With the huge amount of video being uploaded online it’s important to realise what can be done with it. A popular misconception is that users can only download a video if you choose by clicking ‘Downloadable’ (or equivalent). Or, by placing a file on your site either in Flash or as a streaming MOV or WMA you may also think your video is safe. However, Vixy.net, a new site in Beta, illustrates that virtually any content placed on a website is relatively easy to copy and download, and therefore share, email or burn.
Vixy.net is a Japanese website, supported (it says) by Farside, a huge Japanese multimedia firm. It allows you to type in the URL of any video file (a YouTube share URL, for instance) and will convert it on the fly in to a video format you choose. This can be incredibly useful since you can select MP4 which is supported by iPod, allowing you to easily and quickly convert a streaming video in to one you can put on your iPod. However, as a content owner you may not be so thrilled.
We draw this to people’s attention, not to encourage ripping and burning, but because we believe everyone should know what can be done when they upload content. This knowledge may alter the way people upload content. However, our approach is that by knowing content can be downloaded so easily we have to take extra steps to offer people a reason to pay for the content, for instance, by offering superior quality or a subscription service.
Filed under: developers, music
I’m wondering..even though I know that Vixy.net is safe, meaning it does not download viruses onto your computer, but..is it safe legally? Would we be caught, and if so, what are our chances? Is it safe to convert and not be caught?
Maybe it might be safe, legally. The real question isn’t getting caught or not. Regardless of that, if you’re wondering if you’re going to get caught, doesn’t that automatically mean it’s wrong?
My question is, is is safe morally?