How Illegal is downloading broadcast TV?

nebagakidnebagakid
Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
How illegal is it to download broadcast tv... I mean, come on, you get it for free over the air, so why would it be illegal at all?

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 8
    riaa board adminriaa board admin Posts: 8member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Nebagakid

    How illegal is it to download broadcast tv... I mean, come on, you get it for free over the air, so why would it be illegal at all?



    If really depends on your use of the material. If you notice that most shows have a "fair use" clause that allows you certain use in your own home. The reproduction of their copywritten material is really what they're worried about. I'm sure if you're copying the material soley for your own private use, you have nothing to worry about.



    So to answer your question of the illegal equivalency of downloading broadcast TV - I would say it's about as illegal as Michael Jackson with a child at the Neverland Ranch.
  • Reply 2 of 8
    his dudenesshis dudeness Posts: 560member
    I do it all the time. If the executives have a problem with it, they can either a: stop the over the air broadcasts, or b: sue the entire American population because we all have VCR's and/or DVD recorders.
  • Reply 3 of 8
    scottscott Posts: 7,431member
    I would guess the illegality come from the person providing the download.
  • Reply 4 of 8
    buonrottobuonrotto Posts: 6,368member
    Uh, it's either legal or not legal, isn't it? AFAIK, it's typically considered fair use. So long as you don't redistribute it, you should be golden. I think this was established back in the days when the VCR was introduced, no?
  • Reply 5 of 8
    his dudenesshis dudeness Posts: 560member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by BuonRotto

    Uh, it's either legal or not legal, isn't it? AFAIK, it's typically considered fair use. So long as you don't redistribute it, you should be golden. I think this was established back in the days when the VCR was introduced, no?



    Oh yeah, I think it was. By the way, where in Durham are you? I was born there, in what is now the School of Science and Mathematics.



    And I really REALLY eating at Bullocks! yum yum
  • Reply 6 of 8
    giaguaragiaguara Posts: 2,724member
    if you get it for your own home use, i would say as allowed / not allowed as recording any tv shows from analog tv to VCR.
  • Reply 7 of 8
    aquaticaquatic Posts: 5,602member
    That's what I used to use bittorrent for. Hey if anyone has any of the show The Pretender and you could send this way I'd be VERY grateful.
  • Reply 8 of 8
    ebbyebby Posts: 3,110member
    My take on this touchy subject is: if they release the TV show on DVD, they want you to buy it. However, there are plenty of TV shows that are not on DVD, nor will be, and I have no guilt acquiring a copy.
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