Can media illegally downloaded in banned regions be legally used in regions where it is not banned?
<p>Suppose you live in a region where the government has banned the purchase of some media (e.g., songs, movies, or software).  So you cannot legally purchase licenses from the owners; the only way to obtain them is on the black market where copies are pirated.</p>

<p>If you take a pirated copy to a region where it is not illegal to purchase it, is it then legal to possess and use the media?</p>

<p>No, you cannot ever legally use copyrighted property without a valid license from the copyright owner.</p>

<p>It is understandable that when government restrictions prevent people from licensing intellectual property, people will turn to piracy and black markets to obtain them.</p>

<p>However, whenever you find yourself in a region where you can legally license the property, you are (presumably) also in a region where intellectual property rights are respected, and it is illegal to use the property without a proper license from the owner.</p>

<p>I.e., the fact that you paid a pirate for a copy – even where that was the only option to obtain one – does not give you a license.  You have to obtain a license from the owner.</p>

copyright online-piracy