What is the Sony/Betamax Decision?
The Sony/Betamax decision was decided on January 17, 1984 by the supreme court. It states: “Sale of home videotape recorded held not to constitute contributory infringement of television program copyrights. It was held that the sale of home video tape recorders to the general public did not constitute contributory infringement of copyrights on television programs since there was a significant likelihood that substantial numbers of copyright holders who license their works for broadcast on free [or cable] television would not object to having their broadcasts time-shifted by private viewers and the plaintiff copyright holders did not demonstrate time-shifting would cause any likelihood of non-minimal harm to the potential market for, or the value of, copyrighted works.” (Guide to American Law, volume 3, 1983 p 46-7) All this means is it is LEGAL to tape television programs off the air and that no legal prosecution can happen to manufacturers of video cassette recorders and blank tape as
The sony/Betamax decision was decided on January 17, 1984 by the supreme court. It states: “Sale of home videotape recorded held not to constitute contributory infringement of television program copyrights. It was held that the sale of home video tape recorders to the general public did not constitute contributory infringement of copyrights on television programs since there was a significant likelihood that substantial numbers of copyright holders who license their works for broadcast on free [or cable] television would not object to having their broadcasts time-shifted by private viewers and the plaintiff copyright holders did not demonstrate time- shifting would cause any likelihood of non-minimal harm to the potential market for, or the value of, copyrighted works.” (Guide to American Law, volume 3, 1983 p 46-7) All this means is it is LEGAL to tape television programs off the air and that no legal prosecution can happen to manufactuers of video cassette recorders and blank tape as
