The Legality of Live Streaming in Public

by Stella Tryon

It has been years for now when the live streaming was initially made legal in public. However, the most convenient way of doing the live video streaming has not been experienced on its first flight. Many other apps are available as live streaming services but its availability on mobile as an app has not been successful. Examples of such are the Google Hangouts, a la Vine, and Instagram in which options for being seen through the general public or sharing of videos is not feasible at all.

Basically, live streaming is the sharing of audio or video through the form of broadcasting. Doing this, live streamers are allowed to have or create their own channel. Streamers can go live anytime and anywhere they want. However, as a new innovation in the technological field, legal issues are directly bounded. And there is no boundaries defined in terms of live streaming.

Furthermore, utilization of smartphone by anyone and anywhere over the globe makes live streaming widely available. Because of this, legal issues are pretty much applicable to most individuals. Moreover, in the nature of live streaming, there is no law that covers the legal issue of the copyright, rebroadcasting or uploading of videos on YouTube which may not be a cause of political psychology.

Live streaming has too many uses. It applies on commercial and even personal use. These uses come with relevant legal issues.

Primary Legal Issues with Live Streaming

Below are some of the legal issues related to live streaming, in case you want a more elaborated explanation, click here.

Content Copyright

Generally, copyright is an aspect of the comfort zone regulations of the DMCA which is greater on their protection than that of the users. Meaning, as a user, in case you violate someone’s copyright, then it will be shouldered by you and not by them. Moreover, it is a violation to use copyrighted music as your background.

Use – Commercial or Private

Various legalities are enclosed when you are doing a live streaming for commercial use. Aside from the copyright and trademark issues, you’ll also need to be aware of the privacy laws, loitering, publicity rights and the likes.

Location issues

It is really essential to assure your rights in the location that you will be filming regardless if you are doing the live streaming on a personal basis or commercial use. Yet, legal issues are queuing to be handled in terms of a public or private property. It is pretty much safe to utilize the property in case you are on public property. On the other hand, a permit is necessary in doing a commercial live streaming.

Privacy and Right of Publicity

The right to manage your own information is known as the Privacy. Meanwhile, the Right of Publicity is the right to guard your name and your image or brand from exploitation for commercial acquisition.