Downloading content

I want to teach my students about the rights and wrongs of downloading music, films and other content, what should I say?

With the rise in popularity of MP3 players, mobiles, computers and other devices, downloading music, games, films and ringtones has become second nature to many young people.

Many websites and retailers offer bona fide download options, which ensure that royalties are passed on to the content creators and other relevant parties.

Unfortunately, there are also a number of websites and software programmes, such as peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, offering free content without the permission of the people who created it and without rewarding them in any way.

It's easy to see why young people get confused about which websites and programmes they should download content from.

Young people, in particular, are attracted by the offer of ‘free' content so it's crucial that you help your students to understand that some file-sharing networks are breaking the law by sharing content without the copyright owner's permission and that, in turn, anyone downloading unlicensed content is also committing a criminal offence.

Furthermore, downloading files from unknown sites could put your student's computer at risk of viruses and hackers. Research shows that 19 per cent of all potential infections are propagated by P2P networks (Source: Symantec EMEA Internet Security Threat Report, April 2008).

The internet, mobile and entertainment industries are clamping down on illegal file sharers, so make sure that your students understand the risks and act responsibly when it comes to downloading.

• Use ICT, Citizenship or Arts classes to talk to your students about how they access and share music, games, films and ringtones.
• Teach them the basics of copyright law, explaining who loses out when a music track, game or film is distributed for free online - you'll find lots of useful information on the websites we link to in this section.
• Advise them to only download content from legitimate websites - you can find lists of trusted music sources on the BPI and Pro-music websites and trusted TV and film sources on The Industry Trust website.
• European Schoolnet and the Interactive Software Federation of Europe have teamed up to create a useful handbook for teachers about Digital Games in Schools.
• Ask your student to check whether their home computers are protected against viruses, spyware and other threats.
• Explain to them that they are not anonymous online - they can be traced through their IP address and could face charges it they are found to be downloading content illegally.
• If you want to use copyrighted music for teaching purposes, check out the Guide to Copyright Licensing in Schools and the Creative Commons website to ensure that you're complying with the law.

Where can I find out more?

• Check out the ‘Young People, Music & the Internet' guide, published by Childnet International and supported by Pro-music .
• The Industry Trust provides guidance on TV and film downloads and Stamp Out Piracy is dedicated to reducing games piracy.
• You can find lesson ideas on the theme of copyright on the website of the Intellectual Property Office.