Legal Advice for my movie site

by breezynetworks

Posted: 13 years ago 7 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

I have a movie site that offers full movies and TV series but does NOT host the content. I have a draft "privacy policy", "legal disclaimer" as well a "website disclaimer" that I need to be water tight.

Any suggestions where I can get these documents read over by someone with legal knowledge to make sure I avoid any trouble. (I don't mind if xyz company asks me to take down a link, etc - its the big stuff im worried about)

Thanks

#advice #legal #movie #site

LB 13 years ago

Isn't this the same thing that got a bunch of sites and domains seized by homeland security and the FBI?

Homeland Security Seizes 70+ Websites for Copyright Violations

I would run far far away.
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- highrank 13 years ago
  
  I don't know why people are so afraid of this.
  
  Don't worry about it. You don't host any of the movies, so your website won't be "central to the infringement of copyright or the trafficking of counterfeited goods". So they won't have any reason to shut you down.
  
  The worst you will get is a DMCA complaint that asks you to remove the link to the movie.
  
  Even then you can tell the DCMA complainer to contact the people who are actually hosting the content to have it removed, instead of harrasing you for providing a link to those movies for 'educational purposes'.
  
  You do have the except the fact that you may be shut down though, so don't invest any money you aren't willing to lose.
  
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  kindsvater 13 years ago
  
  There isn't a legal term that is going to protect you. More likely, it would be used as evidence against you for knowingly, and intentionally, aiding and conspiring to assist copyright infringement.
  
  That is, you knew what you were doing was a problem as evidenced by your reference to it in your terms.
  
  The risk isn't from a website user bound by your website's contractual terms, it is from copyright owners and the government, who are not bound by your terms.
  
  Just ignore "highrank" - Every once in a while someone posts a message apparently intended to get someone in legal trouble.
  
  Websites being seized didn't host the content either.
  
  And, it gets even better ... website owners worldwide are being extradited to the US for prosecution.
  
  .
  
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tehnolife Banned 13 years ago

Stay away from this risky-business. A few weeks back, an england citizen was facing big problems having sites like this.

Even if you don't get arrested, or even if you don't get a fine, why would you invest your precious time in something that can be shutdown as easy as 1,2,3.

I would say invest your time in something else that isn't so risky.
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breezynetworks 13 years ago

Thanks for the replies so far

Does it not make a difference that my websites doesnt actually provide any download links, it only links you to a streaming media server (megavideo) Plus in my website footer it clearly states that we host no content and if there is a complaint, then they must follow up with the media host.

Surely there is a loophole? I mean, how do sites that link to shared content (eg blackhatworld, etc) survive? The webmasters have clearly told me that they deal with legal issues directly by allowing investigation and each time it's proven that they don't host the download? 5min into the movie, a popup appears stating that we are no longer responsible for them watching the movie any further, they have to accept responsibility before they can continue watching.

Thanks
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- kindsvater 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by breezynetworks
  
  Does it not make a difference that my websites doesnt actually provide any download links, it only links you to a streaming media server (megavideo)
  
  No. That's why the government seizures made such a splash in the news.
  
  Instead of looking for a loophole, the better analysis might be a risk / benefit. How much are you really going to make? Does that justify the risk?
  
  .
  
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JamesGw 13 years ago

I don't think it's a good idea, but I also don't think it's a good idea to ask for legal advice on WF. Talk to a lawyer man.
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