Graboid

The_Debt_Star

Have a mate who is recommending the Graboid movie website. Apparently its based in Canada where its perfectly legal. Thing is I'm dead suspoicious because it is running films still playing at the pictures. So In UK terms its probably not. Whats worse, he pays them for bandwidth and they have his details.

I doubt it is kosher despite them emailing him they are not in breach of any laws that they "know of." If it isn't legal, then what, in the UK, might happen to him if he gets busted? eg if people like ACS Law hack into the site or a court order forces Graboid to reveal the identities of subscribers? My advivce has been for him to stay WELL CLEAR of the site but I am curious to know if it is actually legal to download per se as opposed to sharing copyrighted material (which is defo illegal). Anyonbe any views or experience of this kind of thing?

Mark_In_Hampshire

ACS Law went bust.

The Graboid site may or not be acting lawfully however what matters is what is downloaded. They do not host the files.

In that manner it is not sharing copyrighted material, it is facilitating the download of same - you may recall a site called "Pirate Bay" and what happened to that and its founders.

If the details that were supplied (name, address, card details) were ever obtained by "the authorities" then they would not be able to prosecute for the use of that "site" per se.

They could however corroborate those details with information to track down users downloading said copyrighted material and so supplying those details makes it easier to get caught.

TagEHeuer

Honestly, I only stream movies... never download them. I wouldn't worry, as long as you're not sharing/downloading/selling pirated movies. Of course you're not allowed to even stream, but honestly who really cares that much? My personal opinion.

The_Debt_Star

ok thanks guys, v useful.

System

WillEH wrote: »

Honestly, I only stream movies... never download them.

Humour me. Explain how you can stream without downloading

Mark_In_Hampshire

!!!!!! wrote: »

Humour me. Explain how you can stream without downloading

It may be based on the supposition that the streamed files are not saved to or stored on the user's machine. That may or may not be true - you'd be surprised what's in your "Temporary Files" cache.

bod1467

If you are streaming then you are uploading. Uploading is "sharing", thus infringement of copyright material. (Unless you only ever stream copyright-free material).

System

I assumed that what was meant was streamed from the site to the PC. This is still downloading. So whether it is up or down it is an infringement

TagEHeuer

!!!!!! wrote: »

Humour me. Explain how you can stream without downloading

Umm, it's pretty simple. I watch them online. I don't download. :j

!!!!!! wrote: »

I assumed that what was meant was streamed from the site to the PC. This is still downloading. So whether it is up or down it is an infringement

I still find it easier to watch it online, I've never heard of someone getting in trouble for watching online, only downloading them, etc.

visidigi

WillEH wrote: »

Umm, it's pretty simple. I watch them online. I don't download. :j



I still find it easier to watch it online, I've never heard of someone getting in trouble for watching online, only downloading them, etc.

Oh dear, ignorance is bliss...If its streamed its downloaded, just becuase you do not save the file locally the process of downloading still occurs for the file to be shown on the end users screen.

They go after people in turn, they used to go after the people selling in the pub, then when the P2P took off they started going after them...just because you've never heard of someone being prosecuted for it doesn't make it legal.

kwikbreaks

WillEH wrote: »

I've never heard of someone getting in trouble for watching online

Those falling foul of ACS Law were targeted because they were using torrents or other P2P which uploads as well as downloads and reveals your public IP to others in the swarm. Some streaming is in fact P2P.

ACS Law were harvesting IPs by participating in the swarms and getting client details from ISPs so they could send their letters asking for restitution rather than face a civil court.

Copyright infringement via downloading and streaming is a civil matter. It becomes criminal if you start knocking out bootleg DVDs at the local car boot etc.