Embedding copyrighted videos.
 

So how wrong (legally and morally) is it to embed TV shows, movies, etc. from youtube, stage6, etc. on your own website?

it is wrong, no level of evaluation.

if you want to know if your own website is wrong, i can tell yes... if you want us to report it to the MPAA, that is easy...

Lol, I have no copyrighted videos embedded on to my site, so report all you like =P

To start off with "how wrong" is interesting. See, when referring to anything legal, it either is or isn't. There's no point in quantifying unless you're looking to benefit somehow. On the flipside, if you find yourself in a moral struggle over embedding copyrighted videos then do the following: When in doubt don't do it. :)

So the question of liability should be the focus. Can there be consequences of embedding (?) video? Sure. Then again, the chances that a lawsuit, let alone finding yourself subject to a cease-and-desist is slim. Still that doesn't mean you are immune from liability, if the owner of (?) video should ever decide to take action.

My take? It's not.

- Assume a given site lets you embed videos that have been uploaded to their site.
- If the video is copyrighted, the person who uploaded it must have the owner's permission.
- That would mean he knows people can embed the video and thinks it's okay.
- If he doesn't have permission, HE is the one doing something wrong. Not you.
- If and when he gets caught, they'll take down the video and your embed will die.

So as long as the video is up on their site and available for you to embed, to the best of your ability to determine, the uploader has the permission of the copyright owner to post the video on the site that lets you embed their videos. If this turns out to be wrong, you're not a criminal, you're a second-generation victim. You're a victim of the video site's false representation that you could legally embed that video. That site, in turn, is a victim of the uploader's false representation that he had the right to distribute it.

In any case, the fault lies with the uploader. Not you. Unless, of course, you ARE the uploader.

And I'm not a lawyer, so your mileage may vary.

These laws have a whole lot to do with weather or not your profit from it.

For instance, I can use images of Stephen Kings books on my site because its free.