We all enjoy watching movies and TV shows, especially online because it is the most convenient way. The only mandatory thing is having a stable internet connection; everything else is not essential. You don’t have to purchase the DVD or Blu-Ray to watch, and you don’t have to wait for downloading. The streaming is the best way of watching free movies.
However, there are some problems when it comes to video streaming because many websites have unregulated content that is not certified by copyright organizations. Therefore, these activities can be illegal, because you risk exposing to malware and viruses. I also have a listing of free and legal places to watch TV online if you’re looking for your favorite show
Is streaming legal?
It is complicated to answer this particular question because it depends on video streaming website to website.
Some services such as Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime have certified contracts with major distributors that allow them to use their content and to provide to users. Of course, for that kind of service, we have to pay a membership which is approximately $10 per month for the high-quality resolution.
On the other hand, there are lots of free movie websites and video streaming services that will provide you pirated content which is not regulated by law. We have the moment where in the USA people have the six strikes before they get a decline in contract with ISP.
Millions of people still use those streaming services with unlicensed content. The central question is unauthorized content illegal to watch. Snagflims, Popcornflix, and Viewster are kind of movie streaming websites which are legal with free movie apps.
We have two examples in real life that will explain you this particular problem:
- Most of us browse the internet for some content that we are interested in. When you enter the website with unlicensed content and start streaming or downloading, you are entering the illegal world. However, no one can prosecute you except ISPs that could send you email warnings. It is a violation, but you are not responsible for the distribution of content. You entered the website because someone else did that. Of course, that means that you are a part of the illegal activity, but no one could cause you any problems because of that.
- On the other hand, when you post or upload unlicensed content that is a violation and illegal. It is an essential part of copyright law. When you upload some movie online, you are making a copy of it and provide people possibility to watch it online. That is a violation and you can get prosecuted because of it.
Some online streaming services try to avoid the hassle of copyright laws by not hosting their content, but acting more like meta-search engine that will provide you the possibility to find streamed content from the third-party website. In that case, only site or company can violate the law by disturbing content or encouraging users to enter the world of copyright violation.
It depends on the way website market its content or content from the third-party servers. For example, when you purchase a car, you can use it to drive a family every morning or to rob a bank. The car manufacturer is not responsible for giving you the possibility to use their car illegally. The same thing works for movie streaming websites.
These third-party websites violate copyright law, but they are not so big as primary sites, which aggregate the content. When you fight the central website, you won’t get the problem out of your way. You will just mask until the next sections come and take its place.
Are Free Movie Streaming Sites Illegal?
There are lots of ways to determine the legitimacy of movie streaming website. However, in last few years, the ad-supported business model became popular.
Similar to Popcornflix that will give you the possibility to watch licensed content directly by significant distributions and productions, but you will have to pass the frustrating ads.
That way they generate revenue by advertisements, and for that, they give you the possibility to enjoy in free movie streaming. The main downside of these websites is that there is a limited amount of content.
Conclusion:
Streaming is not a violation of copyright laws, and you as a viewer are completely protected from any prosecution. However, when you become uploader and person who distributes copies of copyright content, then you become a threat, and that could end up bad for you.Streaming is the future.
It doesn’t matter if you choose free movie streaming websites with the ad-supported business method or premium streaming services such as Netflix which are entirely ad-free but you have to pay for membership. In both cases, you will get the possibility to watch the content that you like.
Leave a Reply