Isn't downloading software from torrent illegal?

Question

I've seen a bunch of people telling you how you can get like Spider-man 3 for PC or DBZ budokai tenkaichi 3 by downloading torrent. but other people told me it was illegal. is that true?

Answer 1

Its only illegal if the software is copyrighted. If it's not then there is nothing wrong with it at all.  

Answer 2

Downloading anything that is protected by copyright without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal.

It doesn't matter if you use BitTorrent or something else. (That said, some software is not protected by copyright, or the author has granted permission for it to be distributed via BitTorrent - Ubuntu for example: http://ubuntu.com/ )

Answer 3

If you are downloading music, videos, games, etc., from torrents or Limewire or anything else without paying for it, it is illegal. You run the risk of being caught and hit with a very stiff fine.