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LimeWire: Illegal or File Hosting?

Empty Pot

a new beginning...
1,234
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Well, this has been a current argument (some how) with people. So here is what to discuss, is LimeWire illegal or just like any other file sharing site?

Here is what I really think. If LimeWire was so illegal, why has the government not shut down the program nor the site? That is what I really wonder.

So ehhh, discuss. And if moderators find this bad enough, feel free to close.
 

twocows

The not-so-black cat of ill omen
4,307
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It's not illegal to provide a program that indexes everything on your computer and puts it up for download to everyone else. It's illegal to download illegal files you find on someone elses' computer through the program, though. And yes, that is how Limewire works (at least last I checked); it indexes everything it thinks someone might want off your computer and makes it available for download; this includes private pictures or videos, password files, etc.

Edit: some people are saying it only indexes what's in your shared folder. I can't confirm or deny that, but I'd still recommend being careful.
 
Last edited:

Empty Pot

a new beginning...
1,234
Posts
14
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It's not illegal to provide a program that indexes everything on your computer and puts it up for download to everyone else. It's illegal to download illegal files you find on someone elses' computer through the program, though. And yes, that is how Limewire works (at least last I checked); it indexes everything it thinks someone might want off your computer and makes it available for download; this includes private pictures or videos, password files, etc.

Well the you have to have LimeWire to share files. The files must be in your sharing folder to share. That is all I know really.
 

.inLOVE

el su bosillo <3
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That's why you often see porn videos on LimeWire. It takes private files and puts them on display for everyone.

And like Pazuzu said, the program isn't illegal, but what you download is.
 
12,201
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That's why you often see porn videos on LimeWire. It takes private files and puts them on display for everyone.

And like Pazuzu said, the program isn't illegal, but what you download is.
I have turned off all of my sharing so no one can see my files.
I have the "Private" in password protected folders anyway! XDDDDD

Like people said, the program isn't illegal.
 
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  • Seen Sep 18, 2020
And yes, that is how Limewire works (at least last I checked); it indexes everything it thinks someone might want off your computer and makes it available for download; this includes private pictures or videos, password files, etc.
It (supposedly) only puts up to share those files that are in the folders set in the options; newly downloaded files via LimeWire are part of that list by default as well.
 

DrCoolSanta

Erode away...
406
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Actually, LimeWire only puts those files on sharing that you want others to download and those files that you download off somebody else.
It works a lot like how torrents do, everybody who has downloaded the file from this the actual host contributes to any other downloaders.
It is not an illegal application since it doesn't let anybody else download anything, it is not file sharing site, its a p2p application much like bittorrent.

Its the files being shared that are illegal, not the application. The same reason that nobody can sue any p2p application creators, its not illegal to create a p2p application, however pirated data is.

For example, half of the bt trackers get sued for publishing illegal software, nobody can actually sue the protocol creators or the client. Another thing, it totally depends on the country too, there are few countries that allow you to download pirated data, but many countries allow you to upload pirated data. That's why "thepiratebay" gets away with countries like microsoft sueing it.

Besides it is one of the most pathetic p2p application anyway, there are others and bt always wins anyway.
 
1,051
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If LimeWire was so illegal, why has the government not shut down the program nor the site? That is what I really wonder.
Limewire isn't illegal in any way until anyone uses it in an illegal way, i.e. uses Limewire to get something that breaks the copyright law.
If you don't download something that breaks the copyright law, then it's not illegal.

Anyways, Limewire can never be shut down by Government that easily, because when buying it, the website makes people promise to not use it in any illegal way, but of course almost nobody would listen to that.
But the point is, the owners of the product have done their part of making it legal by this method, and in the end it's the user who gets to choose whether it is legal or not.

And yes, that is how Limewire works (at least last I checked); it indexes everything it thinks someone might want off your computer and makes it available for download; this includes private pictures or videos, password files, etc.

That's why you often see porn videos on LimeWire. It takes private files and puts them on display for everyone.

No, this perception is wrong.
Limewire only, and only shares those files that you choose to share by putting them up in the "shared" folder, and the things that you download using Limewire goes to the shared folder by default, so they can be downloaded by other people too, unless you move them to somewhere else.
Whoever says that it automatically takes your private things by itself is just not informed enough.


