I know some people who go to torrent sites and get expensive software downloads. I was interested in some software but I don't want to break any laws to get them. Does anyone know the answer and what law it is if any?
If the company that has produced the software gives it away for free, then you are allowed to use it.
If it is commercial software, such as Photoshop, then it is unlawful to use a copy after the trial period that you have not purchased. (Yes, there is a 30 day trial period you can legally use it for.)
Some sites have that option to use a torrent instead of direct download. Other sites use torrents for less-than-legal means.
For example, my sister downloaded a disc image for Starcraft. A week later, she gets a 'Cease and Desist' letter from Blizzard Entertainment. Another example is I was downloading some music from a local band because that's what they are using to distribute their recordings.
Yes it is illegal, but it is so rampant that it is impossible for them to police it. If you dl the software and charge someone else for it to make money and get caught, i believe the base fine is 50,000 per software title.
A new procedure makes it were the companies can now get you instead of the torrent companies and yes most "programs" are illegal off of torrent sites but only if you use a included keygen.
I would agree with HyeForLife. It wouldn't be you who would be doing something illegal, it would be the companies who are doing so. They are performing copyright infringement, and you are just the "consumer" of that infringement, in a way.
Utorrent and BitTorrent are free (however i prefer Utorrent), and no one can sue you, they can only sue the companies that give out torrents, like The Pirate Bay.
