vamsi naki wrote: how is online streaming different from downloading a video ? I mean in each case we are trying to get data from some server that has these files. So why cant streaming video be a downloaded video.
As technical people, we know that when you stream a video, you are downloading it. The "difference" is terminology because of politics.
When you stream a video, you transfer it from the server to your computer.
When you download a video, you transfer it from the server to your computer.
See, the difference is obvious, right? Nope, its not a difference. But politically, streaming is good and downloading is bad. This has to do with the fact that most of the discussions are arguing about "copyright" so the discussion focuses on "copying" the material.
Do not try to understand this using normal common sense, its all about the law, and the law is written by politicians.