We're not saying we've ever downloaded anything off the internet that wasn't 100% on the up and up, or that we're here to judge those who have. We just thought it'd be fun to post all the various rationales we've heard over the years by those who do to justify their potentially shady activities. Some of these sound like pretty good reasons to us, but we doubt any of them would hold up in court if the MPAA ever came a knocking. Regardless, if you do download gray area content you might want to have a couple of these ready, and by all means let us know which ones we missed.
- I ran out of tuners on my DVR.
- I accidentally deleted the show.
- My DVR hard drive crashed.
- I don't get that channel in HD.
- My cable was out.
- I have satellite and it was pouring rain.
- I don't live in the US and the show isn't available here.
- I delete the shows after I watch them once.
- The show isn't available on Blu-ray.
- I live in a valley and can't get over-the-air.
posted Jun 30th 2009 at 2:22PM
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
HTML0000 @ Jun 30th 2009 2:27PM
A comet crashed into the earth's surface and destroyed my Tivo.
EatingPie @ Jun 30th 2009 10:59PM
I pay for every single HD cable channel download only shows I pay for via my cable bill.
-Pie
Joey P @ Jun 30th 2009 2:35PM
I don't own a TV and/or I don't subscribe to cable TV.
I'm Internet only.
Jon @ Jun 30th 2009 2:36PM
Do you think ... "I hate Commercials and the nice Up loaders get rid of them for me" .. Would Fly ?
TLoganK @ Jun 30th 2009 2:40PM
or how about "I only watched 2% of the channels I had, so why would I pay $100/month for crap I don't care about?"
bellevegasj @ Jun 30th 2009 2:44PM
How about:
because I'm an American?
or
my dog ate my homework.
I waited until the entire BSG 2nd season was over and dl'd it in one huge file. I got a warning from my cable company for doing so. I wanted watch it all at once. On my pc. Commercial free. I do have a dvr and the channel. I could have recorded it with a push(maybe 2) of a button, but I didn't. Convenience. I'm lazy.
engage @ Jun 30th 2009 2:51PM
Here's one: "The quality of downloaded broadcasts is usually better than what cable provides." Satellite broadcasts especially tend to be clearer, with less video noise, graininess, etc.
BTW, "poring" = "pouring."
Galley @ Jun 30th 2009 2:49PM
How about: "The show is not available to watch legally online (i.e. "The Big Bang Theory")?".
Miguelitosd @ Jul 1st 2009 4:00PM
Yeah, what's up with that? I bought the first season via iTunes and watched on my apple TV and was happy with it (I just did that a month or two ago). But for some reason, no option for season 2.. via iTunes, Amazon, etc. I don't even see full eps online via hulu or anything. I've been catching up on s2 a little by recording the re-runs on my Tivo, pulling them down, converting, removing commercials, then dumping into itunes. Yeah, it's extra steps, but I often like to run shows in the background while doing other things and like to have a copy to save without commercials.
I've gotten a couple of shows from a few years ago online, only because they don't sell it on DVD or via any other method I can see.
Hello studios/networks! I want to give you my money, but if you don't make it possible to do so, don't whine when I download it off the net.
Every other show or movie that I have that was available to purchase, I legally purchased.
Andrew @ Jun 30th 2009 2:52PM
Becasue I pay for cable and you have my money anyways!
Schwinn @ Jul 1st 2009 8:39AM
Add to that... Comcast's picture quality SUCKS
Funny how even analog rips have better quality than my crappy cable!
Yes, I've repeatedly contacted them about this, and they have simply blown me off. Nice huh? And no, I can't get DSS or FIOS in my area... competition rules!
lakersin2025 @ Jun 30th 2009 2:56PM
Because I don't get HD locals here in Eureka, CA. Plus I just found out about True Blood on HBO!
Numbn8 @ Jun 30th 2009 3:00PM
The local ABC channel (in Pittsburgh) decided to talk and speculate about a storm cloud that looks like a tornado from 8PM straight through till 11PM. (true story)
Dave @ Jun 30th 2009 4:11PM
I know, right? How else could we have watched "I survived a Japanese game show"
Evan @ Jun 30th 2009 3:01PM
Because no one offers legal downloads with a *full* selection of shows here in Canada.
RockinOscar @ Jun 30th 2009 3:04PM
2. i accidentally the whole show*
numerwan @ Jun 30th 2009 3:09PM
because i thought it would be funny?
Shenanigans @ Jun 30th 2009 3:10PM
With Hulu and Netflix, there is no need for me to torrent TV shows or movies. A DVI to HDMI cable and MacTheRipper are all the tools I need in my arsonal to stick it to the studios.
