Probably the most popular video streaming site around has been busted by UK authorities.It's a sad day for streaming video fans everywhere as news has been reported that TVLinks has been shut down and the owner, a 26yo man from Chelteham in the UK, was arrested. Update: TVLinks alternativesUpdate#2: TVLinks to Return 'Soon?'Though not hosting an actual content himself, and rather merely providing links to where particular titles can be found, he was nonetheless apparently charged for the "facilitation" of copyright infringement. "Sites such as TV Links contribute to and profit from copyright infringement by identifying, posting, organizing, and indexing links to infringing content found on the internet that users can then view on demand by visiting these illegal sites," said a spokesman for Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) today. What makes the charges so odd is that he was again, only providing LINKS to pirated content, and never actually hosted anything. Can linking really be considered "facilitation?" If I link to TVLinks am I then a co-conspirator? Here's the TVLinks disclaimer:
TV Links is not responsible for any content linked to or referred to from these pages.TV Links does not host any content on our ServersAll video links point to content hosted on third party webites. Users who upload to these websites agree not to upload illegal content when creating their user accounts. TV Links does not accept responsibility for content hosted on third party websites.The notion of making linking a crime is ridiculous and completely out of line. How would anybody be able to discuss controversial sites or content if they first had to ensure the legality of the destination? Would we have to make it so that links were simply spelled out and not HTML capable(www.tvlinks.co.uk vs TVLinks)? Maybe this is the answer because I think then it could fall under the category of speech. Furthermore, it really shows that Google is getting away with bloody murder via sites like YouTube and Google Video. FACT goes on to revisit the same old diatribe about how piracy is stealing food from form the tables of people who work in the film industry, but with guys like Brad Pitt reportedly getting $20million bucks to make trash like "Babel" who's really robbing who? Couldn't Pitt be paid a little less, say $15 million, and leave that other 5 for the "starving" film crew? I guess not "The theft and distribution of films harms the livelihoods of those working in the UK film industry and in ancillary industries, as well as damaging the economy," said FACT's director general Kieron Sharp. What's even more surprising is that the move was part of an overall strategy to crack down on piracy, though all it does is target a middleman who tells you where to go. More importantly, will its demise really compel people to find content legally or to suddenly run down to their local cinema? I think not, and all it means, as is usually the case with piracy, is that people will just go elsewhere. Either way R.I.P. TVLinks, it was nice while it lasted. Maybe once again we have a case where Sweden's the only answer. ALSO READ: TVLinks AlternativesLooking for more stuff to watch or download?
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Just wondering why the TV companies haven't used the internet to stream TV as it is. They really just too stupid to look at it as another form for advertising money?
http://nosubscriptionrequired.blogspot.com/
[1] No Registration
[2] No Downloads
[3] No Fees
best regards
Norman Roberts.
Webmaster NSR
Free Movie Streams.
tv-links kinda sucked, tv-life was much nicer and i think it had much more links.
http://www.tv-life.com
http://blog.buttermouth.com/2006/10/top-25-sites-to-watch-free-movies-and.html
Please consider support these guys, we have started a ChipIn to raise funds to assist in their legal defence. This case is about linking, what can you link to and what can’t you. This issue should recieve proportional debate as it affects us all. tv-links.co.uk did not reach 182 in the Alexa charts on their own, they had users and millions of them.
Perhaps, we could all support them with more than just our blog posts.
Please consider supporting tv-links.co.uk’s case with more than just our blog posts:
http://humanopinion.org/support_for_tvlinks
http://humanopinion.org/support_for_tvlinks
http://www.save-tv-links.co.uk
Anyone who has any ideas that would make this site more functional please get in touch.
Elton1
http://masti101.net