[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

This thread contains a bunch of gobbledygook.

In my opinion, the simple answer to the OP's question is NO.

That's the logical & seemingly correct answer but not so simple. There is a lot more to it as per the link a few messages back. Of course an expensive lawyer would be required.

This article: When is streaming illegal? What you need to know about pirated content

[Carla B]

Originally Posted by bimmertl

Suspects sold ‘jail broken’ Amazon Fire Sticks at Florida flea market, deputies say

It would be interesting to see what will happen to this motley crew.

[swooner]

Believe the bill Congress passed yesterday officially makes it a felony. Beware the Villages trolls!

[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by swooner

Believe the bill Congress passed yesterday officially makes it a felony. Beware the Villages trolls!

Yes, but not for "end stealers" like "The Villages People" buying at Marion Market but only those selling for a profit like the folks at the flea markets. It's amazing what gets stuck and hidden away inside bills to get them passed. This new law was stuck on page 200 of the new stimulus bill.

The story: The new stimulus bill makes illegal streaming a felony – TechCrunch

Copied from above link: Senator Tillis also issued a press release noting that the legislation was co-led by Senator Patrick Leahy (a Democrat from Vermont) and emphasizing that it will only apply to “commercial, for-profit streaming piracy services.”

[pauld315]

In Polk County this week

Four arrested for selling illegal Amazon Fire TV Sticks - YouTube

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by EdFNJ

Yes, but not for "end stealers" like "The Villages People" buying at Marion Market but only those selling for a profit like the folks at the flea markets. It's amazing what gets stuck and hidden away inside bills to get them passed. This new law was stuck on page 200 of the new stimulus bill.

The story: The new stimulus bill makes illegal streaming a felony – TechCrunch

Copied from above link: Senator Tillis also issued a press release noting that the legislation was co-led by Senator Patrick Leahy (a Democrat from Vermont) and emphasizing that it will only apply to “commercial, for-profit streaming piracy services.”

The stimulus bill wasn't JUST the stimulus bill. It was also the bill to keep the government open, and that part of the bill was put in there with encouragement from both the House and the Senate, because everyone wants to keep the government up and running, and they didn't want to have to convene twice for two totally separate bills (which they would have had to do, if they weren't combined).

Regardless:

The reason why it's illegal to use a jailbroken firestick is this: the things you plan on streaming, were produced by people. There were actors, grips, catering companies, lighting people, makeup people, camera operators, assistants, site managers, wardrobe managers and assistants, transportation crews, limo services, copy editors, coffee-fetchers, "best boys" (it's a term in the industry), etc. etc. All of these people have to get paid. Some of them get paid a fee, plus residuals. It's in their union contract.

When you steal content, you are stealing their paycheck. If you LIKE something enough that you want to stream it, then you need to pay if they normally charge for it. Otherwise, you are DIRECTLY responsible for the increase of the costs of original content. No one wants to be stuck working for a "best-seller" that no one actually pays for.

[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

The reason why it's illegal to use a jailbroken firestick is this: the things you plan on streaming, were produced by people.

RE: Stimulus bill ... yea, well aware of that but some of the pork in it is mind boggling. WRT streaming, From someone's article liked above (and I never realized it) it doesn't seem to be ILLEGAL to use one but it is to sell one. I don't believe an individual was ever arrested for simply USING any streaming device or computer to watch a posted video but definitely have been for posting/sharing files for others. That being said I agree with you for the reasons you stated that it isn't "morally legal". Kind of like music downloading which I'm sure no one does here either. <cough>.

Interesting article WRT the LEGALITIES of end-users streaming. When is streaming illegal? What you need to know about pirated content

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by EdFNJ

RE: Stimulus bill ... yea, well aware of that but some of the pork in it is mind boggling. WRT streaming, From someone's article liked above (and I never realized it) it doesn't seem to be ILLEGAL to use one but it is to sell one. I don't believe an individual was ever arrested for simply USING any streaming device or computer to watch a posted video but definitely have been for posting/sharing files for others. That being said I agree with you for the reasons you stated that it isn't "morally legal". Kind of like music downloading which I'm sure no one does here either. <cough>.

Interesting article WRT the LEGALITIES of end-users streaming. When is streaming illegal? What you need to know about pirated content

I'm not familiar with the website you linked. Music downloading, and in fact downloading ANY copyrighted material (including anything that shows up on your jailbroken Firestick) that you aren't expressly authorized to download, is not just morally illegal. It's illegal, period. Bypassing legal means to download copyrighted material is against copyright law.

STREAMING - is not the same as downloading, and unfortunately technology has outpaced the law with regards to copyrighted material. Basically - if a content provider provides content that never actually gets loaded onto your computer, TV, your cloud account, or any other device you own, then you aren't liable. But if the content provider provides content that ends up saved to your device, or in your cloud account, then you are responsible if that material is copyrighted and you didn't have express permission to take possession of it.

Both of these things - streaming and downloading - can take place on a Firestick. Both of them can take place on a jailbroken Firestick.

This page is from the Recording Industry, regarding copyright law as it applies to recorded music and the internet:

About Piracy - RIAA

For any other copyrighted work, and accessing it, or using devices to circumvent authorized access, see here:
https://www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf
An explanation of section 1201 starts at the bottom of page 3.

So - it is illegal. You won't go to jail for accessing copyrighted material using a jailbroken device. But you can be sued for it, and lose the suit, and monetary damages. Will you be sued for it? Probably not, ever. But that doesn't make it legal. Or merely "morally illegal." It's illegal.