All they gotta do for my money is release my favorites on blu-ray: Office, House, Scrubs, Bones, Law and Order (includes SVU and CI), and maybe CSI:NY and Chuck. I'll gladly cancel Netflix, upgrade my receiver and speakers, and fully convert to purchasing blu-ray. Also, toss in a indie flick every new release Tuesday.
Comcast can suck it till the day I die. I ain't paying $80 a month just to get a few HD channels that compressed to the bone and are usually filled with crap to watch. OTA HD FTW!
doug @ Jun 30th 2009 3:12PM
Because, although I pay $75/mo for cable, the HD signal in my area SUCKS and I refuse to pay $30 more a month on top of a $450-$700 box (Shaw Cable) for pixelation. The lack of commercials is a bonus.
S4Rs @ Jun 30th 2009 3:15PM
I do use my DVR whenever possible but Cable costs to much for me to pay for "premium" content as well. There are plenty of channels I get though, that I wish I didn't. And its so easy!
Multi-format-mayhem @ Jun 30th 2009 3:25PM
How about -
I live in a country where recording TV shows is legal and we already went through this stupid sh*t with video-taping?
Time for them to wake up and smell reality.
This horse has well and truly bolted and we have a population (around the world) well used to recording TV and Radio shows (including movies).
Recording to your own burnt DVD is no more a 'threat' to official sales than being able to record a TV series, record a film or record music on your own video/audio tape ever was.
The only real scandal here is the abuse of the law and the waste of time and money spent dragging people through the Courts for doing nothing more than what they once did with an audio cassette or video tape recorder and it's a crime how they get away with those outrageous fines.
It's cruel and unusual punishment (being little more than selecting the occasional 'example' to be held up to the rest of us) and it's totally at odds with any 'damage' done of imagined 'loss' suffered.
It sure as hell isn't 'Justice'.
David Hildreth @ Jun 30th 2009 3:38PM
Because it's a better product than cable or satellite.
shawnmos @ Jun 30th 2009 4:01PM
What i don't understand is how DVR is legal but downloading is not. I know the commercials aren't intact, but who doesn't fast forward over the commercials on their DVR? Also, if the commercials were intact torrenting a show would still be illegal correct? Why?
Michael @ Jun 30th 2009 4:03PM
Because I single handily want to destroy the movie industry, my inspiration comes from my hero Benjamin Franklin who destroyed the book industry when he invented the library.
AutumnBringer @ Jun 30th 2009 6:13PM
Yeah, good thing he destroyed the book industry. Barnes was ok, but that Noble guy was really a jerk.
Ari @ Jul 8th 2009 9:43AM
Which goes to show you that there are certain people that will pay for content despite it being available for free (or whatever library fees your local branch wants to charge, which is as close to free as possible). And that those two worlds can coexist. But corporate greed is afraid of progress and will try its best to stifle it.
Isaac @ Jun 30th 2009 4:08PM
Believe it or not, I no longer download illegally. Between my PS3, Netflix, Hulu, Playon, and OTA HD, I have everything I could possibly want to watch and more.
Jon @ Jun 30th 2009 6:38PM
HAHA
vailrulestheworld @ Jun 30th 2009 4:22PM
How about "American Idol ran past its scheduled time, so I missed the final 5 minutes of Fringe"
gib @ Jun 30th 2009 6:22PM
People actually watch Fringe?
*shrugs*
shawnmos @ Jul 1st 2009 5:08PM
yes
Kaveman @ Jul 10th 2009 4:57PM
Funny, you and I must have downloaded the same episode of Fringe for the same reason.
American Idol! What a bunch of wallies...
schhim @ Jun 30th 2009 4:31PM
I live in America and Top Gear doesn't air here.
BPR @ Jun 30th 2009 7:53PM
That's funny, I've been watching Top Gear on BBC America since I ordered Direct TV earlier this year. Also, in mid July BBC America is going from SD to HD.
Zerohour @ Jul 1st 2009 1:20PM
That's funny. You do realize that you're a series behind, right?
David S @ Jul 2nd 2009 5:50PM
BBC America also deletes the news segment, which is the most comedic part of the show.
grangerfx @ Jun 30th 2009 4:33PM
"If it is free, it is not stealing."
Most people, myself included, cannot understand what is wrong with downloading a TV show I could have recorded from an over the air broadcast on my DVR (or VCR).
"If I already paid for it, it is not stealing."
Those of us paying outrageously high cable or satelite TV bills know that we have already paid for the content. Whether we record it ourselves when it is broadcast or download it later should make no difference. What the heck are we paying for if it is not for the content?
"Because the MPAA has called us all thieves with the annoying 'you wouldn't steal' video and endless FBI warnings on the front of each DVD we purchase and now w want them to die."
