Q&A: Downloading Series from the Internet
Downloading Series from the Internet
Question
I generally do not download series and movies from the internet; rather, I make sure to watch them through a legal source. Recently I ran into a problem: there is a series I want to watch, but I have no way to pay for it. The series is streamed on an American platform that accepts only American credit cards, and I do not have one. Also, if I want to watch it, I need to activate an American VPN, thereby deceiving the system (that part I did manage to do).
It seems that the creators never intended to receive payment from an Israeli customer or to allow an Israeli customer to watch it.
What is the ruling? After the fact, is it permitted for me to download the series from an illegal source and watch it without payment?
Answer
I think that if you have no way to watch it by paying, there is room to be lenient, although it is not entirely clear-cut.
Discussion on Answer
That is why I wrote that it is not entirely clear-cut. But if he has no option to pay, then apparently the owner is also not particular with respect to him; and even if he is particular, he has no claim for damages to demand payment. He did not lose anything.
How does this fit with your view on intellectual property in Jewish law, where you argue that whoever created information has ownership over it, and anyone who uses it without permission is considered a thief?