"Over 1m viewers could have access cut over illegal streaming"

oneilla

The Commercial Court was told yesterday that as many as 1.3 million people in the State may be involved in illegally accessing the work of six film and TV studios through various streaming websites.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/over-1m-viewers-could-have-access-cut-over-illegal-streaming-1.2965805

Six US movie studios are taking Irish internet providers to court to force them to block illegal streaming websites. Fair enough but 1.3million is nearly a quarter of the population. Seems like a lot of people. Helluva attention grabbing headline.

slavetothegrind

The 1.3 million unique user figure is rediculous , court should have asked for proof or thrown out.

Of course this is a report in an irish paper so could be entirely unresearched and inaccurate.....

B.A._Baracus

Hmmm, this is nothing new tho inst it?
Eircom and UPC already blocked the pirate bay and KAT before. But tons of proxy websites still pop up in their place.

Arcade_Tryer

Jonathan Newman SC, for the studios, told the court that illegal downloading of movies posed an extremely serious threat to his clients’ interests

My heart weeps for them.

Jayop

What's the legal situation anyway. I had always thought that if you streamed and didn't download then you were technically not breaking the law and if that's the case then they would have no grounds to cut you off.

I know people in the UK who have had letters from their ISP's ordering them to stop downloading illegally but don't think I've ever heard of that here.

lawred2

Presume these are the sites underpinning the likes of kodi etc

duffman13

Jayop wrote: »

What's the legal situation anyway. I had always thought that if you streamed and didn't download then you were technically not breaking the law and if that's the case then they would have no grounds to cut you off.

I know people in the UK who have had letters from their ISP's ordering them to stop downloading illegally but don't think I've ever heard of that here.

Apparently it's illegal to upload content to streaming sites or through Kodi. Downloading is illegal but streaming is not, might be only UK related but most people don't download anymore surely? If it's streaming it's an impossible job to police, websites and proxys pop up daily.

oneilla

Jayop wrote: »

What's the legal situation anyway. I had always thought that if you streamed and didn't download then you were technically not breaking the law and if that's the case then they would have no grounds to cut you off.

I know people in the UK who have had letters from their ISP's ordering them to stop downloading illegally but don't think I've ever heard of that here.

The studios are going after the internet providers to force then to block stuff. Article doesn't mention users being served.

In theory I guess they could sue people who breach copyright but the studios would have to find those people first I'd assume and they wouldn't have access to that information

andekwarhola

Won't people just use the likes of kodi through a VPN?

buried

Somebody needs to tell the Hollywood movie studios its not the internets fault why nobody is going to the cinema anymore. They're not going because what Hollywood is currently making is absolute total f**king rehashed rubbish

Jayop

oneilla wrote: »

The studios are going after the internet providers to force then to block stuff. Article doesn't mention users being served.

In theory I guess they could sue people who breach copyright but the studios would have to find those people first I'd assume and they wouldn't have access to that information

No I know that. My point about the letters from the ISP's are them warning the users that due to threats upon the ISP's from the studios they will have to cut off persistent torrent downloaders.

I was just wondering as an aside, am I right in saying that streaming itself isn't illegal so long as you don't download and thus make a copy of the item?

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

If the likes of HBO was accessible for a reasonable fee in Ireland, it would help, but some tosser organisation has the rights to some thingamajig somewhere making it difficult for this to happen.

Same goes for Netflix being regional, it's a pain in the arse.

KingBrian2

The studios still rely on the customers to watch their films. It is through the medium of the internet we discover what we want to go to in the cinema or movies to buy.

Jayop

Howard Long Tablespoon wrote: »

If the likes of HBO was accessible for a reasonable fee in Ireland, it would help, but some tosser organisation has the rights to some thingamajig somewhere making it difficult for this to happen.

Same goes for Netflix being regional, it's a pain in the arse.

Traditional methods of viewing TV are on the way out imo. Soon everything will be on demand and you will only pay for what you watch.

