[mythtv-users] recorded shows

[J. Donavan Stanley]

Tobias Luetke wrote:
> J. Donavan Stanley wrote:
> 
>> Michael wrote:
>>
>>> Is there an online mailing list or similar that mythtv users can post to
>>> for shows that they've missed that someone else may have recorded?  I
>>> missed the Michael Jackson special on CBS and wanted a copy.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Michael
>>>
>>
>> To do so would violate US and international copyright law...
> 
> 
> Even if the item was publically broadcasted ?
> ( e.g. no subscription based channel )
> 
> May I lend my VHS tapes to friends or is that forbidden too ?


Taping a show for yourself is legal, giving that tape to another person 
is not.  Much in the same way it's not legal to trade MP3s and the like. 
Regardless of whether or not it was broadcast or subscription, the 
copyright holder controls the distribution rights.

I, for one, would *love* to be able to retrieve a missed program, or 
even have a setup where you could get a message like "You asked to 
record the Simpsons episode xxx...  User foobar has this recorded 
already at 640x480 with a bit rate of blah" etc.  But unfortunately 
there's no way that would fly given the laws of the US and most other 
countries.  In fact, unlike apps like Kazaa you couldn't even use the 
"But this app is designed to share un-copyrighted works, it's not OUR 
fault they break the law."