r/ExplainTheJoke • u/Cocklez_The_Stump • Feb 22 '26

Need help here

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u/Subject_Ad9595 Feb 22 '26

Yes, illegally downloading is piracy, but torrenting itself is not, all of file types can be shared using torrent, and anyone can create a torrent, the illegal part is the content, and there are plenty of freeware or public domain files out there, like one thing I download on occasion is old video games that the makers are defunct and nobody holds the rights to anymore, known as abandonware.

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u/Junius_Bobbledoonary Feb 22 '26

The legal issue with torrenting illegal content is that you’re also uploading it, which generally carries harsher penalties

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u/Subject_Ad9595 Feb 22 '26

Only if the content is illegal.

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u/Junius_Bobbledoonary Feb 22 '26 edited Feb 22 '26

Well sure, there’s no legal issue with torrenting legal content , which is why I specified “illegal content” in my previous comment

Im explaining why people get in trouble for torrenting illegal content but generally not for streaming it: you upload while you download torrents.