Italian court: Downloading OK if not for profit

Decision overturns convictions of students who set up file-sharing network


MILAN, Italy - Italy's top criminal court has ruled that downloading music, movies and software over the Internet isn't a crime if profit wasn't the motivation, though analysts questioned Monday whether the ruling would have much effect on copyright laws.The court's decision, issued earlier this month but reported over the weekend by the Italian media, overturns earlier convictions against two former Turin Polytechnic Institute students who set up in 1994 a peer-to-peer, file-sharing network that was shut down within months.

I found this article to be pretty interesting, but more importantly about how the top court in Milan ruled that downloading music, or movies is ok only if there isn’t a financial profit. Many students and young adults would agree that this ruling passed by the highest court in Italy shows that the government is aware of the interest of simply listening to music for a personal and simple pleasure. Although I do agree with this ruling being passed, it will not have any affect in the state of Italy because there was prior legislation that stated anyone or persons that shared material over the internet was are in fact breaking copyright laws. Downloading music and movies, despite the fact that there was no personal financial gain, is still recognized as illegal.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16756121/