File-sharing: the facts

Posted on 3 Jan 2010 at 03:00

Does file-sharing harm artists or expose them to a wider audience? We analyse the implications of the file-sharing culture

Illegal file-sharing is a debate with no middle ground. Content owners would have you believe that people who illegally download music, films and games threaten the future existence of the creative industries.

In contrast, those who seek to legalise file-sharing claim the technology allows artists to reach a much wider audience, significantly bolstering their potential earnings.

The debate rages from drama to farce, but it’s undoubtedly touching more lives. Thousands of letters have dropped on doormats demanding the recipients pay fines of up to £600 for illegally downloading games, and while people have protested their innocence, many argue they’ve been failed by a legal system still coming to terms with the technology.

File-sharing: the facts

In this feature, we’ll examine the issues surrounding illegal file-sharing, and try to answer the most common questions people have.

We’ve talked to lawyers and academics, and read hundreds of pages of reports in an effort to present an unbiased account of the impact of illegal file-sharing, and whether we’re best banning it, or embracing it.

Finally, you can hear from Geoff Taylor of the BPI and Andrew Robinson, leader of the Pirate Party UK, who present their arguments on the threat and merits of file-sharing.

Author: Stuart Turton

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User comments

not illegal?

If a "filesharer" makes copyrighted material available for copying is this illegal.
Or is it only illegal if someone actualy copies it.
How much of it needs to be copied?
Does the evidence provided by the law firm show what was "actually" downloaded from the accused via P2P?
If they can only show that particular packets were downloaded from the accused by another individual could these packets be viewed or played in the real sense of the word?
This would be especially so for software such as games etc.
If not, is there a case to answer?

By darkhairedlord on 4 Jan 2010

According to the lawyers, the moment you create a digital copy by uploading to a P2P site, you're breaking the law. It doesn't matter whether it's downloaded, or not.

The law firm's evidence shows which file was downloaded, and when the download started.

Hope that helps,
Stuart Turton
PC Pro news editor

By StuartTurton on 5 Jan 2010

FileSharing

I notice that news papers charge to buy, but is it illegal to share a paper or to listen to music in every pub, cafe, or shop? When will people who produce something to be BROADCAST supply us with earplugs, so that those of us who are heartily sick of listening to music 24/7 give us a break.If they want to ban file sharing, then DON'T force it on those of us who don't want it anyway. If I they don't want people to steal their music, then they should NOT steal our peace and quiet. I like to listen to the natural sounds of nature. Not this artificial talentless racket , that passes for music. The same goes for anything else that is supposed to be protected. As anyone thought how much this world would have been if greedy Manufacturers had not locked away the newest inventions under the protection of a PATENT law, and not milked outdated ideas to the death, in order to get the most money out of the people first. This attitude, also goes a long way to depleting the earths natural resources that cannot be replaced so quickly, if at all.They have earnt enough money to live comfortably, so time to give it a rest and stop whinging.

By lafinboy on 8 Jan 2010

@Stuart. No, the law's firm evidence shows nothing of the sort.

By alan_lj on 29 Jan 2010

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