Asked in Copyright and Intellectual Property

Q: I want to upload "Friends " series on youtube for free , how do i get a copyrights , or its legal to just upload .

2 Lawyer Answers
James L. Arrasmith
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Answered

A: You cannot legally upload the "Friends" series to YouTube for free without obtaining the proper copyright permissions. "Friends" is a copyrighted work, and uploading it without permission would likely violate copyright law. The rights to distribute and share the series are owned by specific entities, and they control how and where the content can be shared.

To legally upload "Friends," you would need to obtain explicit permission from the copyright holders, which typically involves negotiating a licensing agreement. This can be a complex and expensive process, often not feasible for individual uploaders.

Uploading copyrighted content without permission can lead to serious legal consequences, including the removal of your video, account suspension, or even legal action. It's important to respect copyright laws and only share content that you have the right to distribute.

A: Unauthorized uploading and distribution of copyrighted audiovisual content, including but not limited to the television series "Friends," to online platforms such as YouTube, without express permission from the rights holder(s), constitutes copyright infringement.

Such actions are prima facie unlawful and may subject the infringing party to civil and/or criminal penalties. The series "Friends" remains protected intellectual property, with exclusive rights vested in the production company and/or its assigns.

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