If you’ve ever found yourself scouring the internet for an authorized place to watch your favorite movie, show, or sports team, you’ve probably encountered some hardships. Whether that difficulty is due to a lack of subscription to a stream provider or a blackout in your area, this can leave you with a disappointing feeling as you’re left to watch something less desirable.
But, if you decide that no is not an acceptable answer, you may have found yourself in a less-than-official looking website which lets you watch what you want – if this is you, you are not alone as unauthorized streams are accessed over 200 billion times annually. Naturally, this seems like it must be too good to be true as other sources stated access was unavailable or would come at a cost. Thus, a conclusion could be made, and a reasonable one at that, that the website must be illegal and that your viewing is breaking the law.
You are free to stream at your own risk, but don’t say you haven’t been warned.
(Video) শাকিব খানকে নিয়ে যা বললেন বুবলী
Well, I’m here to let you know that that conclusion is true…somewhat. The Copyright Act of 1976 grants copyright holders’ exclusive rights to distribute their work, but it only applies to public performances. That being said, there is a stark difference between watching a stream by yourself and hosting a party using one of these unauthorized streams – the watch party could be considered a public performance and thus creating criminal liability while the private viewing has never been held to be a public performance. Furthermore, the Act distinguishes between simple the streaming of content and the actual downloading of the same content – streaming privately is not a violation but any downloading of the content most certainly is insofar as that is the creation of a copy. The Act further explains that copying and distributing these steams is a criminal violation, but again, the courts have held that simple private viewing of the stream does not constitute the creation of a copy and is thus not a violation.
So, in total, those who host the illegal streams are most certainly in violation of copyright laws and can be prosecuted, but it’s highly unlikely a simple stream viewer will be found liable, but it’s certainly not impossible. You may be thinking to yourself that this all sounds great, what’s the catch? Well, there are a few catches. Firstly, these streaming sites are prime “feeding” grounds for hackers looking to steal your data or login credentials. Secondly, the owner of the copyright could sue you personally under Section 553 which prohibits persons from intercepting or receiving “any communications service offered over a cable system, unless specifically authorized to do so.” In 2014, the <a href="http://<!– wp:paragraph –> <p>So, in total, those who host the illegal streams are most certainly in violation of copyright laws and can be prosecuted, but it’s highly unlikely a simple stream viewer will be found liable, but it’s certainly not impossible. So, you may be thinking to yourself that this all sounds great, what’s the catch? Well, there are a few catches. Firstly, these streaming sites are prime “feeding” grounds for hackers looking to steal your data or login credentials. Secondly, the owner of the copyright could sue you personally under Section 553 which prohibits persons from intercepting or receiving “any communications service offered over a cable system, unless specifically authorized to do so.” In 2014, the UFC successfully sued one person for $12,000 who viewed a pay-per view stream on one of these unauthorized streaming websites. (<a href="https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/2/11/5402548/ufc-won-steaming-lawsuit-individual">https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/2/11/5402548/ufc-won-steaming-lawsuit-individual</a>.) Lastly, you run a huge risk of having both very strange ads appear on your computer as well as the potential that viruses could be downloaded on your computer. So, in summary, if you privately watch a stream, as of now there would be no criminal charges that could be brought upon you. Where you get in trouble criminally is when you download the content or play it in public. Aside from criminal prosecution is the civil side of unauthorized streaming where the copyright holder could very well sue you and hold you liable to pay a hefty fine. Another thing to look out for is a new bill has been introduced to Legislation (by North Carolina’s very own Thom Tillis) called the “Protect Lawful Streaming Act” which targets these illegal streams, but it focuses on the commercial, for-profit streaming piracy services. If this bill were to be passed, its violation is a felony that could come with a hefty fine or prison sentence – but again, this doesn’t cover the private viewers of streams.</p> <!– /wp:paragraph –>" data-type="URL" data-id="<!