[TV] Is downloading TV shows Illegal?

[Deleted]

I think that if you just watch it online, but don't torrent it, you'll be fine.

[Yasuda]

It is illegal, and most certainly do not download anything while you're using your university's connection. Most universities outright ban the use of torrents; and even if they don't, if they see any suspicious activity (like mass downloading gigs worth of material at once) you're bound to get a warning at least.

[Crush]

If it is ... I am so deeply fucked ....

[Deleted]

once again to stop speculation:

in most EU countries the illegal act is to not download for private use, i.e upload the material, which you do by using torrents and seeding or likewise upload. if you download from a server without uploading that is for private use and copyright laws are no longer in effect.

[Lagwin]

Depends on how you look at it, my personal view is that TV shows in particular will eventually reach terrestrial TV in the UK and since we already pay a hefty TV license it should be treated the same as recording it off the TV yourself, true you are getting to watch it a little in advance.
I think their main worry is that people download it then archive it and dont bother buying DVD/Blu-ray's.

[Yasuda]

If something is freely broadcast over the air with no payment required, then I cannot see how downloading it is illegal.

You have to pay for cable. It's not free.

[Deleted]

My first year at college before I transferred was quite similar. I had to get permission to use WoW and XboX Live. Many sites were throttled. There was an absolutely ridiculous file sharing program that was going on though. It essentially allowed us to access the music libraries of everyone in our housing area and share files that way. I must have pirated damn near 200 cds that year lol.

Haha, I just remembered that when I was in Canada on a ski instructor course, people had that share system up automatically because their laptops weren't secured (i.e. public access) so you could access their files. Was so funny seeing the amount of porn on that, a lot of people weren't tech-savvy so they didn't really know how to secure their files or/and not share.

[schwarzkopf]

people pay for tv. aka cable.

None of the stuff I ever see via BT is on cable service here. We get 2 yr old shows at best (except for movies).

That is - I cannot pay for it, so there is no loss to the company when I don't.

Movies on the otherhand are available to purchase here... which is why I do.

[Deleted]

Almost everything you download is illegal.
Does that prevent people from downloading?
Ofc not.

Not that you can get a jail/money fine in my country for it though(Netherlands).
They just yell its not allowed but dont do anything

[schwarzkopf]

You have to pay for cable. It's not free.

Is it broadcast anywhere ? If so it is broadcast, and can be watched for free.

[Vasz]

In England it is (and always has been) illegal to record the BBC. And yet VCR's were in every home. The same with MP3's now days. Things like Top Gear has to be free, you can watch it all on Youtube lol

[Doylez]

once again to stop speculation:

in most EU countries the illegal act is to not download for private use, i.e upload the material, which you do by using torrents and seeding or likewise upload. if you download from a server without uploading that is for private use and copyright laws are no longer in effect.

Right, it's the uploading that gets you in trouble, but nobody cares about downloading. Good thing there are ways to disable your upload for torrents.

[Deleted]

Right, it's the uploading that gets you in trouble, but nobody cares about downloading. Good thing there are ways to disable your upload for torrents.

well tbf it's nice to see that the lobbies and whatnot have managed to successfully scare people into "downloading = illegal"
just as you're allowed to use a photographer's copyrighted picture as a wallpaper on your computer you are allowed to download a movie and watch it for private use (at least in most EU countries, I can't speak for USA as their laws in general differs greatly).

you are not allowed to spread the material tho, as that is no longer for private use, i.e uploading even a kilobyte of a movie is illegal. downloading the entire thing is not.

I would also like to point out if that movies are best watched at the cinema with friends and loved ones.

[Fuzzzie]

Going to stop right here.

Different countries have different laws, and your experiences may vary. I would suggest looking into your own countries legislation on the matter.

As a rule, MMO-Champion doesn't condone discussions of illegal or potentially illegal subject matter.