Peer-to-peer file sharing programs such as LimeWire, FrostWire, uTorrent, or eMule are awfully tempting. Students are known for living on shoestring budgets, so who wouldn't want free music, movies, or software?
However, if you do not have the copyright owner's permission to copy or share the file you could be charged with a federal crime and/or sued in civil court.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has specifically targeted college students in expensive lawsuits for alleged copyright violations.
Here at UC San Diego, university officials routinely receive "Cease and Desist" letters based on UC San Diego students' illegal fire sharing via the university's networks. In fact, within the last few years over 100 UC San Diego students have been sued for copyright violations, even when the alleged illegal download was the student's first ever.
