Watching videos illegally uploaded on YouTube?

[Jeikobu]

I've wondered about this for a while, and [http://www.cnet.com/news/legal-liability-for-youtube-viewers/]this article[/url] has added to my concerns (though it is an old article). So simply put, if a video is illegally uploaded to YouTube, is it considered against the law to watch it? I know it's illegal to upload such videos, but what about watching them? I'm not even asking so much about if I'd get in trouble for it; I simply wish not to break the law. So is watching illegally uploaded videos just something the companies wouldn't want me to do, or is it actually really illegal?

[DB83]

Ask a lawyer. And no two lawyers would agree since law is open to interpretation.

Since 50+% of yt's content is subject to copyright infringement, if you want to even avoid the minor risk of a visit from the feds for watching then just do not go there.

[glenpinn]

I reckon that if someone puts a video in Youtube, you have the right to watch it, regardless if it is illegal, as it is not your problem, it is the uploaders problem for being a lame ass twit in the first place, and it is also a problem for Youtube to sort it out.

[Jeikobu]

That sounds more like you are stating your opinion then giving facts. Am I wrong?

[DB83]

There are no facts here. Only opinion.

Until some copyright holder actually takes someone to court over this - it is called 'Case-law' - then it is just opinion and threat.

But if such a case ever went to court then I would expect the hoster, in this example Google, to have a say in the matter since it could mean an end to all such video hosting sites. Not that copyright holders would mind that.

Remember how such services started - for users to share their own filmed video. How much of that do you see these days? Google do this since it makes money for them. That encourages people to share. That creates views and those views come with the attached advertising. Once such services are deemed 'illegal' then the advertisers go and the service stops.

[theewizard]

there is lots of user generated content on youtube, i don't know what the percentage is
i watch a bunch of stuff every week, and subscribe to several youtube uploaders
of course i am watching "How to" stuff on a variety of subjects,
and short films by hobbyists and independents
some day some of these people will be start directors, Lucas and Speilberg started as hobbyist

anyway to the OP
the copyright holders say you are not supposed to watch, their movies via youtube
BUT the feds are too busy to knock on your door because you do

[Frank-0-Video]

Greetings ....

Since that sort of stuff is on YouTube (or any other video provider where such uploads may occur), I'm sure you realize that the videos can be downloaded and saved to your computer and/or portable storage device. You can freely play them over and over at any time and share them with anyone you choose. That's a lotta moola slipping out of the legit owners hands.

[WazaKrash]

there is rumor like if the Youtube uploader of the "illegal movie" have enough like for his vid, Youtube don't erase it.

[lordsmurf]

Simply using the word "illegal" is wrong.
The whole question is framed wrong, and makes no actual sense.

[JVRaines]

The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has held that "as long as the visitor makes no copy of the copyrighted video that he is watching, he is not violating the copyright owner’s exclusive right." (Flava Works v. Gunter, 2012)

[Frank-0-Video]

Greetings ....

The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has held that "as long as the visitor makes no copy of the copyrighted video that he is watching, he is not violating the copyright owner’s exclusive right." (Flava Works v. Gunter, 2012)

No Copy ??? -- Then what do you call downloading the MP4/FLV/WEBM or whatever file ??

Forgive Me Mayor Max M Cooper !! I have sinned before Man, God and Thee !! (and countless times, too)

[theewizard]

the OP did not ask about saving/downloading

the OP only ask about watching