Originally Posted by: TwangerdangerSince US copyright laws can't enforce what other countries do, is it illegal for me to download and visit these sites in other countries, even if I don't have to enter any type of password to access the material?[/quote]
Legality is not the primary issue here. The primary issue is: is it moral?

And the answer is, of course, no, it is not. It is stealing, regardless of whether or not any given government decides to legislate against it & enforce their laws.

Originally Posted by: Twangerdanger
If I pay my DSL bill every month, and I am not hacking into a site, can I not visit any site that I want without breaking laws.[/quote]
You can visit any site you want, without hacking. You ought not download files without trading value for value at the discretion of the file creator/owner. Just because someone else has done the stealing for you doesn't mean you are not morally responsible.

Originally Posted by: TwangerdangerWho makes the Laws for the internet? I have no idea who owns the rights to the internet![/quote]
The government makes the laws for the internet. And some of them are good (laws that uphold private property rights) and some of them are bad (laws that violate private property rights, such as the upcoming potential Net Neutrality irrational laws).

The companies and people that invent, build, sell and buy the machinery and software that comprises the internet & web can make various rules about using their products and services. And they actually own the internet. Up to the line that you plug into. :) When it hits your computer, that it where you own part of the internet. Unless you have stolen material on your computer, then you do not morally own that part. That is the part you do not own, that you did not trade for, but rather stole.

Originally Posted by: Twangerdanger
I have 3 music CD's of my own copy written material, that I busted my butt to write, record, and master. I was digging around the web a while back, and I found my CD's for sale in Taiwan, Japan, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and fifty other places. My CD's are copy written here in the US, but someone made copies and sent them all over the world without my permission.

I am very sorry to hear you have been violated in this way. :( You have my deepest sympathies on this issue.

But, this means you of all people should understand the issues involved!
[QUOTE=Twangerdanger]
How am I supposed to stop overseas governments from selling my music CD's, and every citizen in the world from downloading them for free?

You can't physically stop them. But you can start by advocating, upholding the right ideas: private property must be traded for at the creator/owners discretion. Advocating that it is acceptable to steal if it is not "illegal", leaves you with no moral ground to stand on.

This is just one more disasterous consequence of post-modern culture which worships Karl Marx and all the collectivist nonsense that follows.
[QUOTE=Twangerdanger]Here is the bottom line! If you put your music up for sale on the internet, before long, nobody will need to pay you for it anymore.

This is simply not true. It does happen, but I also know many arists that make a living selling their music via the web.
[QUOTE=Twangerdanger] ... I don't feel guilty at all about downloading free music or videos from the internet anymore. Everybody downloads mine, I can't do anything about it!

:(

This is how civilization ends. I sincerely hope you reconsider this issue. Just because someone stole from you does not justify further stealing. It means we need a better world of ideas, a better culture, that respects, upholds and fights for private property rights.