Whew catching up on this one...
Thanks for the input everyone - that's one reason I asked -
I didn't know what the status was of those kind of sites,
or if any legit ones were out there.
I haven't gotten any music off the internet in years...

I was wanting to get a few songs for my photo dvds that I'm working on, I dug out my music CDs and got a few songs off them.

Just a thought...

A couple of years ago I downloaded just about every song I ever loved. Can't remember the website, but I paid about 50 cents each for them, so it was legit.

DH and I made our own (very expensive) CDs to listen to.

Not long after that, I discovered XMRadio and wondered why in the world I paid so much for all that music! I can just tune in to my favorite soft rock stations and not have to worry about CDs.

True, you do have to get a special radio and subscribe, but I find it easier than sorting through stacks of CDs.

50 cents? Unless it was a subscription based service, most likely not so legit. There are RUSSIAN sites ALL over the internet now. They are not technically illegal only because of the way the LAW is written. Right now they're untouchable but at some point this will change -- just not soon enough. But what happens with these sites is that none of the creators (or companies) get paid. The owners of the site keeps all the money. Funds go into THEIR economy and the biggest point is that they pay NO ONE. Essentially, they're ripping everyone off except the buyer and making you an unknowing participant in this activity. That said, there are also virus and spyware concerns. If you come across an unfamiliar site that offers downloads, look at the site very carefully. There is usually a clue -- and sometimes it's in the form of absence of information.

Best way to download if you're in the U.S. is from a legitimate American site. iTunes is worldwide so that's always a safe bet wherever you are.

Jo, don't know if you have iTunes installed on your computer but if not, you can download it very easily here. Here's the iTunes U.S. download site: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

I am curious about one thing? If we already own a cd or album .....are we still allowed to back it up in case of losing/breaking original? Every song I ever downloaded I had already had in some form that I did pay for, and there are some out there had I not downloaded I would never have known I liked it and therefore due to that they will make a sale! My son is a fantastic musician and writes his own music and I know he would love the exposure that he may not otherwise get! I really don't know what to think about all this, but in all honesty ever since the files found on my son's and my laptop, I have not used Limewire since!

For downloads you are legally allowed to make one physical copy. I have to look up the law to see how this reads exactly but honestly, here is an area that I agree is kind of gray. It's really about intent. I feel that making copies for your own personal use is fine. No one is going to come into your home and arrest you for that! Abusing this stuff on a large scale is what's caused the crackdown to be so stringent.

Re: your son's music, I'm not 100% sure what you mean. If he is the legal owner he can do whatever he wants with his music! That's what this is all about -- what the owner wants to do. A while ago a discussion like this came up on another board and a person was insisting that the internet was like public library and if it was up online, we are all "entitled". The two points to that are that first of all, it's not a "lending" situation and secondly, the real issue is that these things are put up online not by the owners and without their permission. If you own it and want to put it up online so that people can download it for free, no problem!!!!

Does that answer your question?

Yes thanks it does, as for my son, I mean he would like the exposure as he does it for pleasure rather then the money and likes to get feedback from others about his music! I try my best to get him to go on one of the music reality shows since he has it all, talent, personality, and great looks and what mother would not like to end up with a famous child He plays 3 instruments like a pro, mandolin, banjo, and acoustic guitar and has a great singing voice! The little **** has turned down many offers of playing with bands for really good money because he is so picky and will only play a certain way and says he does it more for pleasure then money although his group has been earning a few hundred each a weekend lately and he also gives lessons here and there! He is one of those amazing people that play by ear and tunes his own without tuners!

Great, Junie. And you are absolutely right! Hardly anyone will pay for something they never heard of. For an independent artist these days, you have to give it away for free to get exposure. But the goal is to get to a point where people will pay, so that your son and his band can make a living. That's when the things we're speaking about here have the potential to adversely affect his ability to do that.

Good luck to your son -- I hope we get to see him on one of those shows one day!

Thanks Beary, but he is too pig headed to do the right thing, would rather be poor and stick to his beliefs then possibly rich and famous

Here are some pages within the Recording Industry Association of America's site about this topic. One of the most interesting things on one of the pages is that they acknowledge that piracy will never stop completely but the goal is to get it down to a "manageable level". Kind of what Who Moi and I were talking about above. That said, I personally think the part of the law that is too stringent is limiting someone's ability to make copies that are really for personal use and people will never stop making compilations for friends -- we ALL did that. Hopefully, when you turn someone onto an artist you like, it will create a new fan and additional streams of revenue for that artist. But, I do understand the need to formalize these things as a deterrent and drive the point home -- it still is technically illegal. That said, I don't condone illegal downloading where someone should be getting paid at all. Intent and conscience are the keys.

http://www.riaa.com/faq.php - FAQ for students but very informative
http://www.musicunited.org/2_thelaw.html - The law
http://www.riaa.com/physicalpiracy.p..._for_consumers - How to recognize fraud

I didn't peruse the entire site of the Motion Picture Association of America's site but here's the main page -- you can find similar information re: piracy here:

http://www.mpaa.org/