Rules in the United States

In the US copyright law is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act DMCA Just watching movies or shows without downloading might seem safer than sharing them but it could still be seen as showing something publicly or copying it in some ways Internet companies often send warnings or slow down internet speeds if they see activity linked to unofficial streaming sites People who break the rules many times might have their internet service stopped or in rare cases face legal action

The main focus is usually on those who share illegal content but people who watch it are in a less clear legal area and could face some consequences

Rules in Europe

European rules especially after a 2017 decision by the European Court of Justice CJEU are stricter This decision made it clear that watching copyrighted content from a source that isnt allowed is breaking copyright law This is true even if you dont save a permanent copy Laws in different European countries change how this is enforced Some countries like Germany are more likely to take action against people than others