If I think the law is wrong, can't I just ignore it?

No.

For nearly a decade the legal debate over P2P networks has increased. Many in the music industry argue that illegally shared music decreases retail sales and that this hurts artists. Other artists disagree and promote the sharing of their works. Some consumers claim that CDs are too expensive and music is not available in desired formats. The motion picture industry and software publishers have also joined the debate, seeking more vigorous enforcement of copyright law. At the same time, consumer rights groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation have voiced strong concerns about some of the methods proposed to deal with copyright infringement.

The debate is also occurring in Congress, where legislation related to copyright infringement on the Internet is frequently introduced. Much of the legislation proposed aims at strengthening copyright holders rights and protections. Some people feel that the changes being proposed are too extreme, while others feel they are necessary to stem a tide of copyright infringement.

Everyone has their own opinions and concerns, and it is not possible to determine the outcome of this heated debate. You have the right to criticize the current law, petition your local government representatives for more consumer-friendly copyright laws, and boycott the recording industry. BUT as of today, you DO NOT have the right to download or share whole copies of copyrighted material for entertainment without the copyright owners permission. If you do so, you may face serious penalties under the law.