Many people who download music loops, samples, and software think they are using materials that would otherwise have cost them what they consider to be a much better price, free. But is it really free? There are other factors to consider when searching the web for illegal downloads on unsupervised forums or illegal torrent sites. Such factors include the risk of viruses and identity theft from sites seeking to steal valuable information, the loss of all rights and the publication of materials made from illegally downloaded content, and a lack of support.
One of the fastest growing crimes in the world and especially in the United States of America is identity theft. It seems that one cannot watch television or listen to the radio for more than half an hour without seeing or listening to a commercial that sells a service to protect one’s identity or that promotes a certain credit card because of its identity. Anti-theft protection. The simple fact is that sites that allow illegal downloads are not very concerned about protecting their site users, as they are making money from membership fees or advertising. At worst, these sites are identity thieves, and the same download could contain a virus or Trojan from the site administrator or some other user who posted the content seeking to access your most personal information. What’s the value of that free set of construction loops, sample pack, or music software if you download a virus that destroys your computer, or worse, download a Trojan that steals your identity? Many of the illegal download sizes and torrents are hosted in countries ravaged by war and poverty, where identity theft is rampant without effective monitoring or enforcement.
Every sample sound provider and music software developer has what many like to call fine print. Terms and conditions can be found in almost all modern digital content. These terms and conditions set out the ground rules for using what is ultimately licensed and not proprietary content. Many loop and sample sound companies explain that their product is not copyrighted as long as you add music or vocals. It also prohibits users from giving, borrowing, lending, selling or distributing the content without the written permission of the content owner. Therefore, under the rules statute, an individual who illegally uploads or downloads a product falls outside the royalty-free usage rules. In a nutshell, this means that if one illegally downloads a product, makes a successful record, but cannot show proof of purchase, he loses all rights, posts and royalties, and at the same time becomes legally liable. Many sample sound companies are now using watermarking technology that digitally marks and encodes all of their loops, sounds, and samples so that they cannot be traced at all times, even if they are edited or included in other music.
I don’t think I’ve ever met a musician who enjoys reading a manual or following directions, but I do know the numbers by heart for many of the support kits on the team that I have. I see product reviews all the time where customers make passionate claims for or against companies that endorse performance. Sometimes it is easier to pick up the phone and ask a question. Unfortunately, if you didn’t buy the content legally, you can’t register it. If you don’t register your product, you won’t be able to get support. Many people who download content illegally don’t stop to think about all the research and development dollars that go into the product, the cost of hiring support teams, marketing, printing and pressing, and distribution of the product. They don’t think about all the work that goes into getting that product on the shelves. So, in the absence of reliable support for an illegally downloaded product, one is left to their own devices to find the answers to questions they may have regarding their studio setup. This takes time and, as the saying goes, time is money.
Simply put, illegal downloading is theft. It destroys the very product that people who download it illegally love. It can cost the loss of data and files to viruses, the loss of your identity, the loss of rights to the music you create with illegally downloaded content, and the worst loss of all, time. Music software companies offer lightweight versions of their products at reduced costs, and sample sound and loop developers offer free sounds and loops consistently with the simple act of joining their newsletter. There are too many affordable options available to pay for the cost of illegal downloads.