Am I allowed to offer movies or series for streaming on my website for free?
July 28, 2023 | 50,00 EUR | answered by Isabel Tressel
Dear Media Law Attorney,
I am reaching out to you as the operator of a website who would like to offer movies and TV series for streaming, but I am unsure if this is legally permissible. Currently, I am already providing some content for streaming for free without users having to pay for it.
My website is still quite new and I already have some followers who regularly use my offerings. I would like to provide my visitors with a wide range of film and TV series content to make my site more attractive. However, I am concerned that I may be infringing on copyrights if I offer movies and TV series without the permission of the rights holders.
I have already done some research on the internet, but I have come across conflicting information and now I need professional advice. Is it legally allowed to offer movies and TV series for free streaming on my website? If not, what alternatives are available to me to still be able to offer my visitors an attractive service?
I do not want to get into legal trouble and I am grateful for your help and expertise in this matter. Thank you in advance for your advice.
Sincerely,
Simon Peters
Dear Mr. Peters,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the legal permissibility of streaming movies and series on your website. As the operator of a website, it is understandable that you are concerned about possible copyright violations and want to ensure that you are acting in accordance with the law.
First and foremost, it is important to know that offering movies and series for streaming on your website without the permission of the rights holders is generally not legally permissible. Movies and series are protected by copyright, and the right to publicly perform them generally belongs to the author or rights holders. Therefore, if you stream movies and series on your website without the necessary licenses or permissions, you are infringing on the copyrights of the respective rights holders.
To avoid legal issues, I strongly recommend that you obtain the necessary licenses for the movies and series you wish to offer on your website. This may mean entering into contracts with the rights holders to acquire the necessary rights to use the content. This may involve costs, but it is the only legal way to offer movies and series for streaming on your website.
If you are unable or unwilling to acquire licenses, there are alternatives you can consider to still offer your visitors an attractive selection. One option could be to offer content that is licensed under a Creative Commons license or for which you have the appropriate usage rights. You could also collaborate with independent filmmakers or content creators to showcase their work on your website.
It is important that you familiarize yourself with the applicable copyright laws and ensure that you comply with them to avoid legal consequences. If you have any further questions or need more detailed advice, I am happy to assist.
Sincerely,
Isabel Tressel, Media Law Attorney
