In article <201201201025.q0kapdm5040...@mail.r-bonomi.com>, Robert
Bonomi <bon...@mail.r-bonomi.com> writes
I suspect most file sharing site don't have illegal content. Most
would have some content that is there without the permission of the
copyright holder. These are different things.
<nitpick>
"Without the permission of the copyright holder" _is_ contrary to
statute, and thus 'against the law'. As such 'illegal' is _not_
an incorrect term to apply to the situation.
It may not be a _criminal_ violation, but it is still proscribed by law.
"Illegal" and "criminal" -- _these_ are different things.
Junk faxing is illegal, Telemarketing calls to cell phones are illegal,
Public distribution without the permission of the copyright owner is
illegal.
Except in special cases, none of those actions are _criminal_, but
they are all violations of law, and thus _illegal_.
Claiming that a thing is not 'illegal' if it is not 'criminal', is similar
to asserting "it's not a crime if you don't get caught".
</nitpick>
As is common in most industries there are expressions in the world of
Internet Governance that are jargon, and have agreed meanings in that
context.
"Illegal Material" is reserved for content which is illegal to possesses
and/or distribute (even if, and possibly even more so, if you originated
it).
"Harmful Material" is content which is legal to possess but is
nevertheless regarded by many as immoral or highly undesirable within
some framework of commonly held values.
"Infringing Material" is content which is held without a legitimate
rightsholder's permission.
--
Roland Perry
