So what's the deal with downloading music from the Internet? Everyone's talking about it - at home, at school, in chat rooms, in the media - and millions of music lovers are doing it. But a lot of people are confused. Some parents are telling their kids not to download; others think it's okay. Some downloaders are being sued by record companies, others are not. Even some of the people who create and sell music aren't sure what to think - or do - about technology and music.

Is downloading music legal? Is it okay to swap music files? Are we helping or hurting the music industry or our favorite artist if we download? And is it cool to use our computer to copy a CD for a friend?

Before heads start spinning, let's take a step back and get the big picture. Knowing the full story can help us sort everything out and figure out where we stand.
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