TIVO vs download off the internet

Cafe Society
1

This is somewhat GQish, but also Cafe Society, so I figured I’d just throw it here.
What’s the legal difference between TIVO, a homemade PVR, and downloading TV shows off the internet? Is there one? I assume it’s illegal to download shows through non-officially sanctioned channels, but is it also illegal to record shows using a homemade PVR? With TIVO can you keep the shows as long as you want, or does it have a built-in time period you can watch them for?

2

Time-shifting is explicitly allowable, which is what TIVO/PVR/VCR does. There was a lawsuit way back when Betamax was new. The internet re-broadcasts the show to an audience, that right is restricted to the copyright holder.

Found it on wikipedia

3

Thanks for the link - I guess that means that homemade PVRs are legit. But what about downloading shows off the internet? From the wikipedia article, it looks like as long as I’m not planning on distributing them for any sort of commerical use, it’s okay. On the other hand, downloading a TV show is not quite like recording a show for viewing later.
Is there any time limit for which I keep recorded shows? Does this law also apply to taping songs off the radio?

4

I think what Cheesesteak means is that the person uploading the show to the internet is “rebroadcasting” it which makes it illegal (unless authorized by the copyright holder).

Taping songs off the radio I would imagine is just like taping shows off TV. In fact, there are recorders available that work just like a DVR for radio.

5

Ah, I see. I missed the re-broadcasting part. What would constitute a re-broadcast, however? If I have some friends over and we sit down and watch “The Office” on Saturday, 3 days after it was broadcast, am I re-broadcasting it? I’m starting to think this should be moved to GQ.

6

Without going into specifics, the vast majority of methods by which one might download a TV show through a non-sanctioned service also make you an uploader, ie a rebroadcaster. In fact, I can’t think of any that don’t off the top of my head*.
*if you can, please don’t post them to this thread.