Downloading toons to my HardDrive - Legal?

andrew_berge · **Posted:** Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:21 pm

I was just wondering if downloading the swf files was legal or not.
I don't see why it wouldn't be, but i just wanted to be sure. Did TBC ever say anything about it?

andrew_berge

It's dot com · **Posted:** Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:38 pm

You don't have anything to worry about. (I'm assuming they're for your private use and that you don't intend to redistribute them or attempt to profit from them in any way.)

andrew_berge · **Posted:** Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:39 pm

It's dot com wrote:

You don't have anything to worry about. (I'm assuming they're for your private use and that you don't intend to redistribute them or attempt to profit from them in any way.)

You assume correctly

I frequently lose my internet connection, so i wanted them for offline viewing.

Thanks a lot

Sickly man · **Joined:** Wed Aug 11, 2010 11:35 pm **Posts:** 6

Unfortunately, the TOS state :"Such material may not be copied, reproduced,
republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way, including by e-mail
or other electronic means." So even if it is for personal use, it's "illegal."

Killericon · **Joined:** Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:36 am **Posts:** 8

Sickly man wrote:

Unfortunately, the TOS state :"Such material may not be copied, reproduced,
republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way, including by e-mail
or other electronic means." So even if it is for personal use, it's "illegal."

Downloading for private use doesn't actually do any of those things.

That'sBupkis · **Posted:** Fri Aug 13, 2010 12:04 am

That's what I typically do. No loading time, no need for internet, it's awesome!
I also do not save the flash files for redistribution or editing or anything.
Just for watching offline. It's especially good for road trips!

Sickly man · **Joined:** Wed Aug 11, 2010 11:35 pm **Posts:** 6

But it is "copying" so it seems it's illegal. TOS's can be so sad

.

That'sBupkis · **Posted:** Sat Aug 14, 2010 3:39 am

It's not reproduction, or editing or anything like that. It's okay if it's for private use, and if you're just going to watch them on a hard drive, and not post them to another website or edit them.

flicky1991 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 14, 2010 9:00 am

That'sBupkis wrote:

It's not reproduction, or editing or anything like that. It's okay if it's for private use, and if you're just going to watch them on a hard drive, and not post them to another website or edit them.

But it actually has "copying" listed on the TOS!

Power Pie · **Posted:** Sat Aug 14, 2010 12:27 pm

flicky1991 wrote:

That'sBupkis wrote:

It's not reproduction, or editing or anything like that. It's okay if it's for private use, and if you're just going to watch them on a hard drive, and not post them to another website or edit them.

But it actually has "copying" listed on the TOS!

Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure "copying" refers to a physical copy, not a bunch of bits and bytes on a computer.

ripberger894 · **Joined:** Mon Dec 05, 2005 10:41 pm **Posts:** 114

Why didn't I ever think of this?! You're right, That'sBupkis, it's perfect for road trips!

Sickly man · **Joined:** Wed Aug 11, 2010 11:35 pm **Posts:** 6

I think "reproducing" refers to making a physical copies (as in many DVDs) and copy may mean making a physical copy of it. You may be right... never thought about that.

That'sBupkis · **Posted:** Sun Aug 15, 2010 11:11 pm

Yeah... but it's still private use.

Spellman · **Posted:** Sun Aug 15, 2010 11:36 pm

That'sBupkis wrote:

Yeah... but it's still private use.

Yeah, but that's addressed in the line before the one that was quoted, and after it gives you permission to use it non-commercially (a.k.a. viewing it from the website), it goes on to say not to copy it regardless of the form of use.

"Material on HomestarRunner.com or any web site owned, operated, licensed or controlled by H*R is solely for your personal, non-commercial use. [BUT] Such material may not be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way, including by e-mail or other electronic means."

When you break the ToS of any website, it is illegal.

Having said that, I'm unsure if downloading = copying. I mean technically even viewing it from the website is considered downloading as it has to be temporarily downloaded in order to view it.

But you have to remember that the site was made a long time ago and the ToS probably hasn't been updated in a long time. Saving and mirroring videos and content is sort of a reality of the internet right now, and they wouldn't hunt you down for downloading their videos because they a) have no way of finding out, and b) they don't actually care.

That'sBupkis · **Posted:** Mon Aug 16, 2010 12:46 am

Spellman wrote:

That'sBupkis wrote:

Yeah... but it's still private use.

Yeah, but that's addressed in the line before the one that was quoted, and after it gives you permission to use it non-commercially (a.k.a. viewing it from the website), it goes on to say not to copy it regardless of the form of use.

"Material on HomestarRunner.com or any web site owned, operated, licensed or controlled by H*R is solely for your personal, non-commercial use. [BUT] Such material may not be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way, including by e-mail or other electronic means."

When you break the ToS of any website, it is illegal.

Having said that, I'm unsure if downloading = copying. I mean technically even viewing it from the website is considered downloading as it has to be temporarily downloaded in order to view it.

But you have to remember that the site was made a long time ago and the ToS probably hasn't been updated in a long time. Saving and mirroring videos and content is sort of a reality of the internet right now, and they wouldn't hunt you down for downloading their videos because they a) have no way of finding out, and b) they don't actually care.

You got a good point. What I was talking about (downloading for offline viewing) is non-commercial use.

Mr_Eyeball · **Joined:** Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:39 am **Posts:** 36

It's dot com wrote:

You don't have anything to worry about. (I'm assuming they're for your private use and that you don't intend to redistribute them or attempt to profit from them in any way.)

It's dot com said it. It MUST be true.

*downloads EVERYTHING on the site*

danielkay · **Joined:** Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:11 am **Posts:** 7

Well purely technically speaking loading the toons IS already copying them since they save in your cache, you technically already have a copy on your computer.

That sad i do download them too mainly due to my craptastic internet connection speed that makes a modem seems like a racehorse.

fastjeff · **Joined:** Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:08 pm **Posts:** 3

looks at thread....

Booooooowwwing.
*keeps walking*

Sickly man · **Joined:** Wed Aug 11, 2010 11:35 pm **Posts:** 6

It's not boring, it's Sooooo Good!!

Superbanjo64 · **Joined:** Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:16 am **Posts:** 5

If it's only for your personal viewing entermatainment, then shure.

Amazingmaximo · **Joined:** Sun Aug 01, 2010 7:16 am **Posts:** 8

Come on, it's the brothers chaps. I seriously doubt they're gonna go all Viacom all over everybody and sue you. Not to mention that recently they cant be bothered to update so passing out lawsuits would be WAY to much work

Sickly man · **Joined:** Wed Aug 11, 2010 11:35 pm **Posts:** 6

True, true.

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