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0 pointsDarkShikari15y ago0 comments

Content that has been permitted by the owner is released in your country, when the owner permits.

There is no legal means for someone to restrict where and when I can and cannot choose to view or use content I own, as much as they would love to think so. And they indeed love to think so: I've actually seen companies claim that it is illegal to use the software they sell outside of the country they sell it in.

If a movie by company X is released in country A but not country B, company X cannot prevent me from watching their movie in country B. I may have to go out of my way to import a copy, but there is nothing illegal about doing so (at least not under the laws of typical Western countries).

If this wasn't true, it would basically be illegal to take any sort of media-carrying device (laptop, iPod, etc) outside of the country where you bought the relevant media.

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6 comments · 3 top-level

wccrawford15y ago· 3 in thread

And so you can import it, assuming your country's laws permit.

But if you want the content owner to sell it to you directly, you'll have to wait for them want to do so. The reasons for them not wanting to do so could include laws, expenses, or other craziness that you aren't aware of.

Believe it or not, we experience the same crap here in the US in regards to foreign stuff. BBC shows are really popular here, but are usually delayed at best. Trying to find foreign-language stuff is almost impossible.

So while I share your pain, I also know that there's more to it than it might appear at first glance.

cabalamat15y ago

> But if you want the content owner to sell it to you directly, you'll have to wait for them want to do so.

.. or use BitTorrent!

If the content owner refuses to sell the content to someone, then that person isn't depriving them of any income by pirating it. If an activity harms no-one, then it can't be immoral to do it. If the law says otherwise, it's a bad law.

goatforce515y ago

The content owner would argue something along the lines that you're depriving them the opportunity to have a market to sell that show to a distributor (TV channel, DVD wholesaler, etc) in your area.

The potential value of any distribution deal falls as the original need is satisfied via the use of unauthorized distribution methods.

Having said that, I don't feel particularly bad about downloading stuff that's never released in my market.

wccrawford15y ago

If someone refuses to sell you the Mona Lisa for the price you want, it's okay to copy it?

Because let's be honest, they aren't just refusing to sell the TV episode to you... They're refusing to sell it at market rates. If you offered them a million dollars for the latest episode of XYZ show, they'd make it happen on your schedule.

What you're saying is that if you can't have it your way, it's perfectly ethical to just take it. And I can't agree with that.

2 more replies

jamaicahest15y ago

In Denmark they passed a law some years ago making it illegal for shops to import region 1 DVDs to resell. And I doubt we're the only country with laws like that.

imgabe15y ago

> I've actually seen companies claim that it is illegal to use the software they sell outside of the country they sell it in.

This isn't directly relevant to copyright, but there are indeed export controls on some technologies to prevent them from leaving the country and it is illegal to export them.

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