Sharing is not illegal as long as you obey all relevant copyright laws. Using P2P programs to download and distribute copyrighted music, movies and games without permission is illegal. Purchasing a membership does not give you license to download and distribute copyrighted material.

We do not condone piracy or breaking copyright laws. The MP3 sharing tools available through our members area are powerful search tools & we recommend that you use your discretion when downloading music and movie files.

Copyright Infringement Liability - P2P technology makes it possible to share all kinds of information. Some information is protected by copyright, which means that you generally need the copyright owner's permission before you make it available to other P2P users. Popular music, movies, games, and software are often protected by copyright. To see Digital Millennium Copyright Act policy click here

Copyright infringement can result in significant monetary damages, fines and even criminal penalties. Some copyright owners have filed civil lawsuits against individuals that they believe unlawfully distributed large numbers of copyrighted songs.

Original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain intellectual compositions are protected by copyright law. If a person publicly performs, reproduces, distributes copies, or displays works without consent of the copyright owner could be in violation of the law. Go to http://www.loc.gov/copyright/ and learn more about U.S. copyright law. Purchasing a membership does not give you license to download or upload copyright material. We implores you to respect copyright laws and share responsibly.

Click here for important information from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about the risk and use of P2P software.

Using file-sharing (P2P) software for the uploading or downloading of copyrighted works without the permission or authorization of the copyright holders may be illegal and could subject you (or the ISP subscriber) to civil and/or criminal liability and penalties. For more information about U.S. copyright law, please visit http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/ and http://www.copyright.gov/title17.

Some content found on file-sharing (P2P) networks may be reproduced, uploaded and downloaded. There are a significant number of copyright holders who have authorized the sharing of their content for non-commercial purposes, such as some content with Creative Commons format licenses§, and there is also content available in the public domain and not protected by copyright. Most commercially released popular songs, films, and software is NOT authorized for free redistribution but requires separate purchase or licensing.

Copyright Infringement
Some files contained on these networks are copyrighted works, like popular games, movies, music, and software. P2P software makes it possible to upload and download copyrighted material from the Internet without proper authorization, but that can violate copyright laws and subject you to criminal and civil penalties. Please consult the user guide provided with the application.

Data Security
P2P software allows any user to access the files you place or move into your shared folder. If you’re not careful, files containing your personal and confidential information could inadvertently be uploaded for distribution on the Internet. This could cause a number of problems, including identity theft. We strongly suggest purchasing one of the major spyware applications available or visit our bonus software section for a free version.

Pornography
Files downloaded from the Internet using P2P software could contain pornographic material. These files may be mislabeled with seemingly innocent names. This can result in users, including children, being inadvertently exposed to pornography. Redistributing files containing child pornography or obscene content can be a crime.

Spyware
Files downloaded from the Internet using P2P software may contain spyware that can track your online activity, control your computer, or harm its operation. These files typically are disguised and can go undetected. We strongly suggest purchasing one of the major spyware applications available or visit our bonus software section for a free version.

Viruses
Files downloaded from the Internet using P2P software may carry computer viruses, worms, or Trojans that can damage your computer or cause other problems. These files typically are mislabeled to disguise their true purpose. We strongly suggest purchasing one of the major anti-virus applications such as Norton and Mcafee.

Effective January 1, 2005