---
title: Legality of illegal MP3s
date: "2001-01-22T12:00:00Z"
categories:
  - links
wp_id: 1954
description: Compare conflicting international rulings on the legality of linking to copyrighted MP3s. Sweden permits links to foreign servers, while jurisdictions like France and Utah view such links as potential copyright infringement or legal violations.
keywords: [cyberlaw, mp3, copyright infringement, hyperlink legality, internet law, intellectual property]
---

Sweden has [ruled](http://slashdot.org/yro/99/12/28/0814212.shtml) that it's OK to have links to illegal MP3s, so long as the server is in a country where illegal MP3s are legal. That's in stark contrast with [France vs Yahoo](http://www.zdnet.com/intweek/stories/news/0,4164,2656099,00.html). In fact, the norm is that linking even to the front page of commercial sites [needs permission](http://www.llrx.com/features/weblink1.htm) sometimes. A court in Utah [ruled](http://www.cnn.com/1999/TECH/computing/12/13/illegal.links.idg/) that providing links to copyrighted material could constitute copyright infringement. Better check out [cyberlaws](http://law.about.com/newsissues/law/msub34.htm?once=true&) and ensure compliance with [copyright rules on the Internet](http://www.fplc.edu/tfield/cOpyNet.htm).

Violation is often in the eye of the beholder. "Anyone who makes derogatory references to others (or their sites, products or services), however it is done, invites trouble."