is it morally wrong...?

If the software or music is offered as a free download then it would not be piracy to download it. However, there are rules that each site sets up to let you know what you are allowed to use the download for. Usually you are allowed to download it for your personal use only. This means that you can't make copies and distribute it to others either for money or for free. Every time you download something you have to check a box that says that you read the rules and accept them. Doesn't anybody actually read these?

It troubles me that someone teaching computer ethics has doubts about such a simple issue. It is fundamentally wrong. No doubts, no quibbles.

Of course it's wrong to download things that aren't offered for free, but if a site states that the download is free, then there should be no problem.

hi there. well, i am guilty of downloading stuff online... but it seems everyone is doing it globally...sigh...it's so hard... hahahhaa...since i enjoy these while at the same, it is still someone's intellectual property... what would we feel if the same thing happened to us? we will get mad right? so just like you said.. it's a DILEMMA...

If they are being offered for free downloading in the net, I find nothing wrong if we download for our personal use. There are however some companies that do not allow free download and I believe this is where that particular computer ethics apply.

I thinks it's a much more complex issue than compute ethics. I question the ethic behind the whole Intellectual Property Rights system. I do recognize the pros, i.e. it's an incentive for businesses to innovate and come up with new and better products as patents and intellectual property rights allow a business to profit from it's new products and innovations. However, if you come to think of it, how about the thousands if not millions of people who die each year because they can't afford expensive medicines whose patents are still in effect? I mean, sure, let business profit but where do we draw the line? and how about the fact that most patents come from the rich and developed countries, and it is they who benefit most from these patents? isn't if unfair considering that in the first place, it's only them who have the means to come up with the most patents and beneift from them? the whole system was put in place by rich countries and it is they who benefit most from it. how about the third world countries who can't afford expensive patented products practically sold at a monoply? who can't come up with their own patented products because they have yet to even take care of the needs of their impoverished peoples?

its piracy ...stop making computers is a solution .. :) hehehehehe