...er, not necessarily true...
In many countries the act of downloading is entirely legal...
It is the UPloading that is proscribed.

Taking is OK,
Giving is not.

Note that I have said, "many countries"... That does not mean 'all'...

Laws are being changed on an almost daily basis...
In addition, many laws are publically proposed and then presented to the public as new enforcable legislation... Fear tactics...

Anyway, back to Gen. Lee - read all the stuff available via all those links above and you'll be a pro on the subject - Meaning as confused as anybody else !