Torrenting, to the untrained eye, is often viewed as an inherently illicit activity. Those unfamiliar with the concept associate Bittorrent with shady “Downton Abbey” retrieval methods, viruses and hefty MPAA or RIAA fines. However, while illegal downloads undoubtedly account for a significant amount of torrent activity, there are quite a few perfectly safe and legal files available for free. You can always find these sites on your own, but appearances may be deceiving and you’ll want to ensure that the site you’ve uncovered is legit. Before beginning your own research, check out the following list for a few starters:
PublicDomainTorrents.info is a nifty compilation of older films and TV shows. As the name suggests, all content lies in the public domain. There are various reasons, such as lapsed copyrights due to age and paperwork issues. Most of the fare consists of older movies and TV shows, particularly black and white. The database generously offers several file types depending upon your needs. Sorting is simplified by genre categories and top-twenty links. Among the hits: A Boy and His Dog, Night of the Living Dead, The House on Haunted Hill, and The Last Man on Earth.
Archive.org is a fantastic catch-all. One look at the tabs spanning the header and you’ll notice they dabble in a little of everything. Like PublicDomainTorrents, they have movies and TV shows, but the real beauty of Archive.org is their music section. As the Archive goes, bands abound. Looking for the Grateful Dead, moe., and Smashing Pumpkins? Stop here. Audiophiles will be pleased by the array of formats including high quality FLAC.
Clearbits.net hosts legal torrents of varying sorts. Categories include music and videos, and add books, graphic novels and games to the mix. The selection isn’t enormous, but content seems pretty unique. Check out Clearbits to discover new music, add a game to your collection without pressuring the wallet, or explore a few podcasts.
Vodo.net hosts independent media such as films and even music. A number of indie and underground artists, including Immortal Technique have collaborated with Vodo as well as several other torrent sites in the hopes of exhibiting how torrents are legitimate and useful methods for sharing and distributing media. Even the Bittorrent client publicizes various legal downloads such as games and music ventures.
See a site you’d like to recommend? Leave it in the comments below. Enjoy your (legal) torrenting
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