So so sad to report that BTefnet is now down. Hands down the best TV show provider I’ve seen in my short life of torrenting. Now, from what I understand, they are being sued. Maybe someone can clear this up for me, under what legal grounds is this possible? When it comes to movies, I can understand the argument that the movies are out in theatres, that they are being distributed and that there are copyright infringement issues as well. However, which arguments are being used with television shows?
Ratings?
What’s wrong with me – who is currently in another country – downloading a television show and watching it at the same time as everyone else back at home? What’s the difference between me taping it or TiVo-ing it and watching it later?
If it’s HBO or some sort of show I’d need to pay for, I kinda understand. It’s a service that’s – for all intents and purposes – being “stolen”. However, don’t people tape shows and watch them with people who don’t pay for HBO? Or what about the series finale party of Sex and the City in which bars would host big events and lots of people – many of whom didn’t pay for HBO – would come watch that show?
I was talking with my lawyer friend several months ago and she mentioned that the tricky part isn’t so much in downloading it and watching it per se , but that it was in helping distribute it to large groups of people.
So it’s ok for me to tape my show at home and watch it with my girlfriend, my siblings, and some friends, but it’s not ok to share it with larger groups of people?
If anyone’s got any insight on this, I really would appreciate it.
By the way, Btefnet shut down maybe 2 days ago. At first I thought it was a minor problem and tried back a couple of hours later…no luck. So I Googled it to see if anyone else was having the same problem…apparently I wasn’t the only one!