– wp:paragraph –> <p>So, in total, those who host the illegal streams are most certainly in violation of copyright laws and can be prosecuted, but it’s highly unlikely a simple stream viewer will be found liable, but it’s certainly not impossible. So, you may be thinking to yourself that this all sounds great, what’s the catch? Well, there are a few catches. Firstly, these streaming sites are prime “feeding” grounds for hackers looking to steal your data or login credentials. Secondly, the owner of the copyright could sue you personally under Section 553 which prohibits persons from intercepting or receiving “any communications service offered over a cable system, unless specifically authorized to do so.” In 2014, the UFC successfully sued one person for $12,000 who viewed a pay-per view stream on one of these unauthorized streaming websites. (<a href="https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/2/11/5402548/ufc-won-steaming-lawsuit-individual">https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/2/11/5402548/ufc-won-steaming-lawsuit-individual</a>.) Lastly, you run a huge risk of having both very strange ads appear on your computer as well as the potential that viruses could be downloaded on your computer. So, in summary, if you privately watch a stream, as of now there would be no criminal charges that could be brought upon you. Where you get in trouble criminally is when you download the content or play it in public. Aside from criminal prosecution is the civil side of unauthorized streaming where the copyright holder could very well sue you and hold you liable to pay a hefty fine. Another thing to look out for is a new bill has been introduced to Legislation (by North Carolina’s very own Thom Tillis) called the “Protect Lawful Streaming Act” which targets these illegal streams, but it focuses on the commercial, for-profit streaming piracy services. If this bill were to be passed, its violation is a felony that could come with a hefty fine or prison sentence – but again, this doesn’t cover the private viewers of streams.</p> UFC successfully sued one person for $12,000 who viewed a pay-per view stream on one of these unauthorized streaming websites. Lastly, you run a huge risk of having both very strange ads appear on your computer as well as the potential that viruses could be downloaded on your computer. In summary, if you privately watch a stream, as of now there would be no criminal charges that could be brought upon you. Where you get in trouble criminally is when you download the content or play it in public. Aside from criminal prosecution is the civil side of unauthorized streaming where the copyright holder could very well sue you and hold you liable to pay a hefty fine. Another thing to look out for is a new bill has been introduced to Legislation (by North Carolina’s very own Thom Tillis) called the “Protect Lawful Streaming Act” which targets these illegal streams, but it focuses on the commercial, for-profit streaming piracy services. If this bill were to be passed, its violation is a felony that could come with a hefty fine or prison sentence – but again, this doesn’t cover the private viewers of streams.
If the potential legal claims that could be brought against you are not enough to deter you from watching unauthorized streams, perhaps ethical reasons will appeal to you. Every year, the U.S. economy loses at least $30 billion dollars annually in revenue because of unauthorized sharing of their content. Furthermore, watching these streams is more or less theft which, I would assume most of us, are against. All in all, you are free to stream at your own risk, but don’t say you haven’t been warned.
Tage Rustgi
FAQs
Is it Illegal to Watch Unauthorized Television Streams Online? ›
If you're simply watching a stream of unlicensed content, you're not technically breaking the law. Where it becomes a crime is if you download the movie or show or host a stream yourself.
What happens if you use illegal streaming sites? ›You also risk being exposed to dangerous malware and/or the risk of fraud and data theft. This risk increases significantly when you exchange credit or debit card information to view content on unregulated and pirate-run websites.
What is the illegal streaming service? ›So what are IPTV services? In short, an IPTV service is an illegal live TV streaming service promising to give you all the big networks like ESPN but for a fraction of the cost of legal services. Since that law past back in 2020, multiple IPTV services have been targeted for legal action, both civil and criminal.
Are all streaming sites illegal? ›It is completely legal to stream movies for free online, as long as the website you're using owns the distribution rights for the content you're watching. In fact, there are dozens of websites with free movies that are safe and completely legal to use.
Can you get in trouble for streaming PPV? ›The commercial exhibition of pay-per-view programming without obtaining commercial licensing rights violates federal laws and is illegal.
Do you need a VPN for illegal streaming? ›Many VPN users will turn to a VPN to help remain anonymous so that they can effectively engage in illegal or legally gray area streaming activities. A VPN service will hide copyright infringement activities, but it won't protect users who are caught even after using a VPN service.
How much do illegal streaming sites make? ›Illegal Streaming Sites Earn Over a Billion a Year in Ad Revenue / Digital Information World.
How do you know if a website is illegal? ›- 1 | Carefully Look at the Address Bar and URL. ...
- 2 | Check the Contact Page. ...
- 3 | Review the Company's Social Media Presence. ...
- 4 | Double Check the Domain Name. ...
- 5 | Look Up the Domain Age. ...
- 6 | Watch for Poor Grammar and Spelling. ...
- 7 | Verify the Website Privacy Policy.
How is it that some really famous illegal streaming sites don't get shut down or sued? Because they are located in countries that do not actively enforce copyright law and don't cooperate with foreign investigation or extradition.
Is piracy for personal use legal? ›The copy is just for your personal use. It's not a personal use – in fact, it's illegal – to give away the copy or lend it to others for copying. The owners of copyrighted music have the right to use protection technology to allow or prevent copying.
