Is uploading Videos and Music illegal?

Hi,

I'm starting a new video/music site soon and won't be taking any videos off youtube.

But what I want to know is can I actually do this.

Is it illegal to let people upload music and videos they have onto my site?

All posts will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

 

Unless you have permission from the copyright holders to post their music or movies, which you won't get, it is illegal. However, it's not a criminal offense it's a civil offense and the worst that could happen is a lawsuit.

 

if you get a complaint just remove the file

 

ofcourse ! its illegal !

 

give low quality videos and write below videos that these videos are for test only. For high quality buy original cds from Market

 

If you are really in NZ, check your country's copyright office for specifics, because the advice that you are getting in this thread is not very good.

In the US, for example, copyright is not just a civil matter. Copyright infringement has been a criminal act for over 100 years. Not many were prosecuted for it as a criminal matter because it was a misdemeanor until 1976. Even after that, most DAs were onlly interested in prosecuting gross offenders (not nickle and dimers). Plus, there was the condition that in order to be a criminal act it had to be for financial gain. In 1997 the No Electronic Theft Act was passed and took the commercial aspect out of consideration for determining criminal infringement. In the US, the worst that could happen is you are convicted of a felony and spend several years in jail.

Also, putting up low quality videos and saying test only is no protection.

There is nothig inherently illegal in allowing people to upload files. It is the actual content of the files that makes the difference. If people upload home movies then there is no issue at all. If people upload things that are infringing, you may get into trouble. You might be sued before you get any notice to take content down, but that would be unlikely unless the site was huge (why sue a site with no money?).

 

Yah It's highly recommend advice

 

Thanks for all of your advice

 

There are criminal penalties to pirating too in some countries. Don't let someone tell you differently. However each nation is different and you should check your local laws.

 

Thanks for all your responses!

 

It is. Don't do it.