From today, you could be in trouble if you download video or music without paying for it. It is especially peer-to-peer file-sharing which is the problem.
If a copyright owner, for example the composer of a pop song, knows that someone is downloading the song without paying for it, that copyright owner tells the internet provider. The internet provider sends a notice to the person who downloaded the song. If that person gets three notices, they can be fined up to $15,000.
How does the copyright owner know about the illegal downloading? Your internet account has a number. When you download a song, the copyright owner can see your account number. It is easy to find which area you live in and your internet provider.
You cannot make a video using a pop song and upload that to YouTube because that is not your song. You cannot download a song without paying for it then share it with friends. We already have copyright laws for books, newspapers and art works. Now the law includes electronic media.
The reason for this law is to protect the rights of creative people and to make sure they get paid for their work.
Listen to December 18th 2009 to hear more about this.
Questions
Illegal downloading and sharing or selling that work is called “piracy”. Why?
Why do people download videos and songs without paying?