iptv4free Wrote:In this forum every body is discussing how we can get and watch channels for free, but no one is discussing the legal issue about this process. I started this thread for all members to express their opinion and how we do it or work around it to be legal or close to it. this is some of the questions to be discussed:
* Is it legal to watch payed content for free?
* Is it legal to stream the content?
* Is legal to host a playlist?
* Is it legal to the get the URL or link of the channel?
* How we do it legally?
* How we work around it?
* and so on, please express your opinion
This is based on the Uk and all laws are subject to your own country etc. Its a very brief overview of your questions and not going into a whole lot of detail.
What you want to look into is Intellectual Property Law. But like many laws, they vary from country-to-country. For example you are NOT breaching copywright law by making a digital backup of something you OWN. You are legally allowed to view media content that is entitled to you. It is for this reason that sites offering live streams of freeview channels are rarely challanged by tv networks. Take as an example offical live streaming of a channel (bbc, ITV, SKY etc) during live streaming of their channels, they will block out shows and films that they do not have the license for. When that channel is streamed thrid party, for exaple TvCatchup they are broadcasting from their own streams, thus do not have the blackout restrictions within them. It is then technically breaking Ip law as they do not have permission to broadcast the part os the stream the channel are not allowed to stream online. But the channel will never challange it. It would cost too much and for not much reason at all. If the production company or movie studio that own that stream have an issue, then something would be done. But mostly they don't really bother or care.
When it come to rebroadcasts of premium items like sports, channels set to loose out of revenue. This is because if your watching a stream of Sky Sports online, your not paying Sky for a Sky SPort subscription. Now, this is a grey area within the media industry at the moment. Just because your watching it online and not paying Sky, does not mean you would have paid Sky for the privledge. There is no evidence by watching that stream Sky is loosing money. This is why by watching a stream you will never be sought after, or punished. Every lawyer, producer... everyone in the industry has a different stand point. Its too much of a grey area. Same goes with the debate of watching films online, there is no direct link between you watching a film online and not going to see said film.
The music Industry accepted this approach a few years back and accepted giving content away for free/trialing content as it actually makes people increase the likely hood of a purchase. If you listen to a track/watch a film and like it, your more likely to purchase a cd/dvd/leagal download of the content etc.
The main issue comes from lost revenue and proof of lost revenue. Sites that offer a 'premium' service and stream sporting events behind a paywall are profiting from someone elses work. Thus, it breaks IP law. Sites that offer a legal looking site and dupe people into signing up are breaking certain sections under Fraud. You could get into the fact the tax man would be on your back for any undeclared earnings you have and could easily audit and take you to court on those charges.
To sum up, if you are watching or hosting a link to a stream and are not profiting or without doubt taking revenue from a channel you will be fine. That is very general and does depend on your country and what the stream actually is.