Where to Download Music, Movies, and Software Legally

Everyone knows how easy it can be to locate illegal copies of music, movies and software on the Internet. Numerous lawsuits brought on by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America)and MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) have kept file sharing and copying services in the news. What isn't so clear, though, are the number of Web sites that provide music and movie files that can be downloaded legally.

The MusicUnited Web site provides links to many legal music pages where you can locate MP3s and other forms of digital music that are provided for free or at a small charge. RespectCopyrights.org links to several online services where you can download and watch movies ranging from major feature films to independent short subjects. These sites, which are sponsored by a number of groups in the recording and motion picture industries, are also great sources of information about illegal file sharing, the effects it has on the music industry, and the consequences it can have for individuals. Another site with resources about illegal downloads is Define the Line. This software industry sponsored site provides free interactive resources for students on software piracy and intellectual property issues.

While UIS cannot endorse any particular Internet music or movie service provider, we do recommend MusicUnited and RespectCopyrights.org as good starting points.

Reference Sites for Legal Downloads:

MusicUnited - Sponsored by several recording industry organizations. This site maintains an extensive list of other sites where MP3s and other digital music can be legally downloaded.

RespectCopyrights.org - Sponsored by the MPAA. This site maintains a list of other sites where you can download and watch movies.

Additional Resources:

Georgetown Guide to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act - The 1998 law governing the concept of copyright in the age of the Internet

Georgetown University Copyright Guide - An explanation of how to properly use copyrighted materials in an academic world

Motion Picture Association of America - The movie industry group active in protecting the intellectual property rights of American filmmakers and motion picture studios.

Recording Industry Association of America - The recording industry trade group active in protecting the intellectual property rights of American recording artists throughout the world

Business Software Alliance - The software industry group that promotes legal downloading of commercial software. The BSA maintains Define the Line, a website providing resources to educate students about illegal file sharing.

Copyright FAQ - A series of commonly asked questions and answers from the US Copyright Office