Consider another crime before file-sharing

Hefty fines have been handed to people who download music using file sharing programs. Does the punishment fit the crime?

If you're thinking about downloading your favorite song using programs such as Limewire, Kazaa, or any other file-sharing network, you'd better think twice. Big fines have been handed down to perpetrators in past weeks that are making at least one resort to bankruptcy, reports Andrew Moran for Digital Journal. They call it "piracy" and the consequences can be very detrimental to your financial well being. There have been only two music piracy trials that have taken place to date. Jammie Thomas, was fined $2 million for downloading 24 songs, and Joel Tenenbaum was fined $675,000 for downloading and distributing thirty tracks from four record labels. According to Gaper's Block there are seven crimes you could commit in the U.S. where the law is a lot more lenient. 1. Child abduction: the fine is only $25,000. 2. Stealing the actual CD: the fine is $2,500 3. Rob your neighbor: the fine is $375,000 4. Burn a house down: The fine is just over $375,000 5. Stalk someone: The fine is $175,000 6. Start a dogfighting ring: the fine is $50,000 7. Murder someone: The maximum penalty is only $25,000 and 15 years in jail, and depending on your yearly salary, would probably be far less a penalty than $2 million. Statistics were taken from the Illinois Criminal Code.