What would be the legal issues with storing mp3s on my website and sharing them with friends and family?
The thought originated with me storing my extensive music collection online and having access to it wherever I go plus having it backed up in case someone robbed me or fire or whatever. And then I thought I could just link to all of it on a webpage and share the page with friends and family so they could have some of it, I wouldn't be advertising for the world to see. What do you think?

Lee

from what I remember this would be considered illegal...search bots would most likely come across the page and thereby make it 'public knowledge' on Google and other search engines..

__________________


So Long and Thanks for All the Files
_____________________________________________

Beware of the big 3 insurance companies in Texas! Read your policies carefully (maybe you'll need a lawyer) Allstate, Farmers & State Farm are overextended and their 'coverage' is worthless...a true waste of your money Read This

In the US you can make a "back-up" copy of copyrighted music that you lawfully acquired (i.e., purchased). However when you make it available to others you infringe upon the copyright.

Such laws vary from country to country and also according to the original copyright holders (companies.) Having the site as limited access would help. ie: sign in only, with only your family involved. Including friends though would be pushing it. However this does not necessarily protect the music from others since sites can potentially be hacked into. So many different variations on each aspect of this situation as suggested. Such as only an inferior quality copy of the music as compared to a lossless quality copy. As Blackhorse 70V suggested, making the music available to others to copy at all really is a major risk & most likely breaking laws of your local country and those of the copyrights.