[Katanga]

Can someone please tell me if it is legal or not to use sites like Torrentopia to download TV programmes.

I am not interested in downloading movies as that is clearly breaching piracy regulations.

However, I do want to download popular TV series that do not come on cable or TV in HK. The intention is only for me to watch the programme and delete it.

I don't want the little man knocking on my door to tell me I am pirating TV shows so someone please tell me if this is legit or not.

Are other people doing this ?

Many, many thanks......

[hklover]

other ppl doing it, but still illegal

[KnowItAll]

TV is a gray area.

Broadcast TV -- i.e. non cable networks semi legal as long as the DVD is not out.

Cable TV -- not legal ...

[Katanga]

Shri

Thanks a lot.

So here's the $6m question....What if I am downloading series like CSI which I don't think you get on cable incl. NOW. I have seen the DVD's out but can't get the series I want.

cheers

[discobay]

I think it is also a matter of whether the copyright owners/owners want to prosecute. Would porn producers take downloaders to court? - I doubt it.
I too would like to get a definitive answer on the tv program (broadcast or not).

[seamale]

Where are the good websites to download HK TV programmes?

[MaxWonga]

www.mininova.org has some good content, just pick out the legal stuff,

www.uknova.com/ is good , mainly british content you have to register which takes some time because the only allow so many members at any one time

[martinj]

Are you sure you are allowed to spread and download copy righted material such as CSI?

I can understand if it is done in a country where it is not copy righted, but I am sure that the major companies do copy right their material in major countries.

Hosting a .torrent file may not be a direct breach as .torrent files do not contain copy right material, but it aids the spread of copy right material. And aiding in the spread of copy righted material is a felony in many countries.

Even those _free_ channels copy right their material and also/or have to pay licenses for the TV shows.

If shows did not contain copy rights then you would see many companies providing these shows for free in many different forms.

I fail completely to see how a copy righted material is allowed to be distributed through torrents/P2P/FTPs based on how the TV channel operates.

Spreading over torrents is not the same thing as owning a license/copy of a dvd/cd/vhs that you provide few copies to a limited group of close friends.

My advice is not to break any copy right law regardless how small of a chance there is that you will be caught.

I have no knowledge about copy rights/ patents and for sure no information about HK laws.

My 2 cents

Cheers

[HarvesteR]

Is it legal? No...... but here is a good link:

www.torrentz.com

You didnt get this from me ;-)

[TaLL|dUdE]

and here's an article you might want to read

http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/articl...parentid=46920