Watching movies online is NOT illegal

[TheToad263]

I think I was given an infraction because of the misconception that watching movies online is illegal. I was told not to discuss illegal activities (although I was not told what those "illegal activities" are) and the only guess I have is that I made a post discussing a web site that allows you to watch movies online for free. Now, im sure the mod who deleted the post and gave me the infraction assumed that the web site I was talking about it illegal, I wanted to clear the record and tell everyone that it is NOT. That specific website is not hosted in this country and therefor it is not subject to our countries (the USA) or any other countries law, other than the law of the country/s that the web site is hosted in. Also, since the movies that are posted to that web site are also not posted in the US or any other country with laws making it illegal to do so. All I am doing in the United States is simply clicking on a link and using my eyes and ears to view/listen to a flash video. Now if I were to copy a movie on my video camera and then post it to that web site from the United States.... then that would be considered illegal. However, I am not doing that. In fact I am not posting anything to that site whatsoever. I dont really care if they don't take my infraction away, but it would be nice when they give you an infraction if they tell you what the heck they are giving you one for... instead of making you guess. Perhaps I should never question the mods of this site and simply

 

[BigYoSpeck]

Read the DMCA, we live in draconian times and something like that could get this site replaced with a not so friendly:

 

[Northstar]

Just because it's hosted in another country doesn't mean it's suddenly not illegal.

Also, this.

 

[porkchop87]

lol, I love all the loopholes and rationalizations people come up with... that's why our economies are in the 🤬...

The US doesn't manufacture anything anymore... their major export now is entertainment... if you rape them of that with your downloading of music, video games, television and movies then how can people make money? If you don't give a crap about the moral issue, at least think about what kind of destruction you'll be helping create in the long run...

/steps off of soapbox

 

[BigYoSpeck]

The morals of it are a completely different debate. I think the guy just needs to realise why the site is so strict even though in his opinion no law is actually being breached.

The DMCA isn't intended to stop torrenting or streaming sites, quite simply people who know how to find them will always do. The key to the DMCA is the safe harbour:

In order to qualify for safe harbor protection, a service provider who hosts content must:

• have no knowledge of, or financial benefit from, infringing activity on its network
• have a copyright policy and provide proper notification of that policy to its subscribers
• list an agent to deal with copyright complaints

In other words so long as this site effectively moderates posts such as those linking to unlawful distributed copyright material it is fine. If they turn a blind eye and they end up on the next list of sites to be shut down then they are pretty much boned.

I'm not saying it's right but a GT forum is not the site to fight the power.

 

[a6m5]

This really should be in the opinion forum.

Like Justin posted, even if the activity is considered legit in some country, you are still participating in an activity that is illegal where you live.

As for GTP "fighting the power", this isn't really up to you or me to decide. We did agree to the AUP in exchange for participation. It's not really fair to join, then decide that you don't actually agree with it.

 

[Delphic Reason]

This is wrong on so many levels... I don't think I need to go into detail, as others have so for me.

This thread is CLOSED.