Questions tagged [online-piracy]
The online-piracy tag has no usage guidance.
75 questions
59
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4
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How do people publicly admit to criminal activity and not typically get arrested?
I've noticed that people on YouTube and even on TV would sometimes say things like "I used to take lots of coke a few years ago" or "I used to smoke weed daily until this and that" or "Yea, I smoke ...
45
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2
answers
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Is it illegal to backup your hard drive if you have copyrighted software on it?
Is it illegal if you create a backup of an HDD that has copyrighted software installed on it?
This could be anything from legally purchased games and or expensive popular graphics/video editing ...
28
votes
4
answers
11k
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Is it legal to track users of pirated software?
I'm making a piece of software right now, and I'm just doing it in my free time, so I'm not too serious about it. I want to make a version of the software and put a tracker in it that interfaces with ...
24
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3
answers
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Is downloading YouTube videos legal?
I've always been under the assumption that doing such was illegal. I don't see any difference between downloading music from YouTube and downloading music from The Pirate Bay.
Apparently, there is ...
18
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3
answers
7k
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Why are there so many YouTube to MP4 and MP3 download websites online when it is illegal?
If it is illegal to download videos and audios from YouTube due to copyright reasons, why are there so many YouTube to MP4 and MP3 download websites online?
For example, https://freevideotomp3.com/, ...
12
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2
answers
1k
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Is it piracy to obtain software you purchased in an alternate way?
Lets say you purchased software in the 90s or early 2000s, but lost the license key and or the disc. Another possibility is the company is no longer supporting and or does not provide older versions ...
9
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1
answer
1k
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Is it legal to download movies in Canada?
For years Canada has been known as a pirates' safe haven, but copyright in Canada has been going under huge reform for the past few years, and it's been hard to keep up with all the changes. With the ...
8
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2
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6k
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What stops stolen software from offering a valid license?
A common pattern in software distribution is to have an installer program that pops up and offers the user a license to the software, and prompts the user to accept it. This End User License Agreement ...
8
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2
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2k
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Are "Plex servers" as they seem to be commonly used actually illegal?
There's a piece of software called "Plex" that basically lets you operate your own private streaming service. You load it up with music and video files, and then you can connect to it from ...
7
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1
answer
3k
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Does a shareholder of a company also have copyright rights?
If I buy, say, a share in The Walt Disney Company, does that give me part ownership in the intellectual property?
Does this ownership then give me the right to copy it?
6
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3
answers
378
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Can I inspect websites' source in teaching video?
As a web developer, I find that we can learn a ton about HTML, CSS and JavaScript by opening the Developer Tools in Chromium and inspect elements, seeing the names other developer choose for their CSS ...
6
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1
answer
1k
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How legal is offering abandonware for download?
A quick background to my project (it's essential to the question, as you'll see later): My project offers a multiplayer server platform for server listings for a game (Crysis Wars), allowing players ...
6
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1
answer
922
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Legal Backups: Can copies of other owners' backups be used?
Many legal systems protect the rights of legal owners of copies (of copyrighted works) to backup these copies. If I own a DVD or a book, I can* rip that DVD and scan that book to a PDF. But what if ...
5
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1
answer
2k
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John Green once searched something up on a pirated copy of his own book in the US. Is piracy like that illegal even then?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVN9nenCGwM
So John had mistakenly believed that there was a quote from Paper Towns, which he wrote and so Hank and his companies made merchandise out of the quote.
He ...
5
votes
1
answer
597
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Is downloading a Youtube video legal in this situation?
Having read through the Youtube ToS, it states:
Content is provided to you AS IS. You may access Content for your
information and personal use solely as intended through the provided
...
4
votes
1
answer
1k
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Computer Fraud and Abuse Act equivalent for citizens
What equivalent do ordinary US citizens have in terms of digital protectionss, as the US government and its financial interests have as defined in the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act?
4
votes
1
answer
797
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Why YTS owner not jailed for illegal digital distribution, even police caught him?
The guy behind YTS must be thanking his lucky stars.
On 21 October, 2015 MPAA team shut down YTS site.
