Does it violate any laws to record TV shows onto a VHS or DVD?

Question

Thanks to EVERYONE who has responded. Yes I am in the U.S. I was pretty sure of the answer but some IDIOT in a forum pulled my request for a copy of a show that aired on TV because they said it violate the copyright laws.....IDIOTS! I sent them the info you have shared. Thanks again!

Answer 1

No. As long as you don't sell your recordings, that falls under the "fair use" category.

And you can thank Mr. Rogers for that.

Answer 2

Not for your own personal use. Any idiots will know the disc is a copy anyway since the quality is much worse than the original show on TV. Hints: no HDMI inputs to make a perfect copy.

Answer 3

You can make recordings for your own use. However, you cannot DISTRIBUTE those recordings to others, regardless of whether you get money for them. Recordings of TV programs appear on YouTube (for free) and other video sharing sites, and the if owners of the copyright object, YouTube deletes them, as it is illegal.

Theoretically that includes giving copies of those recordings to friends, but everyone does that and it is impossible for the copyright owners to know about it.

Answer 4

I'm assuming you mean in the USA? I surely hope not! After all, VCR's have TV tuners in them and a scheduling function for "time shifting" or recording of TV shows so that you can view them at another time. If it were illegal to do that I don't think they would allow VCR's to have those features!
Same goes for DVD recorder.

Answer 5

as long as you don't sell them or charge people money to watch them, then you're fine. also, i don't think you can show them in a public screening.

k the guy above me is making me not so sure anymore.... you could probably find your answer really easily on wiki if you can't find a general consensus here!

Answer 6

For personal use? No. It doesn't violate any laws.