File sharing

Is there a difference between taping a movie/tv-show and then lending it to a friend (which as I understand it is legal) and taping a movie/tv-show and then uploading it on the net for others to download?
I can understand the whole issue with dvds and cds being ripped and being uploaded on the net, but surely it’s a different thing when it’s something that has been publically broadcasted on tv?
Moderator: I am honestly trying to understand the legal aspect of this. I am neither condoning nor chastising it. Please don’t shut this down. :slight_smile:

You’re allowed to tape a TV show off the air for personal use. Lending it to a friend is a gray area, but unlikely to be an issue.

But you’re only making one copy. If you upload it onto the net for others to download, that’s many, many copies. The ruling on taping off the air only applies to use it for time shifting the show: letting you watch it at a different time. It does not allow you to make further copies, which putting it on the net allows others to do.

If the people who download want to see the episode, they’re perfectly free to tape it off the air, too.

In lending it to a friend the tape is still yours. An up loaded copy is an aqdditional copy which is then duplicating for ditribution, and these people that view the file will be saving it also. They did not save it off the air, from a company licienced to make a public broadcast of the material. The copy is legal for only the person recieving a rightfuly distributed broadcast for shifted viewing.