Legal Sources of Online Content
The Higher Education Opportunity Act requires all colleges and universities to offer legal alternatives to unauthorized downloading. The bullets below include legitimate online services that are approved by the AAP, MPAA, and RIAA. No endorsement or evaluation is intended. To suggest additions or provide other input, contact [email protected].
Note: Some of the sites listed provide some or all content at no charge; they are funded by advertising or represent artists who want their material distributed for free, or for other reasons. Just because content is free doesn't mean it's illegal. On the other hand, you may find websites offering to sell content which are not on the list below. Just because content is not free doesn't mean it's legal.
- Books
NOTE: The Association of American Publishers (AAP) page to which this section refers is no longer active. EDUCAUSE has requested that AAP provide a link to a replacement page and will post one as soon as it is available - Movies and TV Shows
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) points to Watch It Legally, which identifies legal online sources for watching movies and TV shows. - Music
The Recording Industry Association of American (RIAA), together with NARM, the music business association, maintains the Why Music Matters website that provides a current list of the licensed music services in the United States.
Legal Alternatives for Downloading
- ABC.com TV Shows
- [adult swim] Video
- Amazon MP3 Downloads
- Amazon Instant Video
- BET Music
- BET Shows
- Bravo TV
- Cartoon Network Video
- CBS Video
- CD Baby
- Comedy Central Video
- Crackle
- Criterion Online
- The CW Network
- DirecTV Watch Online
- Dish Online
- eMusic.com
- Epix HD
- Film Fresh
- FOX on Demand
- FX Networks Video
- GameFly
- Google TV
- HBO Max
- Hulu Movies & TV
- iMDb
- IndieFlix
- iTunes Movies, Music, & TV
- Last.fm
- Lifetime Video
- MTV Music
- MTV Video
- MySpace Music
- Napster
- NBC Video
- Netflix Movies & TV
- Nick.com
- Nick Jr.
- Pandora
- Paramount Movies
- Paramount Network
- PBS KIDS GO!
- Peacock TV
- PlayStation Store
- Public Domain Torrents
- Roku Channel
- Showtime Online
- Slacker
- South Park Episode Player
- Spotify
- Steam
- TBS Videos
- TheWB
- TNTdrama.com
- TVLand Video
- USA Network Full Episodes
- VH1 Full Episodes
- Vudu
- Warner Archive Instant
- Xbox Video
- Xfinity TV
- YouTube Movies and Shows
- YouTube Music
- 7digital
Updated September 2021