Within the US rule regarding copyright mainly controlled by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) concentrates intensely on disseminating copyrighted items While providing or enabling pirated material plainly violates the law simply viewing content without saving a permanent copy by individual viewers exists within a more ambiguous legal territory

Internet Access Providers (ISPs) frequently dispatch alerts for recognized actions on known unauthorized broadcast locations While direct prosecution of individual viewers is uncommon consistent offenders might encounter service cuts or terminations

The European Union has embraced a stricter position following a 2017 decision by the European Court of Justice (CJEU) This decision explicitly declares that intentionally viewing copyrighted items from an illegitimate origin establishes copyright transgression This stands even if no lasting version is produced by the viewer

Enforcement differs notably across EU member countries with certain nations being more aggressive in pursuing individual viewers than others The focus centers on the viewers awareness that the origin lacks authorization