Laws Governing Copyright

These links will take you to the actual federal statutes that protect copyrights and define the legal boundaries of digital file sharing. 

• Digital Millennium Copyright Act (October 1998)
• No Electronic Theft Act (LaMacchia Bill)
• Copyright Act of 1976, as Amended (1994)

Additional Resources on Copyright

Below are some excellent resources for the average person who wants to understand copyright, and who wants to learn how to stay on the right side of the law and avoid data security risks. 

• CampusDownloading.com
• Crash Course in Copyright (University of Texas)
• Music Library Association Copyright Guidelines
• Copyright Basics from U.S. Copyright Office
• Stanford Libraries Copyright and Fair Use
• Intellectual Property and Technology Forum at Boston College Law School
• FTC Consumer Alert: Risks of Online File Sharing
• U.S. Department of Education’s "Parents Guide to the Internet"

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Copyright and File Sharing Main Menu

• What's the big deal about sharing and downloading music, movies, or other files?
  • Read Five Myths About Downloading Music and Movies from the Internet
  • Common Examples of Copyright Infringement
• Copyright Law: What is Protected?
  • Links to Copyright Laws on the Web and Other Resources
• What are the consequences for violating copyright?
• What's the risk in joining file-sharing networks?
  • FTC Consumer Alert: Risks of Online File Sharing
• What are the alternatives?
• More Resources