Allison Masikip, Chinglam Lee, Daniel Shak, Kichan Lee
Storified by cat125rgroup · Fri, Mar 11 2016 13:29:37
In recent years achievements in technology have opened the door for new methods of media use and ownership specifically movie streaming. This progress has been fueled by the younger generation who work with newer technology and use it themselves to access online content such as movies. The advances in internet network speed, bandwidth and connectivity in addition to video quality, storage and compression have created a convenient and easy to use platform to spread various forms of media and contribute to the relative easiness of movie streaming. In effect, these new tools have fostered a new domain of ethical issues surrounding ownership of movie rights, accessibility to cinematic content, and advancement of creativity. In this new era of technology how is the right balance between protecting and recognizing the original producers and fueling the public interests and their need for cinema accessibility found? What approaches should be taken to address rampant movie streaming and improve current methods of regulation?
What is Movie Streaming?
Movie streaming is a newer method of video viewing enabled by advances in technology. It enables copyrighted material to be widely seen for free. Streaming allows a person to watch a movie online without having to download a file. As long as the viewer is connected to the internet he/she can continually watch a movie by receiving small packages or data packets to view. This form of illegal distribution of movies is increasing in popularity and is often preferred than slow downloads since it is faster, cleaner and more convenient. Furthermore, it also avoids the hassle of having an illegal copy of a movie on one's own computer.
Movie streaming is convenient and easy to do. Individual users who stream movies often times see nothing wrong with what they are doing since they are not the ones uploading movies. Viewers simply see that they do not have to pay for a movie. In the big picture this individualistic mindset is detrimental to the advancement of intellectual property. It does not direct credit and support back to the original creators and takes away from the incentives of producing original work. This incentive or reward is one of the biggest motivators pushing innovation. The idea that one will receive credit and social value for original work is what pushes progress. Without this idea or mindset it is easy to become complacent. Hence why laws were created and adapted to fit this new issue.
Movie Streaming and Its Dance With the Law
The act of movie streaming sits in a gray area of the law.
CNN has even reported Popcorn Time to be one of the easiest online streaming site for pirated movies with only having the need for an internet web browser. With its simple interface access to illegal torrents has been easier than ever.
Let's look at our contenders...
NETFLIX and chill?
Netflix is one of many global providers that provides legal online streaming of various types of media entertainment for a subscription price. Many of us either mooch off a friend's account or have our parents pay for these $10/month subscriptions to gain easy access to a certain set of released movies each month.
PUTLOCKER and chill?
Putlocker along with many online free streaming websites such as Popcorn time, Megashare Megaupload etc. are able to provide its audience free streaming of movies, TV shows, sports events and more with just the need of access to the internet and a keen eye for choosing which are the right buttons to press for the least amount of pop-up ads.
