P2P Music Downloads and Legal Music File Sharing Sites

P2P Music Downloads & File Sharing:

P2P music downloads are legal, eventhough there are some controversy with most of the file sharing sites. Legitimate online music stores like iTunes are legal and, therefore free from copyright issues. You can legally download music from these stores, but the download fee is around 1 dollar per track. Here, we are checking some alternative legal and cheaper music stores.

What is P2P File Sharing?

File sharing is used to access and share digital files such as audio, video, images, etc. P2P file sharing is a form of file sharing which allows users to download MP3 music using a file sharing software. File sharing sites allow users to share files with each other. There is no central server to store these files, but every user's computer is like a mini server in the network. You can allow other users to download any of your files and they can share any files they want with you.

When Does File Sharing Become Illegal?

Using P2P programs to download and distribute copyrighted music, movies and games without permission is illegal. Purchasing membership with P2P sites does not give you license to download or share copyrighted music files. Normally, P2P sites are known to be copyright infringers as users can access and share even copyrighted materials. You may think it's great that you can get free p2p music downloads, but you can be caught and fined for downloading illegally.

What Are Legal P2P Music Websites?

I've found 2 legal P2P music file sharing websites which even RIAA recommends. One is Bearshare and the second is iMesh.

How Do These Websites Become Legal?

These sites are operating based on the "fair use" provisions under the copyright law. Unlike, other P2P sites, these two websites will not allow copyrighted files to download to the user PC and so you can download all their music tracks without fearing any RIAA lawsuit. Music file sharing is not illegal as long as you obey all relevant copyright laws.

Below are more information on BearShare and iMesh P2P music file sharing sites:

1. BearShare - Legal P2P Music Downloads:

BearShare offers free p2p music files in the MP3 format and paid music downloads in the WMA format. It also includes some social networking features. It has around 20 million music files in its store. The free p2p music download content is shared by users and is automatically verified by BearShare not to infringe copyrights. This verification is done by acoustic fingerprinting. Also, BearShare allows only music and video files to be shared.

BearShare - Legal P2P Music Downloads

2. iMesh - Legal P2P Music Downloads:

iMesh is the first RIAA approved P2P music file sharing site, allowing users residing in the United States and Canada to download their favorite music. They have a monthly premium subscription and a "To Go" subscription. Music files under "To Go" subscription can be copied to all portable MP3 players. Also, they have a pay per song model to purchase tracks for $0.99 each. It has around 11 million tracks in its store and you can use their 14 days free Trial to check the site's features. In addition to paid music, iMesh allows all users to access non-copyrighted music and video files for free.

iMesh - Legal P2P Music Downloads

Click Here to Go to Free Internet Music Home Page

Click Here to Go to Legal Music Download Sites Main Page

Click Here to Go to Paid Legal Music Download Websites

Click Here to Go to Free Legal Music Download Sites

Click Here to Go to Legal and Cheap MP3 Downloads

Click Here to Go to Free Public Domain Music

Click Here to Go to Royalty Free Music

Click Here to Go to Free Music Sites - Unsigned Free Music Bands

Click Here to Go to Streaming Music Page to Play Free Music

Click Here to Go to Free Internet Music Radio Page

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