Regarding illegal downloading?

Question

I understand why downloading music, films etc is illegal, my question is regarding TV series such as Dr Who and Heroes. I don't watch much TV and I certainly am not given to revolving my life around a programme schedule, which I'd have to for series' as they always carry on the story through each episode. I'm aware of 'catch up' sites but again the shows are only there for a limited time, nor do I have Sky + or any tv recording equipment. So, given all this and the fact that I pay my TV license why should I not download series' to watch once then delete?

Answer 1

it`s only copyright material that`s illegal i think normal T.v. is fine. i.e you can record them legally  to keep so i`m assuming its o.k..

Answer 2

Its a grey area.

If you download TV programs, watch them and then delete them, TECHNICALLY that is legal, because your simply 'timeshifting', just as you do when you record with your video/dvd recorder or PVR. However, because the file you've downloaded is free of DRM, if you were found to have downloaded it (which is very unlikely tbh...) then that is illegal, because you COULD technically keep that file, and you have no proof that you were going to delete it

If you keep them, then thats illegal, because obviously if your downloading and keeping programs that 'affects DVD sales' as music downloads 'affect music sales' (although many reports have shown that the biggest downloaders of music are also some of the biggest purchasers of music.....)

Even programmes on the BBC are not allowed to be downloaded, even though you pay the licence fee, because DVD sales are through BBC's commercial arm 'BBC Worldwide' who make money through DVD sales and advertising revenue through foreign channels and the UKTV channels (and also Dave) and money is pumped back into the regular BBC. So in the eyes of the law your 'stealing revenue off of BBC Worldwide'

anyway they're 'cracking down' on music at the moment by sending out letters.....and not a lot else. so TV downloading is even lower on the list that it was before. if you get a letter about it then stop..... at least our country gives people a warning instead of the USA which goes straight for the lawsuit.....

Answer 3

Just becasue you buy a ticket to a concert doesn't mean you can pirate the artist's CD.

Really, nothing is stopping you and you probably will not get caught, if the copyright holder isn't giving permission, it is really ok.

Answer 4

Because you are not paying for any type of license. You are simply paying the cable company to make money off of you, and deliver it to your house. when you watch tv, you watch ads. When you download, you watch no ads and no one gets paid for making the show.

If you want to catch up on a series, get netflix or get it on itunes.

Answer 5

TV shows are illegal to download too. The stations pay for permission to broadcast the shows, and these expenses are paid for by the ads you have to watch. When you download a show you don't pay the copyright holders, so it's illegal.

Illegal doesn't necessarily mean immoral though. If I were to decide, I'd say to download whatever you want. You can even call it "civil disobedience" and consider yourself a political activist :)

Answer 6

the only way its  illegal

you sell after you download

that's what copy rights apply to

download all u want as long as you don't sell anything  it'll be kool

Answer 7

Obviously it should be noted that most major networks will now allow you to stream their popular tv shows on the internet...meaning you don't have to d/l them. Also the correct answer is the material IS COPYRIGHTED...so by downloading the show you are unlawfully obtaining copyrighted material...That is the "issue" but in the grand scheme of things the people most likely to face consequences of this behavior are those Uploading the files to filesharing sites...because they are illegally redistributing copyrighted material.

Answer 8

You need to own the licence to whatever you're downloading and if it is copyright then everytime you download it you break the law if you don't own the copyright or the licence, but it is ok to download it as a sample to watch or listen to if its music but it must be deleted off your system no longer than 24 hours after you downloaded it..

Its like downloading an album listening to a few songs and thinking yea i like this album i will delete it off my system and go and buy it...that apparently is legal

so hands up who seriously does that?????

Answer 9

Because the people who created the show don't get paid.  That includes the cast, guest stars, writers, directors, and plenty of others.  That's the point of streaming videos hosted by the network or production company.  On top of that, when you view the legal stream then you can get counted in the ratings, which helps keep the show alive.

Why not just buy used DVDs?  They're cheap, and you can resell them when you're done.

Answer 10

I haven't checked since Heroes went on break (seems like forever), but NBC hosted all the episodes right on their site.  Not sure about Dr Who.

I think the reason they aren't available as downloads is that NBC applies advertisements to the site to compensate for the access.  Generally when you watch the show in the scheduled time slot, you are subjected to commercials during the show.  The same thing happens in the online viewing format.  Commercials fund our viewing of these shows (same with radio).