Is downloading ever copyright infringement? I was under the impression that it is the uploading, i.e. distributing that is illegal, not receiving the copy.
> For example, you can use copyrighted work for the purpose of research, private study, education, parody or satire. You can also reproduce copyrighted work to ensure interoperability of computer programs or for backup copies.
It never really made sense to me to view copyright as dictating what you are allowed to do with something. People do try to turn it into that, but it makes far more sense if you view the act of publishing as the step that is protected by copyright.
Laws do differ on this point but if we want to have any hope of owning anything in a digital world we need to push back against the idea that copyright allows someone to dictate the lives of anyone using their intellectual property.