This article deals with Kazaa and why music swapping may be illegal.

Kazaa is a file sharing program. Simply put, once installed, Kazaa shares the files that you specify with other users across the internet. Kazaa is a great technology that can be a great benefit to the internet community. However, like many other internet technologies, Kazaa has it's problems.

One of the main problems with Kazaa is that you can download virtually any type of copyrighted music or movie files. The ability to download copyrighted music, has brought about many lawsuits to users worldwide. It is illegal to share and/or download copyrighted music from the internet with paying for it. If you can download a song off of Kazaa that you would have to buy in a store, then that song is most likely illegal to download and possess.

The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) has started to track users by watching the user's downloads and then issuing Subpoenas to your ISP(Internet Service Provider, such as WingNET) for your personal information. You would then recieve a letter from the RIAA warning you that you have been found to posses illegal copyrighted music. They would then take you to court and sue for varying amounts of money ranging in the thousands of dollars.

WingNET does not condone the use of Kazaa and other file sharing programs to trade illegal music, however we will do everything possible to keep your personal information private. If we receive a legal subpoena against you, then we must release your information.

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