More than ever, people are watching streaming sports content on the internet. This is due to the convenience and quantity of sports content you get on the internet instead of using a traditional TV service. However, sports streaming does have a few caveats that come with it.
If you’re streaming sports content yourself, you can end up getting in a lot of trouble if you don’t know what you’re doing. Make sure you follow these sports streaming laws so you can keep out of trouble.
Watching
It’s a common misconception that it’s illegal for you to watch streaming content on the internet, especially if it’s licensed. This isn’t true at all, as streaming laws are meant to get those that are distributing content instead. However, you do need to be careful when looking up streaming content.
If you’re not careful, you might not be knowing that you’re using a peer-to-peer service to watch your content. These services make you upload your content to anyone looking to download it, making you liable if a content owner finds out. Make sure you know your limits when downloading or streaming video content on the internet.
Uploading
Your rights as an uploader greatly differ from those simply watching content. If you’re a streamer, you need to make sure that you aren’t showing copyrighted sports content on the internet. Otherwise, you might have a company find you.
Whether you’re streaming content through a website or peer-to-peer service, a company can find out your IP address and personal information. After that, they can sue you for the amount of money they feel like they lost from you ripping off their content. Make sure you aren’t uploading any copyrighted content on the internet at all, whether it be sports or a regular TV show.
Criminal or Civil
Now that you know it’s illegal for you to stream copyrighted sports content on the internet, you need to know your punishment if you do so. Fortunately, you would only have to worry about a civil case against you. However, the Senate introduced a law in 2011 that would make it a felony, giving you five years of prison potentially if convicted.
You do need to lawyer up if you end up having a civil case against you. Without lawyering up, you can end up losing all of your money to the other side. Ensure that you fully understand the differences between a criminal and civil case.