That would make a huge difference to how TV is being made. Basically all those crap filler shows would be scrapped and only shows people will actually pay for will be made. Regional restrictions will be a thing of the past.

laugh

Howard Long Tablespoon wrote: »

If the likes of HBO was accessible for a reasonable fee in Ireland, it would help, but some tosser organisation has the rights to some thingamajig somewhere making it difficult for this to happen.

Same goes for Netflix being regional, it's a pain in the arse.

If everything was available at a reasonable cost, everywhere, immediately far fewer people would stream illegally.

Jayop

KingBrian2 wrote: »

The studios still rely on the customers to watch their films. It is through the medium of the internet we discover what we want to go to in the cinema or movies to buy.

There's a lot of suggestions that studios will intentionally leak content in order to get word of mouth going about stuff they have coming up.

Dravokivich

lawred2 wrote: »

Presume these are the sites underpinning the likes of kodi etc

Underpinning? Kodi has nothing to do with them.

matchthis

Netflix model is the future

TheChizler

duffman13 wrote: »

Apparently it's illegal to upload content to streaming sites or through Kodi. Downloading is illegal but streaming is not, might be only UK related but most people don't download anymore surely? If it's streaming it's an impossible job to police, websites and proxys pop up daily.

There's no real difference between downloading and streaming. Streaming is just downloading data in a particular order, and is normally deleted after it's viewed.

shane7218

Maybe they should make the content accessible and not sell the rights to Sky, which is not available in many apartments.

laugh

laugh wrote: »

If everything was available at a reasonable cost, everywhere, immediately far fewer people would stream illegally.

That's debatable imo.

Muir

The problem is that they haven't made everything accessible in one place for a reasonable fee, and loads of the shows don't air on Irish TV. So even if they somehow managed to block every torrent and streaming website, the people using them wont suddenly start paying to use the services legitimately because the ability to do so doesn't exist.

Do they just calculate the lost revenue based on number of illegal streams rather than working out how many of those people would otherwise pay for the service? I bet it would show some very different numbers.

buried

Accessibility isn't the problem, whats being created is the problem, and that's Hollywood's problem. Google the cinema showings tonight in Ireland, would you pay a tenner a month to watch whats being offered there? Would ya F**k

Jayop

Muir wrote: »

The problem is that they haven't made everything accessible in one place for a reasonable fee, and loads of the shows don't air on Irish TV. So even if they somehow managed to block every torrent and streaming website, the people using them wont suddenly start paying to use the services legitimately because the ability to do so doesn't exist.

Do they just calculate the lost revenue based on number of illegal streams rather than working out how many of those people would otherwise pay for the service? I bet it would show some very different numbers.

Exactly. The only ones who lost out on the streaming of movies was the video rental shops. I rarely went to the cinema before I started streaming everything and I still rarely go.

Dravokivich

shane7218 wrote: »

Maybe they should make the content accessible and not sell the rights to Sky, which is not available in many apartments.

Sky are going down the IPTV route.

Arcade_Tryer

matchthis wrote: »

Netflix model is the future

I hope not. Netflix shows are mostly awful.

Dravokivich

Arcade_Tryer wrote: »

I hope not. Netflix shows are mostly awful.

There's one thing Netflix has over Amazon prime and Hulu, you know you don't have to pay extra for content when you've already subscribed.

seamus

Pissing in the wind. Providers will just change domain and/IP address to get around this.

Studios need to accept the new business model and allow paid access to movies soon after the cinema release. People pay for the experience of the cinema moreso than the exclusivity of it. The people streaming movies are people who would never have gone to see these movies in the cinema anyway. They are a non-existent revenue stream, but one which is ripe to be monetised.

Create a PPV model that allows people to easily and legally stream new movies for a small fee and they'll make a killing in revenue. No region locks or provider exclusivity. All platforms, at once.

I rarely bother with Kodi and such, the quality is often awful or has Chinese subtitles, or the stream constantly stuttering or something. Would happily pay 5 euro for one of the latest movies in full HD and smoothly streamed.

Turtyturd

Lexi Muscular Font wrote: »

That's debatable imo.