With every grandma or 4 year old they sue and every threat they make on their DVDs, we hate them more and more. Their rediculous DRM and region restrictions keep us from using the content we have legitimately purchased. At this point we would do just about anything to put the hurt on these guys. Nothing will put these fools out of business quicker than rampant piracy of their content.
Arcaria @ Jun 30th 2009 4:52PM
Don't you think putting them out of business might be a little counterproductive?
grangerfx @ Jun 30th 2009 4:59PM
Let me think...
No!
If they go out of business, a more consumer friendly business will take their place.
Robert @ Jun 30th 2009 4:38PM
Cox Cable in San Diego... NBC HD was so terrible that I missed the last two episodes of Chuck and the last big golf tourney that Mickelson was trying to win for his wife. Not to mention, WB for my guilty pleasure show Smallville sucks as well. I would DL it if I didn't think I'd get a letter from Cox or worse... service termination.
kcmurphy88 @ Jun 30th 2009 4:38PM
Because it was only broadcast overseas.
Because I'm me, and I deserve to watch this.
"What's a dollar to Steven Spielberg, anyway?"
Prc329 @ Jun 30th 2009 4:56PM
What about "I forgot to set my DVR" or "We don't get BBC America in HD" or "My media center crashed and didn't tape the show"
Matt @ Jun 30th 2009 5:01PM
Humph. Why haven't I been using rss with my uTorrent?
Stevo @ Jun 30th 2009 5:38PM
"Because the videotaped copy my friend loaned me broke, and, well, hulu doesn't stream as fast as the torrent on dial-up"
Bill @ Jun 30th 2009 5:55PM
this is engadget why would they want to link it to your site? stop spamming here, "Vince"!
EvilWaterman @ Jun 30th 2009 6:34PM
Because my stupid local affiliate aired some stupid local crap instead of the scheduled show.
This happened to me twice this last year with Fox.
Mike @ Jun 30th 2009 7:15PM
Actually, if they would just allow Hulu to stream 720p and to a set-top box (ex: Roku, Xbox 360, PS3, etc) - then most ppl who do this sort of thing would probably stop. Hulu Desktop is a step in the right direction. If only we could get the networks to put up EVERYTHING they have at HD (where appropriate, 720p version of Addams Family probably wouldn't make sense).
Vince @ Jun 30th 2009 8:15PM
Hey Bill, thanks for checking out our site. The only spam we give out comes in a blue tin can.
badweasel @ Jun 30th 2009 7:50PM
So... it's legal to record a show to VHS and keep it forever. That held up in court in the 80's. And actually I think it was Sony who fought for us to be able to do it.. so they could sell BetaMax machines.
Bring that into a modern age. It's legal to record a show with my Humax Tivo (the one with the built in DVD burner) and then burn a copy to a DVD - and keep that forever. Not talking about sharing.. just burning for your own use.
But in HD land there's not many technical WAYs to do this... there is such a thing as HD VHS which would allow you to record a show (over hd component). Or you can record it to an HD TiVo and keep it on there for a long time. I've done this. But it's stuck there and can't be moved to another TV without moving your Tivo to a different TV. Ahh - You can record shows off the air with, say, an Elgato eyeTV.
So If I have cable and a elgato eyetv I can legally record shows in HD and keep them on a drive, convert them to whatever, and watch them whenever. It's legal.
What's the difference between doing that and (if you have cable) downloading the file that someone else recorded? You have the same file either way but in the latter someone else did the work and shared it with you. Either way don't you have the same legal right to have the file in your possession? Who's to say you didn't record it yourself?
COMMENTS?
Multi-format-mayhem @ Jun 30th 2009 9:18PM
My HD DVR (Sky HD in the UK) allows me to swap out the hard drive from the stock 300gb one to 1.5tb and I can store anything I like on it, movies, music, TV shows whatever.
The entire 'debate' boils down to nothing more than timing and convenience, the means of obtaining what you are paying for anyways is irrelevant.
I pay for the full channel package (including sports and movie and HD), I am not getting anything by obtaining a download that I would not get via the service I pay for anyways (and even there Sky have a movie downloading service now).
The idea that I am 'stealing' anything is as illogical as it is absurd as it is hilarious.
The truth is that the industry has to wake up to the fact that when you release things to digital you lose all control.
They hate that and for a while yet they're going to cry about it and dream up all sorts of stupid ways to annoy their paying customers.
Sooner or later some bright spark is going to realise that the way ahead for them is to offer what a download can't.
The appealing added value stuff you can't easily download.
But that costs a few pennies more and requires a little imagination, so, for now, Court cases and attacking their customers it is.