Movies and series: Laptop instead of cinema: when streaming is allowed

Berlin is clear: downloading copyrighted films from the Internet is illegal. A warning must be expected here. The streaming was different for a long time. Because here the files are not permanently stored on the home computer, but only accessed via the browser or an app. But in 2017, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that streaming can also infringe someone else’s copyright and thus be illegal (Ref.: C-527/15). However, only if the user could have also recognized that he was accessing an illegal source when streaming. Pay attention to the offer of the site, but when is this actually the case? According to Stiftung Warentest, the verdict gives an important clue: “If users stream free movies or music that are otherwise only offered for a fee – for example via pay TV channels such as Sky -, they have to expect that it is an illegal source.” This also applies to current live streams of sports events such as matches of the Bundesliga. According to Stiftung Warentest, illegal streaming portals can also be identified by the offer. For example, consumers should become attentive when current cinema films are offered free of charge on the internet. Especially when it can be seen that the films were filmed from the screen. Otherwise there is a threat of a warning. Also an indication that the streaming could be illegal and you can let it be better: the provider is based abroad, the imprint is missing on the website and there is neither customer service nor contact options. The good news: with platforms such as Youtube, users can assume that it is legally posted content. Here, movies, series and videos can also be watched legally for free.