He is right. If I didn't have to pay to watch football, movies or tv shows I wouldn't stream them.

Turtyturd

Turtyturd wrote: »

He is right. If I didn't have to pay to watch football, movies or tv shows I wouldn't stream them.

Obviously if you didn't have to pay you wouldn't but if you had to pay a "reasonable fee" most would still opt for the illegal free option.

seamus wrote: »

I rarely bother with Kodi and such, the quality is often awful or has Chinese subtitles, or the stream constantly stuttering or something. Would happily pay 5 euro for one of the latest movies in full HD and smoothly streamed.

Downloading is still much better than streaming* to kodi especially with the ability to auto download nowadays so all your shows are just waiting for you to watch.

*kodi is a great piece of software in general though especially running on a raspberry pi where so much can be done in the background also.

The Backwards Man

I have SKY and another means of watching telly, I can watch watch three episodes of a show in 1080p in the time it takes one to download from SKY boxsets. In SD!!

I pay ten cents a day to a crowd that can get me any show, any movie, any webcam around the world, whenever I want it. Sky or Netflix or whoever have a few shows for as long as it suits them and they charge a fortune.

I have no problem paying a fair price for TV, but I'm fcuked if I'm gonna let them ride me.

oneilla

matchthis wrote: »

Netflix model is the future

Netflix are focusing more and more on original content. Its the back catalogues that I'm interested in but there's lots of stuff not available on Netflix and little to no competition - from what I've read, Amazon video's launch was a damp squib.

In theory the technology is right there but studios and distributors are still using the old home video model of regional rights.

I'd like to see the ISPs challenge this hard so they could at least force the plaintiffs to release more info about how many are really "stealing" their content, what the content is and maybe the lost revenue figures could be challenged. I suspect it'll just he nodded through however

SoulTrader

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I have SKY and another means of watching telly, I can watch watch three episodes of a show in 1080p in the time it takes one to download from SKY boxsets. In SD!!

I pay ten cents a day to a crowd that can get me any show, any movie, any webcam around the world, whenever I want it. Sky or Netflix or whoever have a few shows for as long as it suits them and they charge a fortune.

I have no problem paying a fair price for TV, but I'm fcuked if I'm gonna let them ride me.

What site is that if you don't mind me asking?

I'm aware of sites that charge for these services, but in reality all they are doing is pointing you in the direction of content that is available for free (also, illegally) elsewhere.

scopper

Just use a VPN, problem solved.

Jodotman

I download everything i watch in 1080P. Can download a film in less than a minute, A tv series in 15 minutes.
Streaming is for amatuers with stuttering and stoppping and No, I don't use virus ridden torrents.

1080P perfect streaming of every sporting fixture for a tenner a month.

Have a nice little setup on the TV for everything.

Joys of having 300 MB broadband.

The Backwards Man

SoulTrader wrote: »

What site is that if you don't mind me asking?

I'm aware of sites that charge for these services, but in reality all they are doing is pointing you in the direction of content that is available for free (also, illegally) elsewhere.

It's a service that sounds like reel debris through third party add-ons on a media player that rhymes with roadie. I'm saying no more

The thing is though, I'd be happy enough to pay legally for what I get illegally, but nobody provides it.

SoulTrader

Article doesn't make sense, to me at least.

Plaintiffs are asking for ISPs to block access to a few websites. Presumably, the court will either say Yes or No. I don't understand how the article can make the leap to '1.3 million face having their online access cut off'.

The plaintiffs don't have the authority to cut off the internet access of Irish people, nor have they threatened to do it, and nor have they requested that the courts do it.

Atlantic Dawn

Well they did shut down de access to de Pirated Bay and KAT, the skills they have are so great they could knock out access to all de illegal downloading and that.

SoulTrader

The Backwards Man wrote: »

It's a service that sounds like reel debris through third party add-ons on a media player that rhymes with roadie. I'm saying no more

The thing is though, I'd be happy enough to pay legally for what I get illegally, but nobody provides it.

Fair enough, no worries. In fact, I'm glad you didn't say as I think it's against the old Boards charter.

