Is Bittorrent OK?

[tape]

Years ago, before all the copyright fuss, my kids used Limewire to share songs. I convinced them to cease when their computer got corrupted. Now they are talking about using Bittorrent to share songs. I've researched some, but don't know if this is any safer or legit. Kids are grown, but I'd like to be able to give them solid advice. Any suggestions?

[Lespaul20]

Originally Posted by tape I've researched some, but don't know if this is any safer or legit.

Safer, I don't think so. It's still the basic idea, your download from other people and unverified sources.

Legit, No. The only way it' s going to be legit is if you buy the music from someone authorized to sell it.

[Lamp_light]

Safe? hah no i's rarely safe to DL stuff from random people you don't know.
Legal? Perhaps, it really depends on where you live.

[TwoRails]

It seems legal:

A growing number of individuals and organizations are using BitTorrent to distribute their own or licensed material. The most notable of these is BitTorrent Inc. which has amassed a number of licenses from Hollywood studios for distributing popular content at the company's website. Independent adopters report that without using BitTorrent technology, with its dramatically reduced demands on networking hardware and bandwidth, they could not afford to distribute their files.

taken from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bittorrent

[freakitchen]

Fundementally, I think, Torrents as a technology is not illegal, it is merely an alternative method of downloading files. A number of linux distributors release their operating systems for download by bit-torrent to take the load off their servers.

As Two Rails has pointed out, the Bit-Torrent company itself is licensed to release certain content through this method. The legality is concerned with the content downloaded, not the technology itself.

[Lespaul20]

Now they are talking about using Bittorrent to share songs

I guess I was referring to the fact that Limewire was used before hand to share songs and assumed they wanted to do the same via Bittorrent.

I agree that the technology isn't illegal, neither is any of the previous technology but what is was used for was.

[HarshWinter]

I use torrents all the time and never got a virus. I not saying that i never will but so far its been virus free. If your going to use torrents use Bitcomet as you dling program.

PS: Never use torrentspy.com! (they got jacked by the feds)

[freakitchen]

As far as viruses go, again this is something dependent on the content downloaded rather than the technology / software itself. As a forum note, please let's avoid this turning into a discussion of illegal torrent downloads, or I'll have to close it.

[Force Flow]

Using BitTorrent is perfectly fine so long as the content being download (and uploaded, as you are uploading at the same time you are downloading) is legal. I know of several garage bands that have chosen this medium of distrobution to get their names and music out there.

As long as the content is legally distributable, there shouldn't be any problems.