Teodora Bogza*

Abstract

Streaming service is popular among those who use gadgets like smartphones, personal computers or tablets for watching a movie, a series or just listen to music. A large number of web pages provide public access to copyright protected works, in a legal or illegal way. The present article offers some technical information about the process of streaming, types of streaming services and the involved copyrights. The information is structured in two parts ‑ the provider’s perspective and the user’s perspective. The article also presents two important preliminary judgments of the European Court of Justice which concern the interpretation of Article 2 (a) and of Article 5 (1) and (2) of InfoSoc Directive. In the last part it is shortly described the civil liability of illegal streaming users, with particular emphasis on the guilt element.