Anyways, Limewire isn't as good as it used to be anyways...
 

Little Monster

Let's write a 'Bad Romance.'
103
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Torrents are illegal, TPB (The Pirate Bay) had millions of torrents which were illegal, Limewire has some torrents but not millions mostly MP3's on there, so no it's not really illegal because TPB was shut down for being illegal but Limewire isn't.
 

twocows

The not-so-black cat of ill omen
4,307
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It's illegal, downloading and using music and software that cost money is considered stealing.
Except it isn't, because Limewire doesn't host illegal downloads, it hosts a service that some people abuse to download stuff illegally. That's like trying to say Google is breaking the law because they index stuff that might be illegal.
 

Ayselipera

Guest
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I guess its not illegal if thats what everyone is saying... All I know is that it ruined my computer.

No limewire for me :D
 

DrCoolSanta

Erode away...
406
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19
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Torrents are illegal, TPB (The Pirate Bay) had millions of torrents which were illegal, Limewire has some torrents but not millions mostly MP3's on there, so no it's not really illegal because TPB was shut down for being illegal but Limewire isn't.
I'd like to point it out again, that torrents are for the same reason not illegal.

ThePirateBay had been shutdown during the lawsuite but its back up because its still not illegal. Anyway that has many reasons, one being that where they host it, its legal to upload data that would otherwise be considered illegal.

But anyway, the point is LimeWire is not illegal at all, just that, you should really feel bad for what we generally use it for. Downloading music and software isn't really a good thing to do, its unethical because it is stealing just like shoplifting and because it is illegal and even though govt. dowsn't take strict action, you never know.
You can't really make the shop illegal because people can shoplift, can you?
Secondly, someone who downloads illegal stuff is just as much as a criminal as the person who is providing it.
But who cares, not even the limewire staff, thats why you can download the LimeWire pro version off the free version.
 
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First of all... Frostwire > Limewire.

Now, moving on, neither of those are illegal. If they were, they would have been offline ages ago.
 

twocows

The not-so-black cat of ill omen
4,307
Posts
15
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I'd like to point it out again, that torrents are for the same reason not illegal.

ThePirateBay had been shutdown during the lawsuite but its back up because its still not illegal. Anyway that has many reasons, one being that where they host it, its legal to upload data that would otherwise be considered illegal.
And because they don't host the stuff, they just index and track it. Other people are actually hosting the content, hence P2P.
 

Empty Pot

a new beginning...
1,234
Posts
14
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First of all... Frostwire > Limewire.

Now, moving on, neither of those are illegal. If they were, they would have been offline ages ago.

I really do not see the difference of FrostWire and LimeWire even though FrostWire has a built in chat system.
 

Johnny590

It's cute how you think I care
222
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If you look at it from the perspective if downloading music is illegal, well in that case, Jail's and Prisons are going to be floored with thousands of people worldwide.

It's a file sharing program, like many, it's legal. It let's you download the files you're looking for from other people and vice versa, you just need to be careful and decide weather or not you're going to allow people to access your files.

It all depends on the how the person uses the program, really. In my opinion, I don't think it's illegal if you aren't downloading the music, burning onto CD's, build a small stand near some market and sell everything at half the price the actual CD cost.

Because if you look at it from another angle, you are listening to that Artist/Musician's work, weather you payed for it or not. Sure, they worked hard on making that music, but I think most musicians today prefer getting recognized and have they're decent amount of fans instead of worrying how much money they make or takes to make they're songs. Because, let's face it, record sales when a new albums drops of a popular musician and concerts rake in a lot of money, and for some it's enough. Those who prefer to chase wealth and are only concerned of that instead of making music and having the fans enjoy it, are the kinds that complain about illegal downloading.

Personally, If I were in a band and KNOW for a fact, like most musicians today, that people download instead of buying music but they still end up listening what I made, I really wouldn't give a crap. xD

Also, emm.....Frostwire kinda sucks. :X

Anyways, I rarely use Limewire these days. I just use google to search whatever I'm looking for; weather it's music, pictures, comic books, games, programs, etc. ;P

Hehe, if you know how to type things correctly in google, you could basically find ANYTHING. xP
 
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