Minimalist vibes, maximalist court fees: One influencer is suing another, claiming she copied her posts and “aesthetic.” Both hawk Amazon affiliate links for minimalistic “clean girl” products (aka everything boring and beige). Can vibes be copyrighted? Common sense tells me no.
You might be breaking the law online and not even know it
If you’ve ever uploaded a video to YouTube, you know how fast it will be flagged if there’s even a hint of a copyrighted song playing in the background.
If you’re shaking your head, you’re not alone. There are many things you shouldn’t do online. Some are just plain dangerous. Tap or click for five silly mistakes putting your online privacy and security at risk.
Benign actions can put your info in the hands of clever criminals. Take your phone number. Tap or click to see why you must stop sharing your real phone number with anyone who asks.
Before diving into my list of illegal online activities, I must remind you: I’m not a lawyer. Use your best judgment.
Getting movies for free
This illegal activity shouldn’t be a surprise. Downloading a movie — or album, eBook, audiobook, or another piece of media — from a torrenting site is a no-go. Given how easy it is to stream about anything, you hear less about torrenting than in years past.
Still, people flock to download copies of newly released movies. Go to a torrenting site, hit download, and you’ll likely get a shaky, dubbed version of what you want to watch.
It could get worse. Watch the mail for a warning notice when your ISP detects you have downloaded copyright-protected content. They could cancel your service and alert the authorities if you don’t knock it off.
Here’s something else to consider. Torrents are a common vector for spreading malware. Stay safe and only use reputable apps and services that have the right to show you what you want to watch.
Tap or click for 13 tried and true ways to watch movies for free.
Using images on your site or videos
Unless you have express permission or know a photo is in the public domain, it’s not yours to use or share online. It’s unlikely you’ll get nailed for copyright infringement by posting a meme on Facebook. However, be especially careful when posting images to your website or using images in your videos.
Fall for this fake 'copyright notice' and someone could take over your Instagram account
There are only a handful of people in the world who don’t have a social media account. With almost one in every seven people logging into Facebook daily, cybercriminals value your accounts more than credit card details.