Is it legal to download someones website onto your own computer?

Matty Brown · May 16th, 2007, 09:30

I've noticed that there is software around that enables you to download someone elses website onto your computer - which means you have access to all the files and images and can see how the site has been put together. Is this legal? Seems suspicious to me.

Lchad · May 16th, 2007, 11:25

I don't know but if I take on a clients site as new business, I always download the site onto my computer to make edits. I suppose if the site graphics are copyrighted by the previous webmaster, then I'd be violating the copyrights.
I haven't had a problem so far however.

spinal007 · May 16th, 2007, 12:22

Every webpage you've ever seen has been downloaded to your computerThere's nothing at all illegal about that. Look around and mess about with it as much as you like.

The only issue would be if you modify it and re-publish the work as your own.

Matty Brown · May 17th, 2007, 15:46

Thanks for your replies. It's just that I downloaded a site and discovered that I had also downloaded files that seemed private - ie nothing to do with the content of the site. It felt like I was looking in someone's private filing cabinets!

Ryan Fait · May 19th, 2007, 02:39

Well, that's really the fault of the site owners.