P2P File Sharing Can Infringe Copyright
P2P file-sharing programs are not illegal. If you own the copyright in the music, movie, software or other file you want to share, if you have the permission of the copyright holder, or if the material is not covered by copyright, you can share the file. However, P2P programs are often used to distribute files without permission of the copyright holder, and this is a violation of U.S. copyright law.
Under the copyright law, you could be fined between $750 and $150,000 for each work you infringe. In addition, an infringer of a work may also be liable for the attorney’s fees incurred by the copyright owner to enforce his or her rights. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504 and 505. Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. For more information, see the U.S. Copyright Office website, especially their FAQs.