Is it illegal to teach something Illegal while doing nothing Illegal in the process?

Hey guys, I have been dwelling on this question for a while now. I've done some research but everything I read seems to be so gray, pretty much like every legal aspect of the online world. If I lived in Nigeria, this wouldn't phase me, but I'm from the US which makes things a little more complicated.

An analogy for the question is this:

Lets say I made a video that showed in depth how to perform and twist a particular method here at BHW. And lets say this method involved something illegal, such as copyright infringement (that's about as blackhat as I'll ever go). But while I was teaching the method, lets say I never ever actually executed the illegal parts of it, but rather just demonstrated how you would go about it. So for example, never actually hitting the upload button.

Would this be illegal? I know people post quote on quote illegal stuff here all the time and aren't persecuted, even Americans, but what if I were to not only post such a video here at BHW, but also host it on my own site as well as youtube?

If this were illegal, would it bring actual personal charges with it or rather just a lawsuit from someone I was pissing off in the process? And would there be any loophole way to get around it? Such as, explaining at the beginning that what I'm teaching is illegal in some countries and only people in countries without certain restrictions can do it. Jeez, I don't know...

The lame part about this is it's hardly even illegal what I'd be showing... and not even remotely immoral. None of those selling fake product keys on ebay type of junk methods.

Crossing my fingers a Lawyer gone IM happens to stumble upon this thread.

Thanks for the read.

Look up the user teeniegenie and maybe he can help you out with that Q.

His last activity on BHW was 10-31-2012 unfortunately but I appreciate the tip.

SeanAustin said:

His last activity on BHW was 10-31-2012 unfortunately but I appreciate the tip.

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Send him a pm, i bet it goes to his email.

Depends if its "for educational purposes only". The method is actually a flaw, and your just pointing out the flaw.

Should have a disclaimer saying you are not responsible for what anyone does with this information.

It really depends on the context you put it in, and what your intentions seem to be.

It's a fine line, really.

If it is illegal to teach something illegal then you would be doing something illegal by teaching something illegal. You answered your own question.

BassTrackerBoats said:

Send him a pm, i bet it goes to his email.

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Why don't you just tell us, instead of making people email some random guy for whatever reason? The time you spent writing those two comments could have been spent helping the community. You are, after all, a Jr. Executive VIP.

If it is illegal to teach something illegal then you would be doing something illegal by teaching something illegal. You answered your own question.

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Not sure if I understand your logic...

Send him a pm, i bet it goes to his email.

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This is quite a specialized question and there's a good chance he doesn't know an answer to it. If anything, thank you BassTrackerBoats for NOT leaving a reply that you are not 100% sure of, otherwise I might follow ill-informed advice which could lead to trouble.

You know that uneasy feeling you get in your stomach when you consider actually doing this? That is your common sense trying to stop you from being stupid.

To answer our question, it will probably break some sort of law, but you probably will never get arrested. Of hand I can thing of aiding and abetting the commission of a crime, and even being considered the planner of the crime in question. Whether any prosecutor will ever bother with that who knows, but I sincerely doubt it.

The real liability you are opening yourself for is for the injured party to sue you for all the losses caused by your product. If the money is significant, you better have lawyer available.

And you know that uneasy feeling? Should you actually get caught, when those handcuffs go on it's too late to not be stupid.

Trust me on this. listen to the alarms.

It could be regarded as illegal unless you add a disclaimer that it is only for "insert bogus reason".

See this ex-cop as an example. He tells people where to hide drugs in their cars and so on https://www.youtube.com/user/nevergetbusted
Of course he is constantly in trouble with cops trying to frame him for something

What is important, and something that most laypeople never understand, is that the law is not solid. A thing person 1 gets away with, could be regarded as illegal for person 2 to do, if a prosecutor cares enough, or if a judge is having a bad day.

Tyrannis said:

Why don't you just tell us, instead of making people email some random guy for whatever reason? The time you spent writing those two comments could have been spent helping the community. You are, after all, a Jr. Executive VIP.

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You're needlessly showing rudeness... BTB never hurts any member, and when he suggests something then know that there can be a good reason for it. Btw, atm I am in a great mood! So...

@OP,

IMO, teaching someone an illegal method is illegal. Why? Because the illegal knowledge (how to do it) may certainly put the new practitioner behind bars if he does it and then his life would be completely ruined, and that's wouldn't be so great. He may tell the law that you taught him the illegal method... and if he is a minor then you will be in a lot of trouble, imo again.

And if you believe in Karmic effects, then ruining someone's life needlessly will bring back only troubles for the doer. Think of it...

"Teachers" without experience, piss me off.

Well i think after you teach that person and the other person gets caught i think you were associated with the crime so you might get in trouble

Tosmekop said:

"Teachers" without experience, piss me off.

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I'm sure most people, including me, who have an account here and not over at the WF would agree.

And if you believe in Karmic effects, then ruining someone's life needlessly will bring back only troubles for the doer. Think of it...

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I had hardly even thought of this. I guess teaching a morally just method is immoral in its own right for that reason alone. This was the nudge I needed, so thanks.

srb888 said:

You're needlessly showing rudeness... BTB never hurts any member, and when he suggests something then know that there can be a good reason for it. Btw, atm I am in a great mood! So...

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Didn't mean to show rudeness, but it seemed like BTB knew the answer but was instead telling him to message an obviously inactive member as a joke, so I just wanted the OP to get an answer .

Tyrannis said:

Didn't mean to show rudeness, but it seemed like BTB knew the answer but was instead telling him to message an obviously inactive member as a joke, so I just wanted the OP to get an answer .

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You are here since 2012 with a good amount of posts. You should already know who BTB is! He would never hold back an answer, and he actually give the best on in the thread. Go to the Experts !

@OP

I hope you are not making all this FUZZ because Copyright Infringement! Uploading some copyrighted content .... THIS IS WHAT IS THE WHOLE WORLD IS DOING !

Unless you are going to be MegaUpload, then you will be Okay. Just use Add Euro-Hosting to your method for extra insurance and of course a legal note under the video

However, far from the legal part, are you okay with this ! How will you feel if it was the other wise? Some one is using your content for his own benefits ? Are you out of ideas and this is the only way to make money?

Read the story about the book: "Hit Man: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors".

Well, this is like teaching thieves how to steal... Of course thats not legal bro.

However, far from the legal part, are you okay with this ! How will you feel if it was the other wise? Some one is using your content for his own benefits ? Are you out of ideas and this is the only way to make money?

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Quite the contrary. I wouldn't make a dime from posting this method as no affiliate links would be used. I'm already making a good income online and really haven't given back much to this forum, so posting a nice detailed method to give back is pretty much all I'm trying to achieve with this. And contrary to my OP, I would only be hosting the video here, and no where else.

Tyrannis said:

Why don't you just tell us, instead of making people email some random guy for whatever reason? The time you spent writing those two comments could have been spent helping the community. You are, after all, a Jr. Executive VIP.

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Because I am not sure and wold not offer that kind of advice without knowing. Teeniegeenie is not some "random" guy.

SeanAustin said:

Not sure if I understand your logic...



This is quite a specialized question and there's a good chance he doesn't know an answer to it. If anything, thank you BassTrackerBoats for NOT leaving a reply that you are not 100% sure of, otherwise I might follow ill-informed advice which could lead to trouble.

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He's a lawyer, Sean, and would offer some advice if he can.