US Streaming Copyright Law

Is streaming copyrighted content from platforms like fmovies legal in US?

Streaming copyrighted content from platforms like fmovies is not legal in the United States. According to the Protecting Lawful Streaming Act of 2020, which is part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, there are significantly increased criminal penalties for those who illegally stream copyrighted material willfully and for commercial advantage or private financial gain. This act was introduced to address the issue of illegal streaming, which was previously treated as a misdemeanor, and under the new law, the Department of Justice can bring felony charges against providers of such illegal services, though not typically against users【9†source】.

In a relevant court case from May 3, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District Of New York issued three Default Judgments and Permanent Injunction Orders in copyright infringement lawsuits. This decision is significant because it involves an injunction that applies to every Internet Service Provider (ISP) within the U.S., mandating them to block access to the defendants' illegal streaming websites. The court found the defendants liable for direct, vicarious, and contributory copyright infringement for rebroadcasting and streaming, in the United States, content that was owned by the plaintiffs or exclusively licensed for broadcasting and streaming in Israel. Additionally, the defendants were found liable for violating the anti-circumvention provision of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)【19†source】【20†source】.

The court's injunction orders all ISPs to block access to the defendants’ websites, including any future sites they may use, using any technological means available on the ISPs’ systems. This decision underscores the seriousness with which the U.S. legal system is treating the illegal streaming of copyrighted content【21†source】.

Do you need more clarifications? Or shall I find other laws which apply?