is it against the law ?

Question

Is it against the law to record TV shows with a VCR / DVD writer ?
If so, why VCR / DVD writers are on sale everywhere?
Same line of thinking, can I save to my HDD whatever goes / is on the Internet ?
Does anyone here actualy knows which law [a link would be nice] prevents this recording / saving thing ?

Thanking you all in advance!!

Answer 1

You may record for personal view. That may not be prevented with a law anyway. It is illegal to sell copyrighted materials.
You may dig up your information here:
http://www.copyright.gov/

Answer 2

When VCRs were invented, the motion picture industry tried to get them banned as illegal instruments of piracy (theft of intellectual property). In those days, video recordings were quite expensive.

It was only years later, and after the US courts had thrown out the claim, that the industry discovered that -- unlike records that are copied -- videos aren't usually watched time and time again, so there is really very little money lost by the recording of TV shows and movies. Mostly they are used for time shifting -- as TiVo has proven (although TiVo creates a different problem, that of deleting commercials).

Current law -- except in Japan, where they negotiated an exception -- makes the RENTAL of CDs illegal except by public libraries. Recognising what I said above, however, rental of DVDs and of VHS tapes is legal. Copying may or may not be illegal, depending on the nature of and reason for the copying and never mind the FBI warning printed on them. In some countries one may make a personal copy of owned software and DVDs. Copying from the airwaves is no longer the subject of any challenge by the industry unless the copy is used for commercial purposes or for public exhibition.

Answer 3

According to the copyright law, you ARE NOT allowed to copy anything that is copyrighted unless you have express written consent by the owner, regardless of whether it is for sale or not.
The only exceptions are those things being used for informative uses, such as classroom studies, or parodies, such as those made by Weird Al Yankovic or Mel Brooks. However, it is still a good idea to get permission.

Also, ask a copyright attorney and they will tell you, just because you own a product does not mean you own the rights to it. Cd "backups" are illegal. Watch tv shows/movies, read the fine print, they all say they cannot be reproduced for any reason. Prime example, the NFL. They make certain points of it.

The reason vcrs and the like are available is that people make home movies and the like, and while the aforementioned practices are illegal technically, it is so common that is often ignored as long as it is not for profit.

Answer 4

as others have said it only becomes illegal if you share the recorded shows with friends (re-distribute) you can not sell what you record.

basically you can only record the shows for your own personal or close family enjoyment. this means you can store the recordings on what ever media you choose.
but puplic performance such as showing a program and or charging a fee to view becomes a breach of copyright.
so in short no it is not against the law to record from the TV. advertisers count on this recording of a persons favourite shows etc, to have there products shown to the most people.
DVD and VCR recorders are not only used for recording from the TV. a lot of people like to make home movies such as filming a holiday or a childs birthday or family wedding for example. families like to make copies of these for other family members. which providing they hold the copyright they can do perfectly legally.
it only becomes illegal if you make a recording without the copyright holders permission and then attempt to make copies and sell or hire them out.

the same applies for your computers hard drive. you can record from the shows to it for personal or close family use, but any distribution such as sharting on systems like limewire for example would be illegal without the copyright holders permission.

as for what law you need to look up the full terms and conditions under copyright law.

Answer 5

No you're fine mate, go ahead and record all you like. Also in a similar vain, one of the main reasons for cd and dvd recorders is to make BACKUPS of said media. Because what you've paid for is a license the copyright owners don't care what media you've got their property on as long as you're not selling it to other people. This was a loophole many third party hardware manufacturers exploited back in the 80s and 90s when they released floppy disk addons for the Super Nintendo and other systems.

Answer 6

In the US, all content owners reserve the right of copyright (authors are given implicit copyright on creation) on thier content. Officially recording of any intellectual property (IP) (for profit) without the content owners permission is totally illegal. If its not for profit, but over $1000 worth, its also illegal. See title 17 section 506(a) of the US code. One (1) backup copy of software is NOT illegal. But it all comes down to enforcement. For someone that is recording something for later personal viewing, its fine, there would be no reason to enforce that since that would be met with TOO much public backlash. However the RIAA and MPAA, along with partners like Sony are seeking methods to stop pirated recording. Companies such as Macrovision that makes the AGC on recording devices go crazy if they try to record something. Officially its ALL illegal. But some parts are enforced, some are not.

This of course pertains only to US law.

Interestingly the law states: "For purposes of this subsection, evidence of reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work, by itself, shall not be sufficient to establish willful infringement."

Answer 7

If the maker gave you permission to view the show (ie - Broadcast it over TV, which you legally paid to view), then you can record it and view it yourself as long as you do not broadcast or provide copies to the public (ie - Sell or give away DVD's)

If you download (As an example) a copy of a TV program, you haven't obtained it via the medium that the maker gave you permission for, and then that is illegal... (Unless it's a free download from the broadcaster, and not from some form of filesharing program/site)

Answer 8

The LAW in the UKL states that it is perfectly legal to record ANYTHING on TV for your personal use.

However a clause exists under a 'fair useage' policy that means that you CANNOT legally keep any materials for more than 28 days (from memory)....but it's not like they'll be kicking down your door for that five year old VHS tape of Eastenders....

Answer 9

it's only illegal if ur record like something on a dvd or vhs and sell it for profit. If u do it just to have a copy then it's ok. and i think they make so many so like if u have a camcorder u can record whats on there onto a dvd or vhs.

Answer 10

Well, you'd have to distinguish between American law and British law (since I've seen answers from both on here). In America, you can record it for your own use but not distribute it or make profit from it. Haven't you heard of TiVo? ;)