Is 123Movies legal? ›
Using 123Movies is illegal in most cases. Every country and region has its own stance on pirating copyrighted content, but most try to protect intellectual property by outlawing the downloading (and therefore streaming) of copyrighted content. However, some countries allow it for personal use.
What's 123Movies called now? ›The original name, and URL, was 123movies.to, which changed to other domains including 123movies.is before redirecting to gomovies.to and later gomovies.is.
Is StreamEast legal? ›One of the well-known places for free live sports streaming is StreamEast. This platform is not exactly legal in some countries — which means it can come with legal consequences. However, this article will help you how to watch live sports on StreamEast safely. LEGAL NOTE: Countries have different VPN laws.
What does PPV mean streaming? ›Pay-Per-View (PPV) actually means exactly what it sounds like. When you add PPV to a package, you have the ability to watch shows on a pay per view basis—meaning, you pay for each individual show that you watch on that specific PPV channel.
Has anyone been prosecuted for streaming UFC? ›Website Operator Charged with Illegal Streaming of UFC Events and Other Sports. HSI agents arrested Bryan McCarthy of Deer Park, Texas, for illegally streaming NFL, NHL, NBA, WWE and UFC events. McCarthy pocketed more than $90,000 in profits from channelsurfing.net by charging online merchants to advertise on the site.
What happens if you do something illegal with a VPN? ›Unless you live in a country where VPNs are banned or restricted, you won't face a penalty for using a VPN. However, in the US and other countries where VPNs are allowed, you could face prosecution for any unlawful activities you carry out while using a VPN.
Can I be caught using VPN? ›Police can't track live, encrypted VPN traffic, but if they have a court order, they can go to your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and request connection or usage logs. Since your ISP knows you're using a VPN, they can direct the police to them.
Do streaming services detect VPN? ›Most streaming platforms keep a list of IP addresses belonging to known VPN services. This kind of blocking tends to be more effective against free VPNs or those with small networks since it's a dead giveaway when the same IP address is used to log into hundreds of Netflix accounts in a single 24-hour period.
Can anyone make money from streaming? ›The people who are getting rich by streaming are an incredibly small minority. On Twitch, for example, the top 1,000 channels get 53% of all viewing time. Big streamers can make between $3,000 and $6,000 per month, but small streamers (who have fewer than 100 viewers) earn anywhere from $50 to $1,500 per month.
Is illegal streaming unethical? ›By watching an illegal stream, you are essentially stealing content that someone else has paid for the rights to broadcast. This is not only unethical, but it could also result in legal consequences if you are caught.
Can I get in trouble for using Soap2Day? ›
It's important to note that while using Soap2Day to watch copyrighted content is illegal, simply visiting the site is not a crime. You won't get in trouble for simply visiting the website, but it's important to keep in mind that you may be breaking copyright law if you access any of the content available on Soap2Day.
Can you get sued for having a website? ›Could your website get you sued? The answer is “Yes!” Even if you don't slander anyone in your blog or steal anyone else's work, what's on your website — or maybe what's NOT on it — could get you sued.
Can websites be traced? ›Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can see everything you do online. They can track things like which websites you visit, how long you spend on them, the content you watch, the device you're using, and your geographic location.
How often do people get caught for piracy? ›Current responses to online piracy do not meet the criteria to deter crime because of a lack of punishment. One estimate gave users only a one in 1,629 chance of frequent pirates being caught for online piracy (Mokey, 2009).
What counts as piracy? ›Piracy is the illegal copying and selling of DVDs and CDs. Money generated by piracy is used by criminal gangs to fund the sale of drugs and guns. If you buy an illegal copy, the quality of the recording may be poor.
How much money is lost due to piracy? ›7. TV and film piracy costs the industry up to $71 billion annually. If we take a look at the US Chamber of Commerce's media piracy statistics in 2019, we can conclude that TV and film piracy costs the industry between $29 billion and $71 billion every year.
Can you go to jail for online piracy? ›What Are the Penalties for Piracy? Piracy is punished quite severely under U.S.C. 81. Most overt acts of piracy come with a mandatory minimum of life imprisonment, while most others carry a maximum of 10 years in prison—not to mention hefty fines in many cases.
Is Internet piracy a felony? ›The Law of Software Piracy
Software piracy is illegal in California under Penal Code Section 350. The law makes it a felony, punishable by either two, three, or five years in state prison, to take a trademarked product worth more than $400 and copy it without the trademark owner's permission.
You can be charged with the Internet crime of illegal streaming by watching these programs or listening to music. Penalties are ranging between $750.00 and $30,000.00 for those charged with watching illegal streaming.
Is it a crime to watch movies online for free? ›If you're simply watching a stream of unlicensed content, you're not technically breaking the law. Where it becomes a crime is if you download the movie or show or host a stream yourself.