Mega Upload owner was jailed for decades, even after he is running legal site,
But YTS is not a ...
4
votes
1
answer
196
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How is downloading a movie from the internet different from using home recording equipment?
As I was watching Despicable Me on free-to-air TV, I was thinking that maybe the next time it runs and Frozen I should set my PVR set top Box to record them.
But then that got me thinking: if I ...
4
votes
1
answer
280
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Storing pirated data online who is responsible?
If I were to set up an online storage company and sell GB/TB who would be responsible for my customers uploading pirated/illegal data on my storage servers? Would declaring in the terms and ...
4
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3
answers
10k
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Is it illegal to download cracked software one has purchased?
Assuming someone purchases a piece of software, but due to an error, has to wait for an arbitrary amount of time to download the software, would it be a criminal act to download or use a cracked ...
4
votes
1
answer
720
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How was The Pirate Bay able to get back online after being shut down?
The Pirate Bay in the past year had its servers raided by Swedish Police and the site was shut down. On what grounds were Swedish police able to raid TPB servers and shut down the site, under Swedish ...
3
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4
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3k
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Are pirated movies and software legal for personal use?
Is it legal to download pirated movies or software for personal---that is non-commercial---use?
3
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2
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757
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Why is Software Piracy Considered Theft?
I know the question sounds mundane and perhaps even silly at first glance, but, consider it for a moment.
Our qualm with piracy seems to be premised with some notion of loss at the owners/business' ...
3
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2
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2k
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How to avoid unwarranted bills as a victim of online order fraud (with zalando)
What has happened
A unknown party has ordered multiple items from zalando.ch (a clothing retailer), while using my address as the delivery address.
Note: I have no account there, and never ordered, so ...
3
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1
answer
1k
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Is linking to illegal free-movie streaming websites itself copyright infringement?
(Site hosted in Canada)
Would a website containing a list of links to free-movie websites be considered illegal? The "free movie websites" are hosting copyrighted movies without permission.
...
3
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2
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(EU) Can a license agreement demand a specific compensation for unlicensed use of the software?
Scenario: As a software developer I create a WordPress extension that does x which I sell for, let's say, $20.
When buying it's clearly mentioned you are only allowed to install it on a single website....
3
votes
1
answer
499
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Downloading music using "online converters"
Is it illegal to use online converters to download .mp3 files of songs from websites such as Soundcloud, YouTube etc.
You can search online for terms such as youtube to mp3 or download from ...
3
votes
1
answer
116
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Frequency lists derived from copyrighted works
If someone were to publish word frequency lists derived from copyrighted films or books on their website would this constitute fair use, or be a breach of copyright?
The word frequency lists would ...
3
votes
1
answer
172
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What factors determine if a person guilty of software piracy receives a custodial sentence?
This article suggests that a person who pirates content in the US is unlikely to receive a custodial sentence if found guilty of criminal software piracy
There are 3 amateur legal opinions in the ...
3
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0
answers
102
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If a (US-based) website repeatedly allows users to post my copyrighted material what legal actions can I take?
I'm a university lecturer in Australia teaching mathematics. I produce question sheets for my students. It takes significant effort to produce high-quality questions. These question sheets are ...
2
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1
answer
369
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Is there anything stopping US States from pirating software now, with this new Supreme Court ruling?
Recently, the US Supreme Court ruled that states can't be sued over copyright violations due to sovereign immunity in a lawsuit between North Carolina and a film-maker whose work was infringed by them....
2
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2
answers
267
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Copyrights owner rights in case of DMCA – user block
Recently I started to sell my digital items in the web and faced with the piracy.
Pirates fraud my files from the market, upload them to the file hosting services and posts the links to warez web ...
2
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3
answers
1k
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Is it piracy to download a copy of a book that my university has?
If my university's library has a book available for students, is it piracy/illegal if those students download some copy from the internet in PDF?
There are some books I would like to study but they ...
2
votes
1
answer
656
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Is it legal to sell Pokémon?
