United States Legislation

In the US copyright law is upheld by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) While simply streaming (watching without saving) content may appear less hazardous than sharing it it could still be viewed as a form of public presentation or even copying under certain interpretations Internet providers often send notices or reduce speeds based on identified activity connected to unauthorized streaming websites Repeated offenders may have their services stopped or in uncommon high-profile instances face legal proceedings

The main emphasis usually stays on those who distribute pirated content but users accessing such content are functioning in a legally unclear area with possible though less frequent consequences

European Union Legislation

EU law particularly following the 2017 decision by the European Court of Justice (CJEU) adopts a more stringent position This decision clarified that streaming copyrighted content knowingly from an unauthorized location is an act of copyright violation This is