Legal Question in Technology Law in Missouri
Is downloading videos from a site such as Youtube illegal if you only use it for personal use? I think there was a "fair use" license or something, but I really have no idea.
1 Answer from Attorneys
http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html --read the official advice from the Copyright Office. The University of Texas put out a really nice step by step questionnaire type guide that will help educate you. See http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/copypol2.htm
What you mean by "use it for personal use" will determine whether such use fits the specific definitions of "fair use", but the above will give you some quick education on the topic.
Without knowing more, it is hard to say, but generally downloading copyrighted materials for "personal use" is copyright infringement and illegal. That said, millions upon millions of people do it every day so the copyright owners normally only go after the major infringers and let single copy infringers go. However, you said "videos" (plural) not "video", which makes you a potential target for Missouri copyright enforcement attorneys like me who now know your zip code. Thanks for blowing the whistle on yourself.
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