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WHAT'S LEGAL, WHAT'S ILLEGAL

Tips from record labels on downloading music from the Internet:

• It's OK to download music from sites authorized by the owners of the copyrighted music. (For a list of some authorized sites, see below.)

• It's not OK to download unauthorized music from pirate sites or peer-to-peer systems. Examples of peer-to-peer systems where unauthorized music is or has been available for download include Kazaa, Grokster, WinMX, LimeWire, Bearshare, Aimster, Morpheus and Gnutella.

• It's not OK to make unauthorized copies of music available to others (that is, uploading music) on peer-to-peer systems.

• It's OK to copy music onto an analog cassette, but not for commercial purposes.

• It's OK to copy music onto special Audio CD-R's, mini-discs, and digital tapes because royalties have been paid on them -- but not for commercial purposes.

• There is no legal "right" to copy the copyrighted music on a CD onto a CD-R. However, burning a copy of a CD onto a CD-R, or transferring a copy onto your computer hard drive or your portable music player, won't usually raise concerns as long as the copy is made from an authorized original CD that you legitimately own, or the copy is for your personal use. It's illegal to give away the copy or lend it to others for copying.

• It's not OK to sell or make commercial use of a copy that you make.

• Exceptions to the rules: A "garage" or unsigned band might want you to download its music. Bands that own their own music are free to make it available legally by licensing it.

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