Δύο μεγάλα κινηματογραφικά συνδικάτα προτρέπουν την κυβέρνηση των ΗΠΑ, να ποινικοποιήσει το streaming. Τα two απο τα μεγαλύτερα κινηματογραφικά συνδικάτα περιγράφουν το streaming σαν την προτιμώμενη σημερινή οπτική εμπειρία και υποστηρίζουν ότι όλοι οι εμπλεκόμενοι παραβιάζουν πνευματικά δικαιώματα και θα πρέπει να αντιμετωπίζουν ποινές φυλάκισης.
Please note that under US law, streaming and file sharing are considered as two different offenses. Not only from a technical point of view, but also from a criminal standpoint.
Streaming is characterized as public view instead of distribution, and treated as a misdemeanor rather than a felony.
Lawmakers have already tried to change it with the Commercial Felony Streaming Act, 2011, according to TorrentFreak, but also with the forthcoming SOPA and PIPA bills.
Let's recall that the bills were filed after the public outcry, as many were afraid that even uploading a copyrighted video from YouTube could potentially send them a jail.
So the confusion between streaming and traditional file sharing still remains today, and it seems as if big film companies will try to put it on the political agenda very soon.
This week Managers and Guild of America, Inc. (DGA) and the International Alliance of Theater Stage Employees (IATSE) responded to a public consultation conducted by the US Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC), where Daniel Marti asked them to comment on the new Intellectual Property Plan.
"Our members have clearly been affected by copyright infringement and digital theft," the unions said.
"Digital theft erodes the ability of those involved to earn a living and feed their families, depleting the vitality of their pensions and their health."
Traditionally much more emphasis was placed on piracy via P2P file-sharing, and soon after streaming. The problem, according to the unions, is that the law still sees it as smaller offense.
“While illegal uploading of our members' works remains the best known method of theft on the Internetnetwork, το παράνομο streaming έχει γίνει στην πραγματικότητα η προτιμώμενη εμπειρία ήχου και image on the internet", they say.
"Unfortunately, the law is not in line with these new consumer habits. "While illegal downloading and distribution is a crime, intentionally illegal, and commercial streaming of movies, TV shows, and music remains a misdemeanor."
"We believe that the law should reflect the reality of the digital world. Quite simply, streaming is a criminal offense and has not been criminalized. "