1. Up- and Downlaod, what is it?
The upload refers to a data flow from the local computer or a local storage medium to a remote computer. You upload a file (music, texts, videos, etc.) from your computer to another computer or server. In the context of sending data over the Internet, the process is also referred to as "upstream".
More often than the term "Upload" is the word "Download". The data flow in the other direction, i.e. from an external computer or server to my devices (computer, tablet etc.), is called download.
Where can I find up- and downloads? Some examples:
- Videoportal „YouTube“
- Online games
- In social media, e.g. Facebook etc.
- Clouds: online services from companies that can store and synchronize data (iCloud, Google Drive)
2. What should be observed with copyrighted material?
The word copyright refers to the subjective and absolute right to the protection of intellectual property in intellectual and material terms. In the case of copyrighted works, an upload or download is illegal without the consent of the copyright owner.
3. "Free content" / Open content on the net
Which content is free in the net is often difficult to ascertain. The solution? This is where the non-profit organization Creative Commons ("CC") is set up. It offers six different licensing models, with which an author can easily grant special rights to the public. These licenses are applicable to any work that is subject to copyright (e.g., text, images, music, video clips, etc.). See: Creative Commons.
Wikipedia is currently one of the largest archives of free content with its sister projects. Wikipedia uses the so-called CC-BY-SA license, which permits the use of the contents contained here by others, if the author and the relevant license are specified. In addition, the user may change the content by publishing the edited work under the same license.
Other well-known representatives of OpenContent are the Internet Archive, Open Directory Project, LibriVox, Zeno.org and freedb.
The term "OpenBooks" refers to books whose texts can be used by anyone free of charge. These may be works whose copyright has expired, but also, for example, current books, especially from the IT sector, which are offered freely.
Another area of free content is online courses (Open Educational Resources) as well as various manuals and documentation, which were created for free software.
4. Open Source Software - Was ist das und wie kann ich sie nutzen?
Certain software (programs) can be used free of charge and without permission from the developer of the program. This software is then called free or open source software.
5. File sharing - legally or illegally?
As far as exchange programs are concerned, they are legal. It is illegally, however, to download or offer copyrighted works there. This is both punishable and civil law prohibited. Many users do not know that they also offer their own music titles and films to users when downloading from filesharing platforms. In order to be able to download data the user is generally required to provide data for uploading the users computer which can then be obtained from other users.
Examples of such exchange exchanges are: www.emule-project.net or www.bittorrent.com
6. Youtube - legal or illegal?
YouTube is legal of course. Whether you are streaming (e.g., listening to music directly over the Internet) or downloading (directly storing the music files on your own devices), you cannot legally be prosecuted.
Using special programs, videos or music files can be downloaded from YouTube for your own use. This creates a 'private copy'. This is legally permitted when it is downloaded from a legal source. YouTube is such a legal source, as every user voluntarily uploads his videos there. Many musicians also upload their music here. Then such a private copy is allowed. If a music video is uploaded by a person who does not have the rights to it, you can assume that YouTube offers legal content and deletes illegal.