In the games, given enough effort and time, a player can get Pokémon with better stats and alternate color palettes, and are highly valued by players. Additionally, there is a built-in function that ...
2
votes
1
answer
162
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Can media illegally downloaded in banned regions be legally used in regions where it is not banned?
Suppose you live in a region where the government has banned the purchase of some media (e.g., songs, movies, or software). So you cannot legally purchase licenses from the owners; the only way to ...
2
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1
answer
1k
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Legalities of Extensions that modify websites
I am wondering how it can be legal to make or use extensions that modify the functioning of businesses' websites. Specifically, I am looking at Firefox extensions that modify YouTube's functionality. ...
2
votes
1
answer
118
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What must an ISP do to be protected under the Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act
Under statute 512 of the Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act (OCCA) in section (c)(1)(A)(iii) it stipulates that an ISP
upon obtaining such knowledge or awareness, acts
...
2
votes
1
answer
127
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Closed source code theft prevention via license
Let's say I have an app stored as a closed source code (e.g on github) for which I have a software license in place (Apache 2.0), is this enough to prevent/prosecute an employee or just a random ...
2
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1
answer
2k
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Is it legal to rip ISOs/ROMs from physical game discs for use in a PC emulator?
I live in Germany. I own a Wii Console and related hardware, as well as some games in the form of physical discs.
I would like to play those games (which I legally own on disk) on my PC using an ...
2
votes
1
answer
1k
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Is it legal to run console (Nintendo) games on an emulator if one has an original copy of these games?
It is often believed (and spread) that:
Emulators of video game consoles are not illegal;
Downloading proprietary games for such consoles and/or running them on emulators is illegal, except
if one ...
2
votes
2
answers
224
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What are the legalities of online research involving illegal services?
I want to do a thesis paper involving illegal online resources. I don't want to be persecuted for these things though. What are some of the steps I would need to take to legitimately go about ...
1
vote
2
answers
148
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Can copyrighted work be distributed for free if it was done so by the owner previously?
Once upon a time a UK music band put one of their songs on their website for free download. Time has passed, the website has changed drastically and the song is not available there anymore. Neither it ...
1
vote
2
answers
181
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Is using Youtube illegal if the uploader does not have distribution rights?
This question is propted by this one. The answers seems to assume that youtube has a valid licence to distribute the work. What if that is not the case? Is it illegal to watch/listen to a video ...
1
vote
1
answer
220
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Is a developer liable for illicit use of an app? [duplicate]
A software developer receives a Content Infringement complaint against his app, which facilitates video downloads from YouTube. The software developer believes he is not responsible for the act of ...
1
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1
answer
107
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Is it possible to sue a hacker based on his mail?
Some friend of mine got his mailbox hacked yesterday, meaning his entire contactlist received mails from him saying something like:
I'm in a bad period in my life, I really feel sad, please mail me ...
1
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1
answer
4k
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Is it legal to download progamming eBooks from GitHub?
I recently planned to buy one of the book from Microsoft Press Store online.
But browsing through one of the technical blog, I found the blog author providing link to download the same eBook for free....
1
vote
1
answer
103
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Using "Educational Use" to circumvent copy-protection?
Does this link mean "educational use" gets a free pass on circumventing copy protection.
17 U.S. Code § 1201 - Circumvention of copyright protection systems
Specifically this section.
(d)...
1
vote
1
answer
273
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Is it illegal to download abandoned apps no longer sold on Google Play Store?
Lets say you want to buy an app. Specifically Super Monkey Ball 2 which is no longer sold because it is unsupported by newer versions of android.
The game runs great in newer versions of android.
...
1
vote
1
answer
780
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If I have access to some else's Whatsapp, can I use it as evidence?
I have a client who asked me the following question.
Her husband gave her access to his Whatsapp as a trust exercise. She then used it to open Whatsapp web on her computer and follow the ...
1
vote
1
answer
106
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How much trouble would a company be for using pirated software and ripping off online course videos and selling them as their own
My Situation
I was hired as a UI/graphics designer for company A. This is a startup company and the environment is not very professional which I kinda like. But some people who are friends with ...