Web file copyright

[Hawdon]

Am I breaking any laws if I give the user access to URLs to files on the internet that are protected by copyright (aka songs, movies etc.) without acctually the files touching my servers?
The file will go stright form someone elses server to the end-user.

i have been thinking that this probably is very similar to the case of Pirate Bay. They technically only give out links to files which the users download, and they were sued.

What do you guys think?

[Sinecure Industries]

I don't think Apple will allow you to facilitate illegal activity

[Hawdon]

True... True.

But what I was thinking was more like how you can use Google as it is meant to be used (search for info, websites etc), but you can also find copyrighted material (audio files, movies etc). When making my app I'm not encouraging the user to download copyrighted content, but I'm not blocking it either.

[dre]

Originally Posted by Hawdon

True... True.

But what I was thinking was more like how you can use Google as it is meant to be used (search for info, websites etc), but you can also find copyrighted material (audio files, movies etc). When making my app I'm not encouraging the user to download copyrighted content, but I'm not blocking it either.

If you read the judgment in Napster case, the judges ruled that although Napster didn't contain any copyrighted material the main INTENT of Napster was illegal distribution of copyrighted material. The main purpose of Google from the other side is not distribution of copyrighted material, eventhough one might find some.

[JasonR]

I can't find the link until I get home, but there was an image viewer app that got in trouble because most of the content browsed was pornographic, even though the app could also be used to browse pictures of kittens. I suspect if Apple decides the main purpose of your app is to browse illegal content, they won't allow it, even if there is also legal content.

This is a tricky line to follow, and only Apple decides. An app that was designed to browse Linux distributions over BitTorrent would be an example of an app I would not risk because BitTorrent is so closely associated with piracy. But no one but Apple knows for sure.