Is it illegal to watch movies online?

zenmaster

Soubrette wrote: »

Yes, uploading something without permission seems to be always be illegal (barring fair usage etc)

If this is the case then surely the downloader would, at the very least, be an Accessory After The Fact.

Also does copyright of a work not apply "in whole or in part"? In which case a streamed section of a film would be covered.

Marty_J

zenmaster wrote: »

If this is the case then surely the downloader would, at the very least, be an Accessory After The Fact.

Someone downloading something does not assist someone in uploading it though.

Soubrette

mr_fishbulb wrote: »

My understanding that copies of music for personal use is still illegal in the UK, although I don't see that when looking through the part of the act I posted. Can't find what act it is contravening.

This suggests it may change - http://www.ipo.gov.uk/press/press-release/press-release-2008/press-release-20080108.htm

That is my point though, everyone knows that copying your own cd is illegal and even if they didn't - a quick jaunt on google would probably convince them. Apparently people on here know that it's illegal to watch a streamed film but a quick jaunt on google (or even a slightly longer one) simply does not back that up and actually gives some indication that it might not be illegal - although nothing explicit.

I think you may be getting too caught up with the technology of "streaming". The law doesn't need to have an individual clarification for downloading via P2P, streaming, newsgroups, etc. It just covers the act of "copying".

I think it would be very difficult to argue that a digital representation of material which exists on a server somewhere and then (albeit temporarily) a copy of that digital data also exists on your machine is anything other than copying.

Actually I'm just kicking it around a bit because I like a discussion I am genuinely curious as to why there is not a definitive answer to the question 'is watching an illegal stream illegal in itself'. It seems to me as if there is enough question about the copy that that might be it.

However as no uploading has taken place on your part, I think it would be very difficult for copyright holders of the information to prove you have violated the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act 1988 or Video Recordings Act 1984.

I also think we need to appreciate that different laws apply in different countries:

This is another plausibile explanation - is it actually illegal to watch a stream but it in practice it would be too hard to actually prosecute for the offence?

This is actually my second favourite explanation but I am still left head scratching wondering why the Music/film and football industry aren't making it very clear that it is actually illegal. We know putting your CDs on MP3 is illegal but what are the chances of getting prosecuted for that?

Sou

mr_fishbulb

Hahahaha !!!!!!? I was searching to see if this comes under criminal or civil law so I searched for this in google:

"unlawful or illegal" copy music uk

These are hits from the first page:

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MediSin

mr_fishbulb wrote: »

My understanding that copies of music for personal use is still illegal in the UK, although I don't see that when looking through the part of the act I posted. Can't find what act it is contravening.

So does that mean it's illegal for me to import my CDs into my iTunes? How else are you supposed to use your mp3 player without making an mp3 copy of your CD? Weird.

mr_fishbulb

MediSin wrote: »

So does that mean it's illegal for me to import my CDs into my iTunes? How else are you supposed to use your mp3 player without making an mp3 copy of your CD? Weird.

You are supposed to buy your mp3s from a place like iTunes as you will then be licensed to use the mp3.

Just like you weren't allowed to copy your vinyls onto tape to listen in the car.

One of the reasons why there is such anger towards record companies - when new technologies come out, you need to buy your music again.

Marty_J

mr_fishbulb wrote: »

One of the reasons why there is such anger towards record companies - when new technologies come out, you need to buy your music again.

Whilst I have no love for record companies - that curious place where big business and art collide - it's hardly their fault the UK has outdated copyright laws.

I recall reading that they said though it's illegal, they will not pursue anyone for ripping their own CD.

So it's technically illegal, but it's inconsequential in practice.

Soubrette

I managed to lose a post - I don't know how or where so this is the abbreviated version:

Here is the type of thing I'm trying to get at when I say I doubt that what you have on your cache could legally be defined as a copy.

A man buys and illegal dvd and watches it in the US, he comes back home to the UK and finds that it has been damaged during the flight - does he have a copy?

A man watches a dvd and in the process his player damages it - he can't watch it again, is it still a copy?

A man is given a cake with a copy of the mona lisa on it - he eats it and it is good but has he breached copyright?

A fake sculpture is sent to someone but it is damaged in transit and is unrecognisable - is it still a copy?

zenmaster - it doesn't matter what you or I think or say, what matters is what this country has deemed legal or illegal. There are lots of argument on this thread which go along the lines of stealing is illegal, I think streaming is stealing therefore streaming is illegal. Our law is not always that cut and dried.

Sorry if it sounds a bit abrupt - I'm sulking after losing my other post :mad:

Sou

Marty_J

Soubrette wrote: »

A man buys and illegal dvd and watches it in the US, he comes back home to the UK and finds that it has been damaged during the flight - does he have a copy?

No, but he did have a copy.

A man watches a dvd and in the process his player damages it - he can't watch it again, is it still a copy?

No, but it was a copy.

A man is given a cake with a copy of the mona lisa on it - he eats it and it is good but has he breached copyright?

Is the Mona Lisa copyrighted?

It was painted 500 years ago, so I wouldn't have thought so.

A fake sculpture is sent to someone but it is damaged in transit and is unrecognisable - is it still a copy?

No, but it was a copy.

If I rip a DVD, I broke the law when I did so. It doesn't matter if I then smash up the copy or delete it from my computer.

I would break the law by making the copy; whether or not I still possess it doesn't erase the fact that I copied it.

If I rob a bank and burn all the money, I still robbed the bank.

Soubrette

*big sigh* lets assume the mona lisa is under copyright or pretend it's a picture of your own chosing which is undercopyright if that makes it feel better to you.

I hate analogies - people are soooo obtuse about them.

I was under the impression that we were discussing whether what you had on your computer after watching the movie was a copy or not.

Are you now shifting that to what you watched was actually the copy albeit of a transient nature?

Sou