Copying Films off TV

[Stav]

If it is illegal to copy DVDs and videos of film, is it then illegal to record them off the telly?

[FTVS]

I seem to remember a law being passed about this 15 (?) years ago when videos had started to hit most homes along the lines that you could video it but you could only keep it for a specific period. Perhaps you should review your video collection and then pop down teh station and hand yourself in. But if you think that's bizarre following an EU coipyright directoive, there is a now a warning on our work photocopier about copying certain documents!

[Lennon]

No its not illegal to record them off the telly - as long as you don't use it for certain reasons, such as showing it to general public to make money ( i.e making your home into a mini cinema and charging people on the way in) If you look at the beginning of certain films, it lists all the reasons that make it illegal.

[JonW]

Isn't there something in that list that says it's forbidden to show the film on an oil rig?

[xyzzyplugh]

Photocopiers, documents, maps other works; You are allowed legally to copy 10% of a work or is it 5%? anyway, this is the case. In reality, copying is a readily flauntable law. People whine about winmx and kazaa copiers etc but as far back as the 60's people were copying the Alan Freeman top twenty. And morally I think many believe that a copy for personal use only, of anything, is fine n dandy. :-)

[jenstar]

Technically yes, it's illegal. BUT except in extreme circumstances, they could never touch you for it because there is the defence of "fair use", just as there is for photocopying, etc.

[gilf]

The bit at the start of the film is to do with the copyright and not actually about what you can do with a copy so cant hire a video/dvd from blockbusters and show it to the public or in a large ground such as on an oil rig. As for xyzzyplugh comment about personal copies that argument does not hold up because if everybody made a personal copy then nobody would buy anything. Your allowed to make a copy of a cd on to tape/md etc and use that yourself but you cant give that copy to somebody else. not that I'm condeming xyzzyplugh I use Kazaa myself. Only download demos from other people of course ;)

[xyzzyplugh]

Well once it's on the net it's public domain IMO. That goes for all other public broadcast media too Anyone is welcome to copy anything I put on public media, including these words but if you make any money from it I would expect a fair financial return otherwise you are an immoral ahole and curses on you :-)

[tracymort]

we often have to copy vhs onto dvd as we don't have a video player and still some things (particularly childrens programmes) are not available on dvd yet. it's the only way my son can watch his fave shows on dvd!