N/A

Before I started tape trading, I did lots of research because as a Christian I do not want to practice something illegal, and I came to the same conclusions that you've included here. I am not closed minded on the subject, and if someone can prove to me that it is truly illegal, I'd hop off of the wagon. When and if tape trading becomes absolutely illegal, this trading board and all others will be shut down shortly thereafter.

You can't believe everything you read on line. An obscure comment here and there regarding anything otherwise, isn't enough proof for most traders.

Jen

there is no RIAA for television that is threatening to sue people

I don't know if they're threatening to sue people or not, but there most certainly is the MPAA who represents the following:

Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Paramount Pictures Corporation
TriStar Pictures, Inc.
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
United Artists Pictures, Inc.
United Artists Corporation
Universal City Studios, LLLP
Warner Bros., a Division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.

How do I know? I got an email from them once saying they were shutting down my trading site (absolutely NO selling was hinted, implied or stated on the site whatsoever, strictly trade). No biggie, I just removed the references to trading and now call it a "want list". Not much they can do about that I figure.

Originally posted by lazygrae
I don't know if they're threatening to sue people or not, but there most certainly is the MPAA who represents the following.

Well, yes, the MPAA is going after some people, but they're all about motion pictures, not television shows. Not entirely the same thing. The MPAA has been going after people for years for selling/trading/whatever movies that have just been released.

they're all about motion pictures, not television shows.

Then why would they take down my tv trading site? Or care at all?

If you look at the names of the companies represented by them, you will find that many of them do own the rights to tv shows (Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Universal etc.).

Do you really think those companies have said to the MPAA, "please represent us for our movies only, ignore tv program violations"? I don't.

Besides, common sense says that television qualifies as a motion picture. It would be hard to argue that it is a static picture and it has to be one or the other.

Originally posted by lazygrae
Then why would they take down my tv trading site? Or care at all?

Can't answer that. I would guess, however, that whoever was looking at the site really didn't take a look at what you were "trading" and just knew that you were. That was enough for them.

Do you really think those companies have said to the MPAA, "please represent us for our movies only, ignore tv program violations"? I don't.

I don't think the MPAA has the authority to go after TV program violations. There is a huge difference between motion pictures and TV programs. Yes, they're both filmed, but that's where the similarities end. Motion pictures are produced differently, marketed differently, released differently and have totally different expectations than television. If you have access to a motion picture still in the theatres, that means you either snuck into the theatre with a camera or you have a screener copy, both of which are illegal (unless you're a reviewer and even then there are a lot of rules). If you are trading TV programs it means you taped the episiode of TV, which isn't itself illegal.

I could be wrong. I've never really looked into what the MPAA does but I highly doubt the MPAA can/will get involved with television. It isn't called the Motion Picture Association of America for nothing.

EDIT: Okay, I actually went and checked and according to the MPAA website, "The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and its international counterpart, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) serve as the voice and advocate of the American motion picture, home video and television industries, domestically through the MPAA and internationally through the MPA."

However, I went and read their anti-piracy page and it mentioned TV broadcasts once or twice and in relation to movies being broadcast on television.