If your use is not covered by a limitation, defense, or exception in the law, you need permission from the copyright holder. Typically permission is requested in writing, and is specific to the immediate need.
Yes, it is illegal to download copyrighted material without permission, even for personal use.
If there is no "fair use" exception the only way to legally use copyrighted material is to obtain permision from the rights holder.
You can use copyrighted material without permission when it falls under fair use, which includes purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.
When determining if the use of copyrighted material falls under the DMCA Fair Use provisions, key considerations include the purpose of the use (such as for education, criticism, or commentary), the nature of the copyrighted work, the amount of material used, and the effect on the market value of the original work.
1) Use only original material that you have created.2) Use only works that have fallen into the public domain3) Use only copyrighted material that you have obtained permission to use from the rights holder.4) Use copyrighted material in such as way that it will qualify as "fair use"
You can use copyrighted material at any time if you have obtained permission first. In order to use copyrighted materials without permission you need to establish the project as "fair use"The four primary factors you need to consider are...the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;the nature of the copyrighted work;the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; andthe effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.
Unless it would fall under "fair use" no it is not "okay" to use copyrighted material without permission
Under fair use, using copyrighted material for commercial purposes, reproducing the entire work, and causing financial harm to the copyright owner are prohibited.
The other people could have been the actual owner of the material and due to that it means they are allowed to upload there own work. However, others could have a licence to use the copyrighted material from the owner of the material. The others also may have found a way to classify it under fair use.
Yes, pirating copyrighted material for personal use is illegal.
Ask the copyright holder for permission.
It is legal to download and use the software. If you use it to download copyrighted material and share copyrighted material (be aware, by the way bittorrent works you are sharing out anything you are downloading) that is illegal, but is entirely your fault and not the fault of the software manufacturer.