Cable viewership in the U.S. has dropped 5% since 2019 as more fans turn to online platforms like Twitch for their sports fix. Twitch, originally for gamers and video games, now draws over 7.4 million broadcasts a month and 2.3 million average viewers, according to TwitchTracker.
Though as Twitch’s popularity grows, so do concerns about the legality of streaming live sports without proper licensing. Below, we’ll explore the legal risks for both streamers and viewers, Twitch’s policies, and legal alternatives for watching sports online.
The Legality of Streaming Live Sports on Twitch
To understand the legality of streaming live sports on Twitch, it’s important to understand media rights in the sports industry. Sports leagues, teams, and organizations typically enter into exclusive contracts with broadcasters or streaming services for the right to air their games and events. Obtaining broadcasting rights is incredibly competitive, and these agreements generated $56 billion worldwide in 2023 alone.
Given the high stakes involved, the broadcasting of live sports is heavily regulated. When an individual decides to stream a live sports event on Twitch without permission, they are essentially infringing on these exclusive rights. This action violates copyright laws in many countries, including the United States and Canada, and can lead to serious legal consequences.
Twitch Community Guidelines
Twitch’s own community guidelines are clear on this matter. Under the section on Intellectual Property Rights, the platform explicitly prohibits users from streaming any content to which they do not own the rights or have explicit permission to broadcast. This includes live sports events.
What You Need to Know
Essentially, unless you are an official partner or have explicit permission from the rights holder, streaming live sports on Twitch is illegal. This applies to rebroadcasting television feeds, streaming from a stadium, sidecasting, or any other method of sharing live sports content without authorization.
Is It Legal To Watch Live Sports Streams on Twitch?
While the legality of streaming unauthorized sports content on Twitch is clear cut, it’s somewhat murkier for viewers. Technically speaking, the act of watching an illegal stream is not, in itself, a violation of copyright law in most jurisdictions. As of April 2024, Twitch even allows users to watch content from banned streamers, as highlighted by GameRant. However, neither of these points puts viewers entirely in the clear.
A Question of Ethics
When you watch an illegal live sports stream on Twitch, you’re participating in and supporting an unlawful activity. While you may not be directly breaking the law, you’re contributing to a system that undermines the legal rights of content owners. This puts you in an ethically questionable position and could potentially expose you to risks.
It’s important to understand that Twitch and rights holders can take action against viewers of illegal streams. While legal action against individual viewers is rare, it’s not unheard of. More commonly, Twitch may suspend or ban accounts that consistently watch and engage with illegal content since this behavior goes against their terms of service.
What You Need to Know
Ultimately, viewers need to be discerning about the streams they choose to watch. Official streams will typically be clearly labeled and may feature verification badges or other indicators of their authenticity. If you’re unsure about the legality of a stream, it’s best to err on the side of caution and seek out official, authorized broadcasts instead.
Understanding the Consequences
The consequences of illegal sports streaming on Twitch can be severe, both for streamers and viewers. From account bans to lawsuits, the trouble users may get themselves into is never worth the risk.
For Streamers
Twitch streamers who broadcast unauthorized sports can face serious consequences. Twitch enforces copyright laws and may issue warnings or temporary suspensions for first-time offenders, potentially affecting their Affiliate or Partner status. Repeated violations or streaming high-profile events can lead to a permanent ban.
Twitch also follows the DMCA, allowing copyright holders to request content removal. If streamers receive three copyright strikes, their account will be terminated. In extreme cases, rights holders may sue, leading to significant financial penalties.
For Viewers
While the consequences for viewers are generally more lenient, they are not nonexistent. Just like streamers, viewers can accrue strikes on their account for accessing or promoting illegal streams, which can ultimately result in a suspension or ban.
Although unlikely, copyright holders have the grounds to take legal action against viewers of illegal streams. Viewers should also consider the ethical implications of supporting illegal streams and think about what they’re really getting themselves into. Viewing unauthorized streams undermines the very sports and teams these fans enjoy.
Recent Cases and Examples
The issue of illegal sports streaming on Twitch has gained significant attention in recent years, with several high-profile incidents making headlines. These cases illustrate the seriousness with which Twitch and rights holders approach unauthorized broadcasts.
2019: Rambler Group & the English Premier League
In 2019, the Russian internet company Rambler Group alleged that Twitch had violated its exclusive broadcasting rights of the English Premier League, citing over 36,000 instances of pirated content throughout the season. At the time, the company sought nearly $3 billion in damages. The case was settled out of court just two days after the initial filing.
2021: CDNThe3rd Account Banning
In 2021, Twitch user CDNThe3rd had his account banned during the pay-per-view boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul. CDNThe3rd contended that his account did not actually include audio or video content from that match. However, observers alleged that amateur commentary could be considered a copyright violation. CDNThe3rd eventually had his account restored but claimed that others facing similar bans did not see as swift a reversal.
15 Million Twitch Channels Banned
In 2022, the platform banned over 15 million Twitch channels and issued temporary timeouts to nearly 6 million more. Granted, the exact cause of each suspension is not known, but given the prevalence of illegal sports streaming on Twitch, it’s likely that some of these bans were the direct consequence of copyright owners issuing DMCA takedown orders.
How Twitch Monitors and Enforces Its Rules
According to Twitch’s own discussion of the DMCA guidelines, the platform doesn’t have the authority to make decisions about copyright violations. However, they’ve made it easy for copyright holders to submit claims. Here’s how the process works:
- Copyright Claim Submitted: Copyright holders can easily file a claim through Twitch’s online portal if they believe a stream violates their content rights.
- Twitch Notifies and Acts: Once a claim is submitted, Twitch will notify the streamer and either remove or disable the content, including stopping any live streams.
- Counter Notification Option: The streamer has the option to submit a counter notification to dispute the claim. If successful, the claim may be overturned. The copyright owner can also retract their claim if they choose.
- Strike Issued: If the counter notification is unsuccessful, or the claim isn’t withdrawn, the streamer receives a copyright strike.
- Copyright School: Streamers can remove a strike by completing Twitch’s “Copyright School.” However, this course can only be taken once per year. If a streamer violates the rules repeatedly, they will accumulate strikes that cannot be removed.
- Three Strikes Rule: If a streamer gets three copyright strikes, they are considered a repeat offender, and their account may be permanently suspended.
In short, Twitch enforces copyright claims through strikes, and three strikes can result in a permanent ban. Streamers have limited options to remove strikes, so repeated violations have serious consequences.
Alternatives to Illegally Streaming Live Sports
For sports fans looking to catch their favorite games and events legally, there are numerous alternatives to unauthorized Twitch streams. Here is a list of common leagues and sports, along with our streaming guides, to help you find the right streaming platform:
- NFL streaming options
- NBA streaming options
- Soccer streaming options
- MLB streaming options
- NHL streaming options
- Tennis streaming options
- Extreme sports streaming options
- Golf streaming options
How to Find Safe Live Sports Streams
Finding safe and legal live sports streams doesn’t have to be difficult, and you should never risk legal issues by trying to find them on Twitch. We have compiled a comprehensive sports streaming database so you can find quick, legal access to your favorite teams.
We get it — free sports streams on platforms like Twitch are tempting, but the legal and ethical risks aren’t worth it. At StreamSafely, we’re dedicated to keeping you informed about piracy laws and showing you legal ways to watch your favorite sports. Stick with us and enjoy sports the right way!
