– This question has highlighted the senses of the IP world, sometimes confusing even the top advocates for Intellectual Property Matters!
Well, downloading a content from torrent is not totally illegal unless that content is a copyrighted or DRM (Digital Rights Management) protected, which in turn will lead to piracy. Torrents are not unlawful per se, but what one tends to download from them is a matter of question. Copyright protection is the most widely used Intellectual Property to avoid the piracy world. The punishment depends on the content that has been shared and pirated. DRM protected content is an approach taken in to protect copyright in the digital world. It prevents redistribution of the digital media and restricts further copying of the material once purchased. DRM laws are strict in nature as they grab both – the person who shared, and the person who downloaded the content. Therefore, downloading any content whether it’s legal or illegal, without paying, may lead up to piracy.
What are torrents and how do they work?
Torrent technology in simple words means – “files” working on the basis of space sharing. These files contain information about other files that are distributed. In simple words, one does not upload a content on torrents but creates links to that specific file and that ‘torrents file’ is used by downloads. Such a technology is used in office space to share work that is allowed.
Movies have copyrighted content and downloading a movie via torrent is not illegal unless it’s not paid for or allowed as matter of fact. “Tamil rockers” one of India’s most popular torrent websites was recently interviewed and revealed the gloomy world of torrents. The interview proposed captivating insights with respect to the functioning of the websites and that everybody uses it.
Mr. Bhaskar Kumar, an x-administrator of the site was interviewed well. He revealed that the site worked well because of the high demand from the viewers regardless of the conceivable repercussions. He even gave understandings of techniques used by the torrent sites to acquire copies of new releases. Some of which are:
- Negotiating with the staff members of the studios and then obtaining the copy in exchange of some consideration. Later, threating the producers for payoff.
- Getting access to the secured links send by Worldwide Film Distribution Technology (“WFD”) by setting up deals with the theatres.
- Making a copy by actual recording from the theatre itself.
Nonetheless, these “Tamil Rockers” have been warned by the industry, but, the singularity with respect to torrent and movie conflict will continue as long as there is high and fair demand in the market.
So, reasons why people go in for illegal download of content (movies, songs, games, series, software, books…etc) via torrents irrespective of its being an illegal activity:
- Going with the flow concept among friends and peers even though they know it’s wrong but they have justification by saying “Everybody does it”.
- Some people think that whatever is on internet is free and hence do not know about the illegality attached.
- Do not want to pay for the content
- Delay release in the country.
- Using it for short period of time
