[mythtv-users] Possible to make a recording request?

VCRAddict MythTV_01 at appropriate-tech.net
Wed Nov 19 15:48:50 UTC 2008


At 07:13 AM 11/19/08 -0800, Steve Heistand wrote:
 >
    [snip]
 > 
 > it is not illegal to record an OTA broadcast of any show.
 > at least in the US under its current laws.

Correct.

cf.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Corp._of_America_v._Universal_City_Studio
s,_Inc.>

 > nor is it illegal to give someone a copy of such a recording.

INcorrect.

That crosses the line between "duplication" and "distribution", and
squarely violates the Copyright Act.

The only reason that the copying itself is *not* illegal -- and the key
point upon which the infamous Betamax Case hinged upon -- is that the
resulting copy is putatively for the personal private use of the person
doing the copying -- i.e., for purposes of time-shifting, backup, media
conversion, etc.

 > if it was tivo and every other pvr/dvr maker would have been sued
 > into oblivion long ago.  and probably a bounty put on the mythtv
 > developer's heads for good measure by the mpaa goons.

Faulty conclusion based on faulty assumption.  As established by the case
referenced above, the presumed intended purpose of VCRs, TiVos and other
PVR/DVR devices (including MythTV) is to make recordings *solely* for their
owners' private personal use -- again, for time-shifting, etc.  -- so these
are therefore all completely legitimate.




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