1. You are stealing the program when you are supposed to buy it.
   
2. You never know if the executable is the original one supplied by the software company or a modified program that may contain viruses and other malware.
   

ok, so if we are the culprits who are"stealing" software and music, why the hell don't the cops shut down limewire and get them instead of going at us?

If people don't protect their computer files and if they don't lock or encrypt their files, they are willingly sharing it. And you know what else? NO ONE GIVES A RATS ASS NOWADAYS. Who gives a crap if someone is downloading music? ok, they got music on a cd, so what? it's not like the record company is gonna die or anything, I mean. They are all immature idiots,. Were all human, we live in the same world, people are gonna do it anyway, and if you want to make sense, you might as well put half of the united states in jail and prosecute them, because almost every one gets music from limewire every minute of the hour. They just need to drop cases, because it's rediculous bull crap, they aint got nothing else better to do... Hence just wanting to ruin other people's miserable lives. And if anyone dissagree's with what I'm saying, please let me know.

as a matter of fact, the artistes do lose out. An album is sometimes funded independently by an artiste, and the only revenue they can generate from it is via album sales, royalty and digital media. If everyone goes about downloading, the artiste eventually gets very very little. I know because I work with one of them.

we are going into the digital age now and cds and records are nolonger used as much as mp3's and mp4's. And the amount of money it takes to produce mp3's is so little it wont matter if the artist gets very little.

Plus why the F*** do they need anymore money anyway? alot of bands that people download music of is bands/artist's that have broken up or just stop'ed making music, so why should they get to sing/play music for 5-10 years then live a carefree/rich life for the next 40-50 years while still getting more money for somthing they made years ago?

I can understand with new artist/bands or artist/bands that stay together and stay in the music biz, like KoRn and Chevelle, to keep making money and get paid SOMETHING, but take S.O.A.D. For example, they split up and formed two diferent bands... (Seji tenkin, and Scars on the broadway)... And now they are both still making money off of soad songs.If you ask me they don't need anymore money from the old band. They are getting plenty with the new bands.

What's Next?  I bring my CD's to a party to share them with friends and a cop jumps out of the bushes to arrest me?  The only difference between trading CD's in person and trading them over the internet is the medium.  Here's a thought...Why don't governments regulate the industry by offering their own file sharing system, endorsed and virus free, from which all file sharing could occur.  Every time someone buys a CD in the store, they get a code redeemable for file sharing points.  This would preserve both the artists' interests as well as the time-honoured tradition of sharing.

Let's be honest -- to share with each other should not be considered a bad thing.  To take without giving is the sin.

Seeing how you you are all adding your 2cents. So I go to the available cable compamy in my area to sign up for a bundle. They ask me what would best fit my personal preferences and offer me a crap load of plans. I ask why is it that I have to pay extra for all these funky movie, sports and educational stations? They tell me that the plans are what they are choose the one you want and pay the price. Well naturally I am not going to pay almost 200.00 a month with no jell for my ass so I choose the basic bundle I get 22 TV stations to which 5 are some stupid shopping crap, two are religous mind melts and 4 more are friggin hispanic!

Everything else is old ass re-runs and luckily I get the local news the only station my tv ever see’s. Well here is the view I pay for internet connection as part of my bundle if the powers that keep me from getting the other tv stations which are all merely signals on the same wire can shut them down because I did not PAY EXTRA for them. Well do the same for my internet connectivity... Otherwise if it is out there I can surely get it so blow it out your asses and feel free to knock on my door to say “hey it has come to our understanding that you.. Bla bla and we have a warrrant for your arrest” and watch how fast the only thing left of you will be a smoking pair of shoes on my portch!  Here is the kicker, I down't even use limewire or any such sharing programs fortunately my car came with a radio and I have plenty of cd's in my home with all the music I like already. This is just another way the SYSTEM sticks it to people and the already wealthy fuksticks to get more out of you-us.

guys limewire is so clearly stealing music it's not funny. If your using it and u don't call it stealing your kidding urself. How do the artists make money off us downloading free music? they don't. It's destroying the music industry

I agree with djkillah, everyone downloads music from limewire now. And I know loads of people that download software for free from torrents etc. I tell you why, because everything in this world is SO overpriced. Not only do we pay extortionate prices for things, we are also taxed not only on our wages BEFORE we take them home, also on everything we buy, and road tax, council tax, etc. 80% of our hard earned money goes back to the government. At the end of the day, people wouldn't do things if they didn't feel there was a need to do it. 'Stealing' music, videos and software over the internet in my eyes, isn't really a crime. People should get over it. Nothing in this world is free anymore so if you have the oppurtunity to get it I say do it!