Why Some Legal Movie Download Sites Aren't What They Seem
So, you want to finally take the plunge and start legally downloading movies, huh? Well, before you jump in with both feet there are a few things you should know about sites dubbing themselves a legal avenue for movie downloads.
Firstly, to be considered a "legal" source of movie downloads, a company must enter into a contract with motion picture companies such as Paramount, Sony, Disney, or 20th Century Fox for permissions to redistribute their property to the general public. If this contract is non-existent, then so too is their right to redistribute movies whether online or off. If you ask a movie download service to provide you with this proof before making any commitments with them, they should be able to do so. However, if they cannot, or will not, then it's a good bet you should bypass their services.
Motion picture associations will be very particular about how their property can be redistributed to consumers. That is the reason for so many rules and regulations placed by the legal movie download companies. There are strict guidelines that must be followed to be considered a "legal" distributor.
A second tell-tale sign that things may not be on the up-and-up is the selection of downloadable titles available. Motion picture associations are very picky about the movie titles they allow to be downloaded by consumers. Therefore, selection isn't always the greatest. Especially with newer titles. So, if a company that claims they are legally allowed to redistribute certain titles that may not even be available to purchase from brick-and-mortar stores yet, could be falsifying their credentials as legal distributors.
Another great way to weed out the legal movie download sites' permissions is to read the fine print. Are there download services based on P2P, or Peer 2 Peer, networks? If so, then it's a good bet that they may not be legally allowed to redistribute the movie titles within their "collections". P2P Networks rely on the huge consumer base to have titles and then "share" them between each other. This wording will clearly be stated on their sites along with the noticable legal statement that they are not held liable for illegal distribution of copyrighted materials. This is the biggest warning sign for consumers to be aware of and look for.
And, as always, remember the buyer's golden rule. . .
"If It Seems To Good To Be True, It Probably Is".
