Is Streaming Movies Legal

Need a new show to binge.

Is streaming movies legal. You the user will never be arrested or fined for simply viewing streamed content online. The owners of the streaming sites are almost impossible to find and arrest. Streaming movies and other media through platforms like Zoom and Discord is easy and fun and it provides a small modicum of normality in this abnormal era of social distancing.

Outside of these cases accessing unlicensed streamed content is generally legal. The sites are usually just shut down. If youre caught illegally streaming videos online you could face a fine of 750 or more according to criminal defense attorney Matt Huppertz in Waukesha Wisconsin.

When you buy rent or stream a movie you obtain a copy of that movie but you do not receive the underlying copyright to that movie. Legit Free Movie Streaming Sites While the world of Internet streaming can be scary there are many free services that are legitimate. Ad Watch Popular TV Shows and Movies Without DownloadingNo Payment Necessary.

Ad Get all three for one great price. Depending on the site and file type online streaming may create a full-length temporary copy of the movie on your computer. Some courts have held that even temporary copies may violate the law.

Movies are protected by copyright law. You do not have to check whether a free service is legal. If a streaming site is offering a film that is still in theaters or hasnt hit home video yet theres a good chance its illegal.

In particular you generally cannot show the movie to the public without permission or a license. On the other side of the screen however uploading or posting unlicensed streamed content is illegal even if. There is currently no definitive answer to this question.