I'm the same too. Football is another one that is crying out for decent quality PPV streaming. I would happily pay a tenner a game to get a good Internet feed rather than having to search online for some ad-infested crap that stops to buffer every thirty seconds!

marklazarcovic

And the movie business has never made as much money,my heart bleeds,every year there are movies making 500 million to a billion ..Just look at the box office takings not even for the bigger films..

Call a spade a spade,it's just more money they want ..It's impacting fcuk all

boobycharlton

What a waste of time. It'll just be like the pirate bay blocking from years ago. Site owners will change domain or customers will use a VPN. I already use a VPN for kodi/acestream anyways so no skin off my arse.

Only one's benefitting out of this are solicitors, as usual.

Cheerful Spring

Who cares i watch shows on Watchseries to because they have shows i can't see elsewhere. I hope the courts tell them to go away and shove it.

My name is URL

slavetothegrind wrote: »

The 1.3 million unique user figure is rediculous , court should have asked for proof or thrown out.

Why do you think it's inaccurate?

My name is URL

buried wrote: »

Somebody needs to tell the Hollywood movie studios its not the internets fault why nobody is going to the cinema anymore. They're not going because what Hollywood is currently making is absolute total f**king rehashed rubbish

Chicken and egg, really.

Films are made to suit cinema going, action hero nerds these days... coz everyone else is happy enough to download a cam copy of what they like.

BunkMoreland

Jodotman wrote: »

I download everything i watch in 1080P. Can download a film in less than a minute, A tv series in 15 minutes.
Streaming is for amatuers with stuttering and stoppping and No, I don't use virus ridden torrents.

Yeah, clueless gombeens with a "secret app" on thier phone or kodi thinking they are great streaming "perfect quality" movies (usually CAM, TS or DVD screeners). They know a fella who'll install it for you for 200 euro!

No thanks, I'll wait a few weeks and download the 1080p DTS/Dolby 5.1 Blu-ray rip.

The Backwards Man

SoulTrader wrote: »

Fair enough, no worries. In fact, I'm glad you didn't say as I think it's against the old Boards charter.

I'm the same too. Football is another one that is crying out for decent quality PPV streaming. I would happily pay a tenner a game to get a good Internet feed rather than having to search online for some ad-infested crap that stops to buffer every thirty seconds!

Aye it's crazy, I had a bet on a 2bundesliga game tonight and I was keeping an eye on it through Sky sport Germany on a half decent stream in between watching something else, even though I have BT sport, but more hassle to change between TV and IPTV

andekwarhola

BunkMoreland wrote: »

Yeah, clueless gombeens with a "secret app" on thier phone or kodi thinking they are great streaming "perfect quality" movies (usually CAM, TS or DVD screeners). They know a fella who'll install it for you for 200 euro!

No thanks, I'll wait a few weeks and download the 1080p DTS/Dolby 5.1 Blu-ray rip.

Frothing at the mouth there a bit, chief.

The Backwards Man

BunkMoreland wrote: »

Yeah, clueless gombeens with a "secret app" on thier phone or kodi thinking they are great streaming "perfect quality" movies (usually CAM, TS or DVD screeners). They know a fella who'll install it for you for 200 euro!

No thanks, I'll wait a few weeks and download the 1080p DTS/Dolby 5.1 Blu-ray rip.

The service that rhymes with roadie is like growing spuds, any eejit can sell you the seed and plant them telling you you'll have balls of flower, but if you don't weed, tap and wall them yourself you'll end up with a ball of dung.

BunkMoreland

The Backwards Man wrote: »

The service that rhymes with roadie is like growing spuds, any eejit can sell you the seed and plant them telling you you'll have balls of flower, but if you don't weed, tap and wall them yourself you'll end up with a ball of dung.

Indeed.

The Backwards Man

BunkMoreland wrote: »

Indeed.

Anybody that has a vegetable garden or ever flirted with ham radio will know what I'm talking about

Yourself isit

Arcade_Tryer wrote: »

I hope not. Netflix shows are mostly awful.

Netflix has some good stuff