Hi, So it seems OK to say download something from break or nothingtoxic and upload it to say Youtube or metacafe. Since these are user uploaded (non-commercial) I can legally remove the watermark and add mine when I submit to the others. Is this right? What would you recommend for removing watermarks?
Again, User Uploaded content that is not commercially licensed is NOT A VIOLATION of copyrights. You see stuff uploaded on YouTube all day from other web 2.0video sites by users and YouTube displays with watermark. These sites that watermark the uploads do not have any more of a copyright then I would if I were to download because these Videos are EVERYWHERE and are originally shot and uploaded by individuals not by companies like Viacom, Fox and such.
I don't know the exact laws but it's illegal. You didn't make them, you didn't buy them, you don't have the rights to them.. simple as that.
i don't think that you are allowed to you want to take someone else's video and put you own name on it, which is basically stealing if you still want to upload it, then leave the watermark
Does YouTube make or buy any of the videos they show? No. They're being sued by Viacom sure, but I'm not talking about anything that is commercially licensed/owned. I disagree in the fact that you see THE SAME video content on site A, B, and C some with watermarks, some without, I would not do this with anything that appears to be commercial and I would not be hosting the videos either.
You asked whether it's legal, it's not no matter how you try to make it sound.. if you want to take the risks and steal the videos, go ahead. Waiting for others to tell you something is legal while it isn't, isn't going to happen :/
dude its illegal and why would you want to do it anyway. Just make your own videos, have fun making them and if they are good enough then you will reek the rewards later.