# Is this illegal? Downloading Music

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-illegal-downloading-music/182776>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 18, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-illegal-downloading-music/182776 "2003-06-18T19:54:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-illegal-downloading-music/182776/21 "2003-06-20T23:01:50Z")

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Even if uploading copyright mp3s is illegal (which I would have a hard time arguing it is not.) How is downloading mp3s to cds you all ready pwn illegal? Causing some one to do something illegal is not illegal in it’s self.

As an example it’s not illegal to drive 5 miles under speed limit even though you could make someone pass in a no passing zone.

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**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-illegal-downloading-music/182776/22 "2003-06-21T00:15:28Z")

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It’s illegal because it’s distributing copyrighted material without the express permission of the copyright holder. Yes, it’s being distributed to someone who already owns a legal copy, but it’s still distribution. That’s what [MP3.com](http://MP3.com) got nailed on.

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