Is Downloading Movies Illegal - How to Avoid Downloading Bootleg Movies

Downloading movies can be illegal, but there are ways to avoid downloading bootleg movies and staying on the right side of the law while still enjoying online movie downloads.

Most people believe that the only way to download movies is to use file sharing software, or peer to peer (P2P) download sites. That is not actually true, although in saying that it should be stressed that these sites are not illegal themselves: it is the way that they are used that is illegal. Let's check out the reasons why this is true.

How P2P File Sharing Works

Most P2P sites are membership sites that involve paying a lifetime or annual membership fee. There are few doubts that the lifetime membership is best, because once that is paid that's it. I once joined a site with an annual fee, and this year my software stopped working. They told me I hadn't paid the fee - how am I supposed to remember? I had changed my credit card and couldn't remember every annual payment in order to warn them. I shouldn't have to - they should remind me. Life memberships avoid that sort of thing.

So, you are now a member. You fire up the software and you find a few boxes requesting details such as 'Music' or 'Movies', and then 'Artist' or 'Title' or 'Genre'. You fill in one of these - just one is fine - and click 'Search'. You then get a list of various versions of the title or the movies or music involving the artist or actor you entered for the search. Click on any one and it will start to download.

How does that work?

What happens is that you get connected to the computer of other members that are online, and can download the music, movies or games that are on their hard disk. If they have the title you are seeking, that will take part in the download, and you could be downloading packets from a number of different members online: the more online with what you are wanting, the quicker the download.

Others can also access your hard disk to download any files that they are looking for. Now, can see how some of this can be illegal?

How P2P File Sharing Can Be Illegal

If somebody has a track or a movie stored on their hard disk that is protected by copyright, it is illegal for you to download it to your hard disk. Even if they have purchased the track, you cannot legally copy it. Most good P2P software will inform you that the track or movie is not licensed for download, but it won't stop you downloading it. That choice is yours. If you continue, you are breaking the law. However, there are ways in which you can download movies legally.

Legal Movie Downloads

If a new movie maker wants to get his or her name known, they might offer their work for free online download. That means it is not illegal because it is not protected by copyright. Some actually do this. Also, if the movie is so old that it is in the public domain, then you can also download it legally. You can find a list of such movies online with a simple search.

That is how to legally download movies through peer to peer file sharing services. However, there is also another way. There sites online that have stocks of movies that are licensed for download: the license has been paid for and they can sell these downloads. They are also membership sites, but the downloads 100% legal.

So there are two ways of legally downloading movies, and how you can avoid downloading bootleg movies with the danger of prosecution. You could, of course, still accept the risk and download copyrighted movies, since very few are caught and prosecuted, but I wouldn't recommend that you do that.

The same software that is used for illegal downloads is also used for the legal downloads, except for the huge video banks that offer the legal downloads as described above. How you use that software is up to you, but I recommend on all of my sites that you keep within the law - that, after all, is the best way, even though it doesn't offer you the best online movie downloads.

Downloading bootleg movies might be more fun, but it is also more dangerous and is illegal. Stick to the legal way - there are websites online that enable you to do that.


For more information on how to download free movies legally, check out Online Free Movies and also Pete's Download Blog where you will find a selection of legal P2P and music and movie download sites.