how legal is limewire

[pagey3]

we just got the internet and my boyfriend has downloaded something called lime wire, where you pay an annual fee to download unlimited media (audio/video etc) Is this illegal or are these legal downloads? I know its file sharing, but I haven't had the internet for 4 years, so have lost touch with these downloads and what is legal and what's not since then.

Also, since he put it on, the internet has definitely been slower. And last night I couldn't get on ebay, bbc, msn, google or yahoo, although I could get on other websites. Does anyone know - is this a problem because of thie software, or is it something else and if so what??!!

[LeMarchand]

Using Limewire isn't illegal. Using it to download copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright holders (which is most of the material people are likely to download) is illegal, though. If you're going to break the law paying for the privilege to do so seems a bit foolish, btw!

As for the speed of the net, my connection to certain sites seemed a bit iffy last night. Seems OK this morning though.

[pagey3]

yeah I wasn't sure will get rid of it this eve then.

thanks - glad not just my net playing up - phew!

[peterd]

Not sure about the legalities but I do know you can download Limewire & Limewire Pro for free. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, hope he didn't pay a lot.

[pagey3]

yeah he downloaded it for free but paid 2.50 for the year for unlimited priority downloads or something like that - was a minimal amount though so nothing lost really!

[sir.prize]

. . . and of course, like most downloading sites, Limewire carries a lot of spyware . . .plays havoc sometimes with Internet access.

[noxlumos]

Limewire is great and contains no bundled spyware but you can download it so always BITZI your files first to see what's occurring with them.

[BUDDY HOLLY]

Whats BITZI ?