Hi guys, just wondering if anyone could tell me if there could be any potential problems with sites posting links to anime episode downloads, not actually hosting the episodes. (site likes Rapidshare, Megaupload etc) Secondly, what about sites that have video streaming from other sites like Youtube and Veoh? Thanks
It depends on where the links point to. If the links point to files that are not in violation of copyright (such as from the studio's website or licensed fan subs) then there is no conflict. If you link to infringing material (most of the stuff on YouTube/VEOH or unlicensed fan subs) then you could be found guilty (in the US at least) of contributory infringement. Streaming infringing content is still infringement. You don't actually have to host the files to break the law. Anime has had a history of not going after people (particularly for fans subs in languages that they have not released in yet). However, that has been changing of late. More and more anime studios have been pushing to have infringing material removed.
You are good to go. They shut down DM and other hosters, not you; unless you are driving hundreds of thousands of people, they won't even issue a warning letter to you.
That is exactly the opposite of what has been occuring in the real world. Many small sites have been getting C&D letters of late.