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The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) has put together a warning list for consumers of sites that are illegally distributing mainstream music. A lot of people received mp3 players for Christmas and are eager to download music; however, just because a site charges a fee to download music does not mean that they are licensed distributors. The CDT says that a lot of these sites claim to offer its users 100% legal music for downloads, when in fact it is just the opposite. Other sites do provide “legal information” that cautions users of illegal downloading, but this information is normally hard to find, so the site is perceived to contain legal content.

According to their web site, the sites on this list:

1. “Advertises, describes, or promotes itself in ways that either state or imply that its offerings include music from the major record labels”
2. “Charges fees to users”
3. “Creates a risk of consumer misunderstanding about the legal status of music downloads available through the site – either through statements or omissions in the way it characterizes its service or legal status, or by making important legal disclosures too obscure or hard to find to be useful”
4. “Does not appear, according to the Recording Industry Association of America, to be authorized to distribute major label music in the United States – and as best we can tell does not disclose that fact prominently to potential users” and
5. “Failed to provide a satisfactory response to a letter from CDT, mailed to the address associated with the Web site’s domain name registration, providing an opportunity to explain why the Web site should not be placed on this list.”

Ok, now for the list of sites that they have said are “deceptive fee-based download services:”

* allcoolmusic.com
* allmusicdownloads.com
* e-mp3now.com
* easymusicdownload.com
* ezmp3s.com
* free-music-downloads.cc
* freeaccessmp3.com
* freemusicnow.cc
* howdoiwin.com/recommends/Movies
* imp3download.com
* imp3download.com
* imusicaccess.com/index.asp
* imusicsearch.com
* klitetk.com
* mimusicamp3.com
* mp3-all-free.com
* mp3-download-lyrics.com
* mp3-freebie.com
* mp3-freedom.com
* mp3downloadhq.com
* mp3downloadnet.com
* mp3downloadsnow.com
* mp3favorites.com
* mp3musichq.com
* mp3rocket.com
* musicjustfree.com
* my-free-songs.com
* my-music-now.com
* myipodaccess.com
* mymusicinc.com
* netmusicaccess.com
* netmusicsite.com
* realmusicnow.com
* unlimiteddownloadcenter.com

This list compiled by the CDT is based off sites that are not legally authorized to offer major label music in the United States. There are sites in other countries that claim selling their music is legal based on their country’s copyright laws.

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