Illegal downloading of loops, samples, music software is not free after all

Many people who download music loops, samples and software think they are using material that would have otherwise 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, loss of all rights and posting of materials made from illegally downloaded content, and lack of support.

One of the fastest growing crimes globally and especially in the United States of America is identity theft. It seems that one cannot watch TV or listen to the radio for more than half an hour without seeing or hearing a commercial that sells a service to protect your identity or promotes a certain credit card because of your identity. Anti-theft protection. The simple fact is that sites that allow illegal downloads are not very concerned with protecting the users of their site, since they are making money from membership fees or advertising. At worst, these sites are identity thieves, and the download itself could contain a virus or Trojan from the site administrator or some other user who posted the content seeking access to your most personal information. How valuable is that set of construction loops, sample pack, or free music software if you download a virus that destroys your computer, or worse, download a Trojan that steals your identity? Many of the illegal torrent and download sizes are hosted in war-torn and poverty-stricken countries, where identity theft is rampant without effective oversight or enforcement.

Every sound sampler provider and music software developer has what many like to call the fine print. Terms and conditions can be found on almost all modern digital content. These terms and conditions set out the basic rules for using what is ultimately licensed and non-proprietary content. Many loop and sample sound companies explain that their product is royalty-free as long as you add music or voices. It also prohibits users from giving, borrowing, lending, selling, or distributing the content without the written permission of the content owner. Therefore, under the statute of the rules, a person who illegally uploads or downloads a product falls outside the royalty-free use rules. In a nutshell, this means that if you illegally download a product, make a successful registration, but can’t show proof of purchase, you forfeit all rights, listing, and royalties, while also being held legally responsible. Many sound sample companies now use watermarking technology that digitally marks and encodes all of their loops, sounds, and samples so they can’t be tracked at all times, even if they’re 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 know the numbers by heart for many of the back-up crews I have. I see product reviews all the time where customers make passionate claims for or against companies that stand behind performance. Sometimes it’s easier to pick up the phone and ask a question. Unfortunately, if you didn’t purchase the content legally, you can’t register it. If you don’t register the product, you can’t get any support. Many of the people who illegally download content 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 distributing the product. They don’t think about all the work that goes into getting that product onto the shelves. Therefore, in the absence of reliable support for an illegally downloaded product, one must find the answers to questions one might have related to setting up their studio. This takes time, and as they say, time is money.

Simply put, illegal downloading is theft. It destroys the very product that people who illegally download the product love. It can cost you data and file loss from viruses, loss of your identity, loss of rights to music you create with illegally downloaded content, and worst of all, time. Music software companies offer light edition versions of their products at discounted costs, and sound sampler and loop developers consistently provide free loops and sounds simply for joining their newsletter. There are too many affordable options available to pay the cost of illegal downloading.