There haven't been many tests of copyright laws with the internet as the medium of transfer. In 1997 there was a big brewhaha with the LaMacchia Loophole that resulted in the No Electronic Theft Act (NET Act). The following year, congress consolidated the laws further with the DMCA which in essence made it illegal to decrypt (crack) software, video, music and etc.
Copyright.gov has most of the answers you are asking.
Is it legal to download works from peer-to-peer networks and if not, what is the penalty for doing so?
Why are there so many laws? Because there are that many idiots.
Copyright.gov has most of the answers you are asking.
Is it legal to download works from peer-to-peer networks and if not, what is the penalty for doing so?
Why are there so many laws? Because there are that many idiots.