Project Free TV?

[bmcneal]

I was talking to my brother earlier today about how much the digital converter boxes kind of suck, and different setups to watch shows that we like, and I brought up that I've recently discovered Project Free TV. He said that he avoids websites like that, because they are in a grey area, kind of, where it could be/is illegal, because you aren't paying to watch the shows, and there is no way to verify that Project Free TV has the rights to "air" (for lack of a better word) the material. He said he knows that South Park makers have made that public, so would not have a problem watching it on a second party website, but that there's no way to know, and it could be considered illegal (or is illegal). He said Hulu is different, he would (probably) watch full episodes of shows on there, because he understands that they approach the producers and ask for permission to air the shows.

I was just wondering if anyone else has any input into this. I haven't been able to find much with regards to rights for situations like that, but from what I understood, so long as you don't download the shows, it wasn't an issue. But that's just from what I've been told. (My Google skills suck.)

[mamarhu]

I am not sure if you are asking "is it legal?" as in, will I get caught, charged, arrested, or something, or "is it moral?" as in is it the right thing to do.

In answer to #1, maybe not totally legal, but I seriously doubt there is much risk. I don't believe in the internet police, who are watching my every keystroke, waiting to catch me getting something for nothing.

As for #2, well, I dunno. Is anyone harmed by your watching it? Is it a form of theft? I guess that is a personal decision. My morality seems to get thin online. I mean, I am the sort of person who will give back any extra change the grocery clerk accidentally gives me. But somehow, watching a TV show seems different. There is no concrete product the original owner has less of, due to my having watched it.
 

[pek64]

If you would have had to pay for it, then you are denying the owner revenue. Otherwise, there's no harm.

I have no problem watching shows that are next to impossible to find or outrageously expensive to buy the DVDs. Otherwise, I prefer to see the shows in a more ethical way. Although, before HDTV, I didn't watch anything I hadn't paid for.

[meemee]

since i am google queen here are a few links  if you havent seen them yet. 

http://www.examiner.com/article/review-free-project-tv-and-safe-alternatives-for-online-shows

http://malwaretips.com/Thread-Project-Free-TV

http://androidforums.com/asus-eee-pad-transformer-prime/577862-project-free-tv-good-bad-idea.html

yikes. if i am gonna see anything on it then i make sure i have the best paid for anti virus program along with malware pop up blockers - the whole shebang. 

i'd say if you were computer savvy (all that whole downloading security stuff savvy) then yeah go for it. if not. forget it. 

AND most of my google search results looked like this.

In response to a complaint we received under the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act, we have removed 1 result(s) from this page. If you wish, you may read the DMCA complaint that caused the removal(s) at ChillingEffects.org.

wow each page has a few links and then pages and pages of this above message. wow i've never seen anything like this.