United States Law

In the U S copyright law is managed by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act DMCA Just viewing content without downloading might seem safer than sharing it but it could still be seen as showing it publicly or copying it in some ways Internet providers often send warnings or slow down speeds if they see activity related to unofficial viewing sites People who break the rules repeatedly might have their service stopped or in rare cases face legal action

The main focus is usually on those who share illegal content but people who watch it are in a legally uncertain area with possible though less common consequences

European Union Law

EU law especially after the 2017 decision by the European Court of Justice CJEU is stricter This decision made it clear that