Keith wrote:
On Sun, 8 Feb 2004 18:22:05 -0600, "chains" <nomail@hotmail.com> wrote:
Hello-
I was wondering - if I use a VCR to tape a TV program, is it legal for me
to make copies and distribute to friends for free?
It would not be illegal to make available the original copy you have to
friends, but once you start copying the tapes from your original copy
that would be copyright infringement.
Along the same lines - can I make digital recordings of TV programs, and
then make DVDs or VCDs and distribute to friends for free? And how about
distributing these recordings over the Internet for free?
Only the original DVD copy of the program could be loaned to friends,
just like with the tapes once you start making copies then you violate
copyright laws.
If you have a Tivo and transfer the contents to a DVD then you would be
violating copyright laws. The purpose of recording TV broadcasts is for
limited time shifting of the TV broadcast. Once you start making copies
and distributing them then you are in violation of copyright law.
You can do a search on Google for the Sony Betamax VCR dispute Supreme
Court ruling.
A lunatic fringe lawyer would claim that even loaning out your original
copy DVD or VCR tape to others would be illegal, however no one has ever
been found to violate copyright for doing that. People have been found
liable civilly and/or criminally for making numerous copies of broadcasts
and giving them away and/or selling them.
What matters is the distribution part.
Regardless of how you capture a broadcast, vcr, tivo, video card, you can
copy that onto any other format you desire.
Just don't make a copy of it and give that copy to someone.
