@DarkScribe I focused my answer on the US, and specifically the show: Hell’s Kitchen. Why? because that is broadcast on a commercial TV station(FOX). A station that orders a season from the production company that makes it. Sometimes they buy all the rights, sometimes the production company keeps them. But the copyrights don’t disappear after an episode has been broadcast. Why would Viacom sue Youtube for making content that has been broadcast available? Because Viacom still owns the copyright, and would like to use it to make dvd’s and sell those shows abroad.
Government owned TV stations like the BBC, are paid for by the people. Once again, I know nothing about copyright laws (especially foreign laws), but I just can’t imagine the BBC sue someone for downloading content that was a) Provided by the BBC to download b) Paid for by government and the people watching it. The fact that they tried to find out if they could prevent it, makes me think that those who can, will.
Maybe I came of a little strong, but like @kyanblue said, almost everything is illegal right now. Illegal may not be the right word, I should have said: everything is copyrighted. And if someone has the rights to something and think you are damaging them, they have the law on their side to act upon it. Do I agree with this? no of course not, we need to get rid of this copyright on everything!
Don’t we have a copyright lawyer in the audience?