Illegal Downloading

D4n13l

I have recently received a letter rgarding illegal downloading.

This has worried me slightly, as I am now concerned as to what I can and can not do online.

Does downloading information include the ability to stream videos from websites such as youtube and alluc?

I am not sure if such websites count because their is no way to pay for the information you watch.

Help would be much appreciated.

Thank You
Daniel

cookie_monster

What does the letter say? Have you been using a P2P programme?

D4n13l

Yes the letter said we where. It just specified a file which we had downloaded and shared using P2P illegally and warned us continuing use would lead to a fine/prosecution. The software has now been removed from our computer.

The main issue I want clarifying is where we stand with streaming. Is streaming classed as downloading? If known, are there any laws in place to class watching videos on youtube or alluc as downloading? Or is it your responsibility not to watch a tv show on youtube because you know it is illegal - or is that the responsibility of the person who put the video on such a website?

Thank you for your help.

Daniel

KimYeovil

It is the responsibility of both. Distributing (continuing to offer access to the stream) is a more serious offence than viewing but streaming and watching once is downloading and is (where copyright violation occurs) illegal.

You don't really need someone to tell you this, do you?

jembie

Can I just ask what ISP you are with??

Pound

A lot of stuff on YouTube is infringing on copyright. At the moment nobody seems to care that much if you do it.

lynzpower

KimYeovil wrote: »

It is the responsibility of both. Distributing (continuing to offer access to the stream) is a more serious offence than viewing but streaming and watching once is downloading and is (where copyright violation occurs) illegal.

You don't really need someone to tell you this, do you?

Thanked by accident.

I cant see why Daniel would ask the question if he was unsure.

I find this thread of great interest, and thank Daniel for posing the question. Its good to live & learn.

Nex0

From what I understand streaming video like youtube is fine because you are not actually storing the data on your computer.

Nilrem

Nex0 wrote: »

From what I understand streaming video like youtube is fine because you are not actually storing the data on your computer.

It's more a case of it not being shared by the user.

IIRC most of the companies involved aren't overly bothered by people say watching a DVD that's been uploaded to Youtube (or similar), but are bothered by people who share the same file*.

Youtube is purely you downloading something whilst it's being watched, P2P is completely different and involved you (the user) sharing (uploading) to another user (hence the Peer 2 Peer title).

It's the uploaders that they will go after, and with things like bit torrent, kazaa, ye olde Napster you have to share to download.

Hence you're fairly safe if you are just watching stuff, but if you upload at all (on p2p etc) you could get in trouble.


*The law sees receiving it as a much lesser offence than distributing it (which is what uploading/p2p does).

accyuklad

change isp

starving_artist

Information here:

link to thread