Almost everyone is aware that out there on the web there are numerous websites from which it is possible to illegally download countless music tracks or films at the click of a button. With a library containing the very latest DVD releases from the French-Iranian animated film, Persepolis, to Mike Leigh`s charming and witty Happy Go Lucky, these sites have attracted millions of users. As soon as they are available, DVD releases become accessible on these sites and the latest films such as the romcom What Happens in Vegas and thriller-drama 21 are quickly downloaded illegally. This has been going on for several years and the sites have probably gained their popularity largely through their extensive music library. More recently, however, those in the industry have retaliated and attempted to combat the problem by introducing their own sites from which movies and music can be downloaded completely legally.
Legal Download Sites
There are in fact very many websites currently available for people wishing download music and film online, as opposed to getting their entertainment through CDs and DVDs. This is seen by many as the next stage of the entertainment industry and downloads are often more convenient, easier and quicker than purchasing a physical CD or DVD.
The first type of legal download worth mentioning is direct downloads from a band`s website. In recent years there have been numerous music artists or groups that have decided to allow fans to download an album straight from their own website for free. Tom Fox, Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead are perhaps the most famous examples of this.
There are also countless online music download stores. Most of these have cottoned on to the trend of downloading tracks as opposed to entire albums and offer users the option to download individual songs for a set fee. These sites follow copyright laws and the biggest have several million tracks available for downloading. The fee is usually between 50p and £1 and a few of the biggest online stores are the iTunes Store, Amazon MP3 and Napster.
Some other download sites offer an innovative download scheme whereby users can download legally and for free. Qtrax, for example, allows free downloads, supported by advertising. From websites like this, the artists do not lose out and for music lovers who want free music and do not mind hearing advertising, this can be the perfect solution.
As for movies, the film download business is not quite as advanced as that of music downloads. There are numerous legal sites that allow users to watch and download films and these usually have impressively extensive libraries. These websites, such as Lovefilm and Eztakes, either offer a set fee per film or a subscription fee per month and these prices vary.
With regards to the software required for all of these download sites, it is usually the case that if a certain program is needed, it will be offered on the website itself. There are websites that cater to different types of computer and most are compatible with a range of platforms.
The Consequences of Illegal Downloads
Those who break the law by illegally downloading music and films may have their internet cut off under new legislation. Given the billions of pounds lost by the industry each year, tough new measures have been brought in and following a few warnings, these downloaders may be prosecuted and cut off, meaning they will have to resort back to physical legal DVDs and what DVD players they own.
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