My son wants to pay for unlimited CD / DVD downloading services. He has found about 4 or 5 sites that all cost around $20-$30 per year for unlimited downloads of music and movies. The services that he is looking at are kazaa, mp3 rox, easymusicdownload and other sites like this. From a legal standpoint, this doesn't seem much different than Napster. How legal and how reputable are these types of services. At these prices, it seems inconceivable that they are paying any royalties to the music artists. If these are borderline legal/not legal, I would rather he not do it. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks.

What country do you live in?
Legal implication vary per country...

We live in the US

@ jmadigan3:

I have also found sites like the ones you describe. They are all a big scam! He'll pay and he won't get shit. First of all, they aren't legal (what is?). Second, if your son would want these kind of wares, he shouldn't pay for them. The whole "Warez" concept is that people should get software, music, movies etc. for FREE! The ones "selling" and earning money on things they get for free are frauds and should be castrated.

I advice you and your son not be involved in such things.

Y.s

Thanks Farre. I am somewhat a novice on this, and appreciate your response.

Any suggestions on how to tell which are legit and which are scams. It seems to me that any service that offers unliminted downloads for a nominal fee can't possibly be paying any royalties to the record companies or artists. Is a good rule of thumb that if there is a per song charge, say .99, that it is a legitimate legal service.

I think that , by telling everything is illegal , you overreact a little.

There are several legal download/sharing services. Even in the United States. Rhapsody is a nice example for instance. And what to think about iTunes ?

Thing is ; Most legal download/sharing services have various (somtimes extreme) content protection , to make sure that person #1 doesn't " give " away his music to person #2. This makes such services very very unpopular.

I'm not saying that there are much legal download and sharing services on the internet , but please give them a fair chance.

If one would like the latest in games in a legal way. I would suggest to take a peek at the GameSpy website , which offers some excellent content for the eager (legal) gamer.

Legal music and no downloads ? Try Shoutcast. Zillions of music radio stations.

I don't think you can compare iTunes with the big Warez sites that are invading the Internet. If I'm not mistaking, the iTunes company has a legal contract with each and everyone of the artists, saying that they have the legal right to share their music.
The site that claims to have unlimited CD/DVD download services for the small amount of 20-30$ a year are making money on things that they get for free. Thats whats bothering me so much. Thats what I wanted jmadigan3 to know, that he shouldn't support these kind of companies.

But sure, the examples you gave are good for the one that does it "the legal way" but as you also told, the files that are downloadable from www.GameSpy.com and iTunes aren't the same thing. I'm not such a big fan of games, but I don't think you can download full games from GameSpy. Please enlighten me on this issue.

To round it up, I think you have a good point, and I think these companies has a good idea, but I can assure you that I wouldn't use these services, and I don't think the majority of the Internet users will either when you can get the same files (almost) for a lot cheaper price (free). And that's what's bugging me about the sites jmadigan3 asked about.

Maybe I'm not making my self clear, but what the heck. I'm Swedish..