hello, i am creating a website that uses rapidshare direct links (no wait) to allow the user to download films for as little as 79p (priced on file size not content). Now obviously theres gonna be a heep load of legal issues here, but ive seen other websites selling software and using disclaimers that seem to cover their backs. I will be the one uploading the content so im in full control of what goes on there.

I think theres a rule that as long as they have legally purchased the movie on dvd, you are able to download, but only keep it for 48hours. If i clearly state that the responsibility lies soley with them, do you think i would be able to get away with it

Thanks

No why are you even considering it??!?!!?!?!?!?

Welcome to WDF!

 

If you own the copyright, and distribution rights of any content then you are normally free to do with it what you will, within the law. However, if you're on about selling other peoples content without their express permission then you are breaking the law - it's as simple as that. That so called 48 hour "rule" you quote is utter bo**ocks.

 

The authorities are starting to clamp down on filesharing big time with some big fines amd jail sentences being dished out so watch your step, and no amout of disclaimers will help you.

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/08/19/fi...ng_gamer_fined/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/08/12/big_piracy_fine/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/03/vi...etters_numbers/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/26/bt_bpi_letter/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/01/if...rom_pirate_bay/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/06/ic...ing_conviction/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/05/wi...s_media_survey/

 

The choice of what you do is, as always, up to you if you want to take the risk, but think very hard before you jump into the fire

dam, ok thats proberly not such a good idea then. lol

there is this site [removed by mods] which is giving away nintendo games, are they breaking the law too? there not selling the downloads but they do have disclaimers.

thanks for the advice

It is against the law to distribute anything that you do not have the copyright of or do not have permission from the copyright holder. Ever read one of the copyright notices on the dvds you buy, this dvd is for personal use only, it cannot be copied, rented...blah blah blah. Disclaimer or not without the proper authority to distribute films via download then it will be illegal to do so and you would get into a hell of a lot of trouble for selling copyrighted material if it is done illegally.

 

 

As for the roms site you linked to, as you can see from the link being removed that it is indeed illegal, and I will ask you not to post links to sites that allow you to download copyrighted material for free, this is against the law and we will not allow such links on the forum.

 

 

Basically you own that copy of the dvd/game/cd/mp3 that you have bought, you donot however own the copyright to this. So you do not have the right to then sell on multiple copies of that dvd/game/cd/mp3, you can sell that one legal original copy that you have, but you cannot sell a copy of that original...this is breaking copyright. Again with free downloads of these dvd/game/cd/mp3's you are not allowed to do unless you have distribution rights to do so...and I guaranteed you that that roms site doesn't.

 

 

 

I know I rant a lot when posting, but hopefully that makes sense.

 

<thread closed to prevent any more illegal links being posted...if you disagree and want this reopened then PM me, however I think that your question has been answered>