free streaming MST3K?

[kittynh]

Im interested in watching MST3K on my computer. Not copying or anything, just streaming. I actually am building up my collection of DVDs from the show, but there are some that you can't get, or I'd just like to see one more time (but not own).

Is this legal?

And what is a good site?

 

[kevin]

First, you might be interested in this:
http://www.rifftrax.com/

Legality is eh... The movie copyright would still probably be held by someone (if it hasn't lapsed, I can't remember if MST3K did any public domain movies.) Their comments would still copyright by them. However if I remember the credits correctly, they actually encouraged you to pass tapes around so I'm guessing they wouldn't sue. Not sure about the movie copyright holders.

 

[American]

This is the site, the only one you need:

http://forrestcrow.proboards47.com/

Use it as your starting point for everything.

Their knowledge is better than mine, but AFAIK it is technically infringement to buy or swipe copies of episodes, but not a single case is known of Best Brains Inc. or other group going after people. (That's not the case with MST-branding, in which people have tried to sell things and pretend it was officially sanctioned.)

This is largely due to a successful self-imposed rule in the MST community: NO bootlegging or downloading of episodes that are available for sale on DVD. (Or announced for future release.)

Follow that rule, and you should be OK grabbing torrents, avi's, or even purchasing gray market episodes.

 

[kittynh]

yeah, I've enough friends that are in the art and music biz to be willing to buy any episode for sale.

A lot of them just arent and they are fun to watch when you have some free time.

 

[kevin]

I think the anime people follow a similar rule. They delete versions available on DVD in the languages they've already translated them for.