Where can I watch free movies online illegally? ›
Moviesjoy. Free and illegal streaming site Moviesjoy offers pirated streaming content for free to users, who watch ads in exchange for content. In addition to being illegal to view, the content on Moviesjoy isn't always secure.
Has anyone went to jail for piracy? ›A 26-year-old California man who pleaded guilty last December to criminal copyright infringement charges was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison -- the longest U.S. sentence ever for software piracy -- for his role in illegally copying and selling pirated software (download PDF).
Is it illegal to download movies for personal use? ›Most songs and movies that appear on download or file–sharing websites are copyrighted. It is illegal to download any music or movies that are copyrighted. Downloading or file-sharing a copyrighted song or movie could expose you to a lawsuit for money damages that could cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Is gomovies Legal? ›There is also the possibility of DNS leaks and the configuration of a killswitch function, but, again, these websites are illegal to use and can be incredibly dangerous from the security point of view, so you should steer clear.
Do you need a VPN for 123Movies? ›Even if 123Movies is available in your country, you still need a VPN to protect yourself from cybercrime. CyberGhost VPN offers you an all-in-one subscription with international servers, fast speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and much more! Watch your favorite shows on 123Movies with peace of mind.
Is there a better site than 123Movies? ›- Putlocker.
- Primewire.
- FMovies.
- WatchFree.
- Vumoo.
- Rainierland.
- OnlineHDMovies.
- TinklePad.
The distinction to be made for streaming in public and an important note for live streaming, in general, is the “right of publicity” which dictates that any recorded video that's used for commercial or promotional purposes, requires the permission of individuals shown in the video.
What's better than Streameast? ›- streameast. app, with 7.1M visits, 42 authority score, 38.36% bounce rate.
- sportsurge.io, with 7.7M visits, 41 authority score, 30.85% bounce rate.
- sportsurge. club, with 21.9M visits, 44 authority score, 27.46% bounce rate.
It is the duplication and dissemination of copyrighted materials that is illegal. He is doing neither. Crackstreams are not illegal, but they are often considered to be illegal because they allow users to share copyrighted material without authorization.
Is pay per view still a thing? ›There has been an increasing number of pay-per-views distributed via streaming video online, either alongside or in lieu of carriage through television providers.
What is the difference between VOD and PPV? ›
What is the difference between Pay-Per-View and Video On Demand? Pay Per View (PPV) allows you to buy a program which is available through the electronic program guide. Video On Demand (VOD) allows you to buy a program which you can watch whenever you want within a period of 24 hours.
Are you allowed to stream fights on twitch? ›Violence and Threats
Acts and threats of violence are counterproductive to promoting a safe, inclusive, and friendly community. Violence on Twitch is taken seriously and is considered a zero-tolerance violation, and all accounts associated with such activities on Twitch will be indefinitely suspended.
You have every live event, including Fight Nights and the Pay Per View cards (but you need to pay extra for them, more on that below) and every prelim. Live Events from over 20 sports organizations. MMA, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Grappling...
What happens if you get caught pirating? ›A civil lawsuit could hold you responsible for thousands of dollars in damages. Criminal charges may leave you with a felony record, accompanied by up to five years of jail time and fines up to $250,000.
Is FMovies an illegal site? ›Is FMovies Legal or Illegal? These kinds of free streaming websites operate in a sort of legal grey area — but to put it simply, no, FMovies is not legal. In the USA at least, FMovies has been the subject of several lawsuits regarding trademark and copyright infringement.
Has anyone ever gone to jail for piracy? ›A 26-year-old California man who pleaded guilty last December to criminal copyright infringement charges was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison -- the longest U.S. sentence ever for software piracy -- for his role in illegally copying and selling pirated software (download PDF).
How long can you go to jail for movie piracy? ›Penalties for Piracy
Maximum penalties for misdemeanor copyright infringement are one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Maximum penalties for felony copyright infringement generally are: Commercial advantage or private financial gain: five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
There is also the possibility of DNS leaks and the configuration of a killswitch function, but, again, these websites are illegal to use and can be incredibly dangerous from the security point of view, so you should steer clear.
Is Popcornflix safe and legal? ›Is Popcornflix safe? Popcornflix is considered one of the safest free streaming services available. Unlike sites such as The Pirate Bay, it's also legitimate and legal.
Is Soap2Day illegal? ›Is it legal to use Soap2Day? No, it is not legal to use Soap2Day to stream movies and TV shows without the permission of the copyright owner. This puts users at risk of legal action and other consequences.