Legal Question in Technology Law in Nevada
I received a letter of "settlement" regarding an online video stream I had watched on a website recently shut-down by the same company. Do they have a case against individuals or just the website which broadcast the stream?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Although you give no specific information as to what the letter says, I have never heard of a copyright claim for just watching a movie - whether in a theater, online, or from a DVD. The Copyright Act spells out very specific exclusive rights, and none of them include watching a movie, reading a book, and so on. I have often said that you can watch a stolen infringing DVD movie without infringing the copyright. So unless they are basing their claim on something more than just watching it, you should be very suspicious of what smells like a sham. Check with your lawyer, and be sure to provide your lawyer with the entire letter and any related facts. It could be it is not your lawyer, but law enforcement officials you should be telling this to.