Legal and moral issues over watching a "pirated" video?

[techs]

Let's say a movie that hasn't been released on bluray yet is posted on Youtube.
You know that there is no way the movies owners would let youtube show their new movie for free.

So, you know it's a pirated copy.

Is it legally ok to watch something you believe is being illegally shown? Is it morally ok to watch it since Youtube hasn't taken it down?

We have a thread currently active concerning the morality/legality here.
admin allisolm

 

[olds]

Is it in HD?

 

[poofyhairguy]

Legally is a wash. It might technically be against a law that has never been enforced, but would be impossible to enforce in this case. Hence the "need" for SOPA, PIPA, etc.

Morally is the big one. In this age of moral relativism the immorality of piracy really depends person to person, but overall if you feel it is piracy then it probably is.

 

[rudder]

Those Hollywood moguls didn't make that movie.... Everyone made that movie. So I would watch it.

 

[sourceninja]

Legally, downloading is fine. Uploading however (sharing) is illegal.

Morally, that depends on your morals now doesn't it? I have no issues pirating content I can't legally unencumbered online (like how I can't get HBO go without cable and without comcast...)

I gladly pay for netflix, hulu, and even seasons on Amazon VOD, but if I can't get the content quickly, easily, and unencumbered (watch on any device) then I'm just going to take it.

 

[poofyhairguy]

but if I can't get the content quickly, easily, and unencumbered (watch on any device) then I'm just going to take it.

That attitude terrifies the media conglomerates.

 

[Newbian]

With how slow youtube is I would hate to wait for all the buffering.

 

[mmntech]

That attitude terrifies the media conglomerates.

It took the music industry a very long time to figure that one out. It took ten years between Napster's launch and iTunes making their content available DRM free. Which is why mass music piracy lasted as long as it did.

People have multiple screens, and they want easy access to platform agnostic content. Video providers are digging their heels in trying desperately to hold on to the old way of doing things. Something's gotta give eventually. Problem is they have stronger government backing that RIAA ever did. Especially big cable.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Nope.

On a similar note; I hate Ultraviolet. Any chances it will die anytime soon??

 

[poofyhairguy]

It took the music industry a very long time to figure that one out. It took ten years between Napster's launch and iTunes making their content available DRM free. Which is why mass music piracy lasted as long as it did.

I would argue that the centralization around iTunes did more than anything. The music industry's future became controlled by Apple so they were willing to do ANYTHING (such as give Amazon DRM-free mp3s) to get back some control and decentralization.

I feel like that there is no one "Apple" to make the content providers behave, no matter how much Netflix and Amazon want to fill that roll.

Problem is they have stronger government backing that RIAA ever did. Especially big cable.

And distribution is easier than ever either.

The way around this whole mess is to get everyone hooked on new content not tied to these companies. That is easier said than done, but Netflix is making progress.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I think the following is more bewildering in the morals department.

Lead programmer chastises an underling for using a heavily modified version of Windows XP they got via nntp. Yet he admits to skirting renting or buying movies on DVD as he always 'borrows' them from his friend. He does this almost daily, too. I've seen him with like 5-6 DVDs in movie rental or retail sale packaging in his hand.

He fails to see the difference. He's morally corrupt in my book (and I'm not saying I'm morally righteous).

 

[gevorg]

My morals have much bigger fish to fry.

 

[wabbitslayer]

I think it is morally wrong to watch a movie on youtube simply because the quality is massively disrespectful to the director's vision of the film.

That's why I only grab high bit rate x264s...

 

[TridenT]

I think the following is more bewildering in the morals department.

Lead programmer chastises an underling for using a heavily modified version of Windows XP they got via nntp. Yet he admits to skirting renting or buying movies on DVD as he always 'borrows' them from his friend. He does this almost daily, too. I've seen him with like 5-6 DVDs in movie rental or retail sale packaging in his hand.

He fails to see the difference. He's morally corrupt in my book (and I'm not saying I'm morally righteous).

Wait, what? He actually steals the physical copies of the DVD?

OP, I don't see copying media online as stealing. I find it morally acceptable. In all the cases that I can recall, I would never buy the music, movies, or games even if piracy wasn't an option. So, there's no loss of sale from my end either. Regardless, loss of potential sale isn't an actual loss. (Where as stealing is)

 

[skagen5555]

It's funny how everyone hates this generation of entitlement, yet attitudes towards media goods is that of "entitlement". If I can't get it cause they refuse to "give it to me the way i want", i'll get it any way i can/want cause i'm "entitled" to it.

 

[Rakehellion]

It's illegal and amoral. But I'm not a cop so I don't give a fuck.

 

[momeNt]

WGAF

That's my thoughts on the matter. Happy viewing.

 

[slayer202]

na, I want to get to the point where the only movies that get made are comic book movies. and then I'll pirate pdfs of the comics

 

[destrekor]

Nope.

On a similar note; I hate Ultraviolet. Any chances it will die anytime soon??

You hate the one random free bonus that the studios gave us?

Seriously? What, you hate seeing the words Ultraviolet on the package and the code inside?

I don't envision using the offer all that frequently, if ever, because I'm a snob who wants the Blu-ray experience/quality when I actually buy a Blu-ray... but I won't turn down free bonuses like the ability to watch that same video anywhere, without the disc in hand, and on devices that don't even have the ability to use a disc.

 

[moonbogg]

Whats wrong with it besides stealing?

 

[norseamd]

It's funny how everyone hates this generation of entitlement, yet attitudes towards media goods is that of "entitlement". If I can't get it cause they refuse to "give it to me the way i want", i'll get it any way i can/want cause i'm "entitled" to it.

and how everyone wants to be hip and cool by hating entitlement of corrupt accountants and fraudulantly sustained private jets and hypocritical morality and cronyism and wasteful lifestyles

 

[ImpulsE69]

I hate asparagus. Just sayin.

 

[ViRGE]

Is it legally ok to watch something you believe is being illegally shown? Is it morally ok to watch it since Youtube hasn't taken it down?

No and no. Legally it is copyright infringement, and morally it's still copyright infringement.

 

[Dirigible]

Big content owners have declared war on the public by buying the copyright laws. Copyright that is effectively eternal, DMCA, etc. Continued attempts to pass SOPA-like legislation shows we are still under attack.

It is completely moral to fight back by ignoring those copyright laws.

If you wish to reward a content creator, do so. But unless and until copyright laws regain some sanity, there is nothing immoral in breaking them.

 

[norseamd]

Big content owners have declared war on the public by buying the copyright laws. Copyright that is effectively eternal, DMCA, etc. Continued attempts to pass SOPA-like legislation shows we are still under attack. It is completely moral to fight back by ignoring those copyright laws. If you wish to reward a content creator, do so. But unless and until copyright laws regain some sanity, there is nothing immoral in breaking them.

qft