Downloading torrents is not as difficult or complicated as is often first imagined. Internet users looking to download music and movies may do so with torrent software such as uTorrent.
Users of torrent trackers to download files are urged to ensure their actions are in compliance with local and international laws regarding copyright before downloading potentially copyright materials such as mp3s and movie files.
Download Music and Movies
Using torrent software to download music and movies is a growing phenomenon, despite questions of the legality of torrents raised by the recent court cases involving sites like PirateBay. Users in North America downloading files strictly for back-up purposes of movies and albums they already own may still face legal action for downloading torrents.
Those who engage in downloading copyrighted material, whether through torrents or otherwise, may find that their ISP is willing to hand their details over to potential plaintiffs in a court case. Organizations such as the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) are very active in anti-piracy measures and vocal in their desire to end the practice.
Downloading Torrents
To download music and movies as torrent files, a user simply needs torrent software such as uTorrent. Once installed, searching the internet for torrents is the next step. Many sites offer links to locations online hosting torrent files, with few willing to risk legal censure by hosting the collection of links on their own servers.
Torrents themselves are simply a manner of downloading files and are not inherently illegal, however, reproducing copyrighted material (especially for commercial gain) is where users may run into trouble. Downloading software such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop through torrents represents copyright infringement, with users often willing to go to lengths to avoid paying for expensive software.
When users download music and movies via torrent, the torrent downloads by obtaining a small piece of the file from different users. If other users are "seeding" or hosting the file, it will be downloaded through the torrent software much like a regular download, but in a haphazard manner of compiling different pieces in a seemingly random order.
List of Torrent Sites
There are many resources online presenting a list of torrent sites, with mininova and btjunkie currently popular. Many sites have risen and fallen over the years, with many more sure to come. As legal efforts to curtail software, movie and music piracy step up, users seem just as capable of finding new ways to download material, copyright or otherwise.
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