Downloading - Such a grey area

One thing I must state that the US probably has the worst record for what people download and for what the authoroties do there. In the UK it is only 5 years after the p2p revolution that the government has finally made a statement(see link below).
http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9160/IFPI+Wants+ISPs+to+Filter+Content%2C+P2P+Programs%2C+and+Websites


We are told by television and the media dont download, but then the BBC turns round and launches the Iplayer (which is a p2p application). Videos sites like google video and youtube accept videos posted by record companies as a means to generate more income off the back catologues of certain artists.

Working in record shops you realise that the new music is actually provided free by the reps of the record compnaies, the money is made in this sector by the sale of albums. Videos are promotional for the purposes of singles, the singles are promotional onto the albums.

That is where the main problem lies for record companies in the UK much of their income is generated by the back catologue of main artists. So They will be the first to say that dowbnloading is wrong. I find that downlaoding poses questions

is it OK to download something for your own personal use?
Is it OK to download something that has long since been deleted and is not available on LP
Providers giving highbandwidth , retailers selling 250GB-Youd be hard pressed to find that many legal downloads.!

Its like they use to say to record off the radio was wrong, but then if you go out and buy the album thats OK. Confused I sure am.

I think it is ok to download for your personal use and I like the way that using programs like Soulseek you can transfer stuff between one other user. But then on the other hand emule means you upload sometimes more than you can download, which is wrong.