Legal Definitions - video piracy

Video piracy refers to the unauthorized copying, distribution, or public performance of copyrighted video content. This includes any act where someone reproduces, shares, or uses video material without the express permission of the copyright owner, often to avoid purchasing legitimate copies or for personal gain.

Here are some examples to illustrate video piracy:

• Illegal Streaming Website: A person visits a website that offers a vast library of recent blockbuster movies and popular television series for free streaming. The website does not require a subscription or payment, and it is clear that the content is being hosted and distributed without the permission of the studios or production companies that own the copyrights.

  This is video piracy because the website is illegally distributing copyrighted video content, and by accessing it, the user is participating in the unauthorized consumption of that content, depriving the legitimate copyright holders of their rightful revenue.

• Counterfeit DVD Sales: An individual operates a small online store selling DVD copies of newly released films and entire seasons of popular TV shows at significantly lower prices than official retailers. Upon closer inspection, the DVDs are clearly bootlegs, lacking official packaging, quality, and licensing information.

  This constitutes video piracy because the seller is illegally copying and distributing copyrighted video material for commercial profit without obtaining any license or permission from the original content creators or distributors.

• Unauthorized Corporate Use: A company decides to use a highly-regarded, professionally produced documentary as part of its internal training program for new employees. Instead of purchasing the necessary educational license from the documentary's distributor, an employee downloads an unauthorized copy from a torrent site and projects it during training sessions.

  This is video piracy because the company is publicly performing and using copyrighted video content for a business purpose without acquiring the required legal permission or license from the copyright owner.