Could watching a YouTube video constitute violation of copyright?
<p>Some movies (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE7VzlLtp-4" rel="nofollow">but not all</a>) on YouTube have licenses incompatible with them being on YouTube.  Could the <em>viewer</em> of such a video be technically guilty of any crime?</p>

<p>I am wondering for both U.S. and abroad.</p>

<p>In New Zealand, under s37 of the Copyright Act 1994, it is secondary infringement (it's an offence under s131) to provide the means for making infringing copies. Every person who watches the video is effectively making an infringing copy, but the provision only catches the person who uploaded the video without the correct license.</p>

<p>No.  Copyright is the exclusive legal right, given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same.</p>

<p>Viewing does not fall under any of those acts.</p>

copyright