Is It Technically Illegal to Watch Some Streamed Movies Online in Canada?

[TheHans]

This may have been asked and answered before, but I can't find a thread. I'm trying to figure out if, technically, it's illegal to use services like Let Me Watch This (for example) to stream movies online. I'm not thinking about the films that clearly just came out on the weekend and basically consist of a person with a hidden video camera recording the film at the theatre from his/her seat and then putting that on the Internet. I'm thinking more about films that are already out on DVD and someone puts that on the Internet. I'm not talking about selling it or giving it to someone else. I'm only thinking about going to a site like Let Me Watch This and finding a pretty current film like, say, "50/50" and simply watching it.

I "Googled" this question and really found no straight opinion, certainly not one based on legal facts. And anything I found was from at least two years ago. Does anyone have an answer to this question. Or is there a link you could direct me to that might answer the question?

[mariokarter]

Its not technically illegal, its definitively illegal.

[kinnkinn]

I dont think its illegal, only in the states.

[TheHans]

Its not technically illegal, its definitively illegal.

You may be correct, of course. But how do you know? That's what I'm getting at. As I said, I'm not talking about distributing nor keeping films. I'm only talking about watching what's there. It's not like sites like Let Me Watch This exist on the downlow. They're totally accessible. How do they exist in such an open way if what they offer is definitely illegal?

[mariokarter]

http://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/ccl/aboutCopyright.html#infringement

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-42/index.html

Though copyright law in Canada isn't as strong as it is in the US with the DMCA and other such laws you should just assume that most things in Canada are in fact subject to copyright as they are in the US. There are of course some important differences. If you want to keep up with these things Michael Giest is a great lawyer from the University of Ottawa that always blogs and discusses (theres a good chance you've seen a news interview with him) Canadian copyright law and pending bills to it.

[TheHans]

http://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/ccl/aboutCopyright.html#infringement

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-42/index.html

Though copyright law in Canada isn't as strong as it is in the US with the DMCA and other such laws you should just assume that most things in Canada are in fact subject to copyright as they are in the US. There are of course some important differences. If you want to keep up with these things Michael Giest is a great lawyer from the University of Ottawa that always blogs and discusses (theres a good chance you've seen a news interview with him) Canadian copyright law and pending bills to it.

Thanks for the links! Now, it seems to me that this would not be indirect infringement due to this:

"These provisions usually concern commercial dealings through sales of copies, commercial distribution, and trade."

This doesn't apply, because there's no sale, etc. that's taking place.

With direct infringement I would argue that what these people are doing when posting a DVD rip of a film is no different than if I were to go over to my friend's house with my DVD copy of a film and watch it with my friend. I just don't see the difference, because it isn't done for profit.

I suppose an argument could be made that I don't rent "50/50" (for example) and put more money into the studio's hands because I get to watch it for free online. But that same argument could be made with my prior example, in that my friend (whose house I went to) doesn't rent the film either because I went over to his/her house to watch it.

[Coz4k]

Yes, they will put 80% of Canadians in prison. Beware !

[Joshray]

Don't worry. Big brother isn't watching you.

[betamaxman]

It is not so much illegal to watch such content, however it is illegal to host it.

[tinlunlau]

it's legal as long as you hold the license to stream it.
like crackle! by the wya, crackle's finally in canada now.

[Zelig]

You may be correct, of course. But how do you know? That's what I'm getting at. As I said, I'm not talking about distributing nor keeping films. I'm only talking about watching what's there. It's not like sites like Let Me Watch This exist on the downlow. They're totally accessible. How do they exist in such an open way if what they offer is definitely illegal?

Torrent sites are totally accessible as well.

[hagbard]

You guys need to familiarize yourselves with ACTA. We're already a signatory to that, which means if you "steal", for example, content from a Hollywood studio, the US will demand your extrication where you'll stand trail in the US and be sent to prison if found guilty. I've been pointing out for weeks the US didn't need SOPA or PIPA, the world already now has ACTA which covers what they did. Maybe it was a smokescreen?

[SAN66]

You guys need to familiarize yourselves with ACTA. We're already a signatory to that, which means if you "steal", for example, content from a Hollywood studio, the US will demand your extrication where you'll stand trail in the US and be sent to prison if found guilty. I've been pointing out for weeks the US didn't need SOPA or PIPA, the world already now has ACTA which covers what they did. Maybe it was a smokescreen?

No. ACTA is a trade agreement between countries, it means nothing until those countries implement laws/acts enforcing ACTA. SOPA and PIPA are one means for the US to meet their ACTA goals, just as bill C-6 and C-52 is a means for canada to meet those goals.

Lets push to make sure the government is not overreaching when implementing their laws to meet their ACTA agreements.