We are living in the age of mass theft, or at least that's one way to look at it. The epidemic of software piracy and music and movie sharing is almost impossible to separate from the influx of computer use and especially fast Internet access into our homes. The two occurred so simultaneously that it seems amazing in retrospect that no-one realized what was going to happen.

Human beings are social creatures, and we do like to share what we enjoy. Of course, we are accustomed to hoarding things that are finite and consumable, like food or money, but files? Software? They don't run out or get used up, so human nature dictates that we share them.

Notions of value get tossed out the window when the product is essentially infinite. Unfortunately, the same values and methods of selling are used for digital products as for regular ones, and of course copyright and intellectual property rights still apply.

The RIAA, movie production companies and major software companies would have you believe that internet piracy is undermining the entire system of pay entertainment, and removing the livelihood from the creators of the products.

The advocates of music and file sharing argue that movie and music file sharing has not noticeably impacted the commercial prospects of the respective industries. Heck, file sharing may have even helped increase CD sales by exposing more music to more people.

Both sides have legitimate points, but we are not going to argue them here. What we want to look into is what you are legally allowed to do with your own software and music on your computer. Given the current climate of RIAA lawsuits and piracy crackdowns in the news, it's easy to see people getting a little worried over the handling of their legitimate software and music on their home system.

As rather little real information actually emerges from news soundbites, we wanted to dig a little deeper and clear up the somewhat grey area between backing up and retaining copies of your own software and music, and illegal or semi-legal file sharing and duplication.

This article is not intended to be legal advice, but rather a guideline on what you can and cannot do with your digital media under copyright. As such, we do not go deeply into the various legal questions that are raised. If you want more information on your rights and liabilities in your country, please see a solicitor. First stop, the omnipotent Digital Millennium Copyright Act.