No, not really. Doesn't matter how you go about doing it, if you didn't pay for it (assuming it's payware) it's still illegal. Also, Limewire isn't a torrent software.   

Limewire is a p2p networking software, but isn't quite the same as Bittorrent. They're two different technologies. At any rate, most of the stuff transferred on those networks are pirated software, movies and music. The technology itself is perfectly legal, as it just allows efficient file transfer. The problem is the files being transferred.

Most p2p software comes with a disclaimer and warning that they can't be held responsible for what's transferred on their networks, and people should only transfer legal files. Since there is no oversight of the networks, and since the networks were essentially created to allow the transfer of pirated files, there is no stopping the pirates/thiefs.

The mentality seems to be that bit torrent allows for quick, easy and relatively anonymous piracy. If you ask the users themselves, they seem to be resentful of software companies, record labels, movie studios, the RIAA and MPAA. In their minds, that makes it okay to engage in piracy and that they're 'sticking it to the man.' While many software companies, movie and music related organizations aren't the nicest groups out there, it doesn't change the fact that piracy is illegal.

most of the stuff transferred on those networks are pirated software, movies and music. The technology itself is perfectly legal, as it just allows efficient file transfer. The problem is the files being transferred.

and the fact that this is a MAJOR WAY to invite spyware/malware/viruses into your lil' ol' machine

and the fact that this is a MAJOR WAY to invite spyware/malware/viruses into your lil' ol' machine

if you are stupid and run 24.5kb files that say "WINDOWS VISTA FULL VERSION ISO + CRACK"

It gets very fuzzy.  Technically, so long as they do not host content themselves and merely point to other sites for everything, they're not directly infringing.  They are however engaging in contributory infringment which is also a crime.  They try and hide by saying "for educational purposes only" or other disclaimers, but with bittorrent sites and such that list pirated content exclusively, they have very little ground to stand on.

P2P technology is not in itself illegal.  Bittorrent is used for legit purposes.  A good analogy is how a telephone can allow you to conduct illegal business.  The telephone itself is not an illegal tool, nor is the phone line that allows the illegal act to happen, illegal.  It's how you USE the technology that can be legal or illegal.

Bittorrent is legal. It's just another way of peer-to-peer sharing. However the content transfered might be illegal.

Warez is illegal. It's a word used for pirated software.

the word "Warez" kinda means pirated software... so i guess a yes to that part...

But as far as the software used goes it isn't illegal at all, the content that is shared is what comes under copyright.

As was said above, Bit Torrent and Limewire are different networks of P2P users, although the newest versions of Limewire support connecting to the Bit Torrent network.

The question you asked tho is one major concern with those largeish American Anti-Piracy Groups that are all over web news (well they where, died a bit in the last month or two but they will be back), the ones that going after all the Bit-Torrent providers and are trying to do location traces on Limewire sharers, they are killing a technology that has nothing to do with what is being shared on it, for example there are a good many very legal Torrent providers around that are still catching fire from these groups.

In fact Bit Torrent is great for spreading content that is created and sold over the net, or that people give away for free (read Open Source and free meida), that would other wise never get distributed as the creators can't afford distribution.

More then a few tech groups; peer guardian, Slashdot and Wired to name just a few, have all had articles up over the last 6 to 8 months talking about the very real concern that these piracy groups that are just trying to 'help' us could easily do to next generation internet development if they are able to pass some of the crap they are trying too.

and with that...

/rant

but seriously go check out the articles, they are a good read to boot

That is a good analogy.

I heard that back in '98 a person actually used p2p to transfer a file legally.   

the new version of Azureus, a bit torrent client for those of you that dont know this already , named 'Vuze' has a heap of legal content... only some of it is good... but its still legal

Limewire is a portal for Viruses trojans and rootkits.

Urban legend.....

I recently read an article (WWW Link) about a man who came up with the idea to have ISP's charge user's a $5.00 a month "Tax" for access to all the music you want to download, it sounds like a great idea I wonder if the labels and ISP's would bite?

the latest version of limewire pro now has the ability to download using torrents.
Still unless you actually pay for the software you are downloading, using this and other
types of programs to download warez and torrents is illegal.

it's really not worth the hassle as you are at extreme risk of viruses and trojans when
you download this stuff.

The money you pay for legal copies of programs more than outweighs the risk and the time it
takes to clean an infected system of nasties.

I wonder how many more ways will be said that its illegal to rip off stuff without paying?