request of the RIAA, your ISP (internet service provider) turns over your name under the Digital Millenium Copyright Act. They then connect with your P2P client and determine your IP (internet protocol) address. (Every computer that is connected to the internet has a unique IP address. To find out what yours is please visit: http://www.selfseo.com/what_is_my_ip.php). Using these particulars, and the time you were connected online, your ISP can then obtain your name. By this stage the RIAA can sue you.

How much will you get sued ? $150,000 for each song which has a copyright ! For example, if you downloaded (or uploaded) one of Madonna's songs, you can expect to pay $150,000 for it. In case you downloaded her whole album then you are definitely looking at over a million dollars ! Now, I don't know about you, but I don't have $150,000, let alone $50,000. In the likely event of you losing your case against the RIAA, you may be forced to declare bankruptcy. If you are below 18 (as are the majority of file-sharers) your parents will have to do it. They may have to give up their house !

So what is the best course of action to avoid these lawsuits ? Legal music downloads. Not only are you depriving the artists of their royalties by using peer-to-peer software (and committing an automatic felony), but you are also damaging your PC with viruses. These hide themselves with the music that you download.

Legal music downloading services are plentiful on the internet. Expect to pay around $10 a month for the service, and between 79 and 99 per download. I would rather pay $10 than $150,000 or more ! What do you prefer ?