Is it illegal to tape sitcoms and then sell them on Ebay? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

The Gooch · 06-12-2002, 03:44 PM

I was just reading in Newsweek that somebody sold 90 episodes of Knight Rider for $ 126.00.

Kristina · 06-12-2002, 05:41 PM

Yes it is, they are violating copyright laws. I believe they can actually be taken to prison. People are aloud to tape a sitcom but not actually sell it for money.

Lance Link · 06-12-2002, 06:31 PM

Just like movies, TV Shows are protected by copyright and it is illegal to sell them whether it be on e bay or on a tape trading group which the mpaa checks to see who is selling videos that hasn't officially been released . I think sometimes e bay closes their eyes with some sellers and let's them sell away while others they remove the item for auction. Go Figure.

jayman75 · 06-12-2002, 07:45 PM

I've also seen people buy a pencil with "The A-Team" or "The Facts of Life" on it, and then the winner of the auction gets a "bonus" of videos, movies, etc etc. I guess that works because they can say the item being "sold" is seperate from "the bonus."

I did buy some tapes from "The Electric Company" about two years ago, and the seller ended up losing her ebay account. So, you have to be careful. Perhaps you get a warning first... I dunno...

DarleneIllyria · 06-12-2002, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jayman75
I've also seen people buy a pencil with "The A-Team" or "The Facts of Life" on it, and then the winner of the auction gets a "bonus" of videos, movies, etc etc. I guess that works because they can say the item being "sold" is seperate from "the bonus."

Yeah, I was going to participate on an auction at ebay where the seller was selling a NBA card for 6 bucks and as a free bonus get 23 episodes of Night Gallery for free. When I first saw that auction, I was a bit suspicious. I was all set for bidding too, but I got the ending days mixed up and forgot to bid in time. I've seen other auctions that sell just straight tapes of shows they seller taped. One example would be Beavis and Butthead. I never thought something like that would be illegal though....

Brian · 06-12-2002, 09:43 PM

If it is illegal, why is TJ allowing people to offer to buy or sell episodes of shows on these message boards? If they used the message boards on this site to promote that, wouldn't this site be shut down already? I'm certain Universal Studios, Paramount, and other parties come by this site and they have done nothing as far as even issuing a cease and desist order, at least as far as I know.

kck · 06-12-2002, 09:54 PM

YES, no IF's, AND's ,or BUT's. YES

DetectiveGriffin · 06-13-2002, 12:13 PM

well, i dont agree with folks selling stuff but i am kind of glad that the proliferation of it has caused the copyright holders to recognize the need to put out their titles on dvd. someone told me the other day that 21 jump street and booker are being considered for release, and i imagine its because of this.

did anybody ever read the article at onion.com anout buying mama's family on ebay? it was so funny. i dont know if it was real or made up, but it was stellar. I think you can find it by searching for mama's family in their archives. too funny.

dawsongirl · 06-13-2002, 02:37 PM

I've bought a few things off ebay that turned out to be from TV. Of course they never SAID they were from TV. It's a slap in the face when you think you're getting something rare and it turns out to be from TV. Annoying.

Kristina · 06-13-2002, 02:55 PM

What's the point in buying taped videos even? Unless they were taped a lloooonnngg time ago then why would anyone want it? I want Gilligan's Island on tape, every episode, and I just barley started. People shouldn't charge people for something they can make themselves.

DarleneIllyria · 06-13-2002, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lucille Ball Forever
What's the point in buying taped videos even? Unless they were taped a lloooonnngg time ago then why would anyone want it? I want Gilligan's Island on tape, every episode, and I just barley started. People shouldn't charge people for something they can make themselves.

EXACTLY! I don't know guys, I'm still kind of wary of buying tapes online through auctions. I'm not talking about the NG tapes I talked about earlier. Let's say I went to ebay and saw every episode of 'The Facts of Life', but they have a price tag on it of $250. Take in note that this person just recorded the show on a plain vhs tape and took it to ebay. What if I do buy the tapes and the tapes are hardly viewable? I might as well have took the 250 bucks and flushed it down the toilet. I'm always wary about buying things like that on ebay. I know I tend to go crazy on ebay, but I'm still worried that I may get screwed on a deal like that. Some sellers may not even answer emails if you email them back to ask for a refund.

So this isn't so off topic, I agree with LBF. I'd rather record it myself and save the money.

DetectiveGriffin · 06-13-2002, 11:05 PM

agreed! Im terrified to buy them on ebay; not that i could afford to anyway. "Good"
pirates (near perfect 2nd gen tapes, willingness to refund) are the exception, but i have met some.
this dude in uk i know tried to buy walker texas ranger from some chick recently. in the uk it is heavily edited for violence, so he wanted them bad. she said she woiuld sell him 20 tapes for $20, but there was a non negatiable delivery of england of $280 american dollars.
I told him no to and he asked for his $20 back. She wouldnt give it until I told him I would send the police to her door.
I dont care one bit if other people sell, live and let live, i say; but when people are like that about --- errr, i wanna go after them myself.

I understand where you're coming from about recording stuff yourself, but the main reason homemade tapes are so popular is because many of the people who want them dont have access to them. Tons of people dont have popular channels like cartoon network, nick, and tvland, for instance.
For me, i found traders to record for me in canada and los angeles, because i had no access to the shows
playing in those areas. But it does wig me out when i see people who are willing to pay lots of money for something then can get and just refuse to do themselves. I was raised to be a cheapskate though, so maybe thats why <GGG>

Sitcomwriter · 06-14-2002, 04:59 PM

There is a difference between trading and selling.What you can do on this site is trading in which you trade tapes for tapes.Selling is tapes for money,which is illegal.

Robert Tilton · 06-15-2002, 06:16 AM

Well I watched a famous episode of:

Brady Grid

in which the Brady Bunch was putting on a play in their backyard (Snow White) and Mike was at the market w/Sam. A cop came up to them and got into a conversation w/Mike. Indeed the cop learned that Brady Grid was putting on a play in the backyard for the retiring Mrs. Whitfield you see?

Well anyway the cop asks Mike about getting seats for the play and I'll tell you Under The Anoiting that Mike told the Policeman that they were selling tickets to the play. The cop says:

You got a permit for doing that? City law says you've got to have a permit.

Now what we learn from Brady Grid in this episode (for the rest was mostly CheeseWiz) is that You Must Obey The Laws; in this case, putting on a play for the Real Thing, For Money, or For Bread is not allowed w/out the proper permits.

Amen.

Another reason Brady Bunch is good for all Nations, Tongues, and Kindreds. Be That As It May, just like you've got stockbrokers, you could have uh uh uh what do you call tape brokers.

Anybody selling tapes of shows would have to get permission, AKA a permit, to do this for The People. Permission from who you ask? The producers and makers of the material in question. So dear hearts:

Whenever you watch an episode, always watch the credits roll, and always READ THE DISCLAIMER. It should be at the end of the credits AKA Copyright such and such by er Sherwood Schwartz I think etc etc etc.

For This Is The Law Of TV:

You may tape all the shows you want to you heart's content for personal use. Have some buddies over, etc. But what you can't do is sell them for Money w/out giving credit for whoever made said work of art.

And if you test a tape before you buy it and you find a "Deadly Black Bar" or "A Bug", you must consult the Viacom Hotline Immediately

That's what the bugs are for!!! Of course a couple of these:

Changes the sentence. I'm just joking.

But seriously, if you're gonna tape the show and then sell it for Money, make sure you give credit to the makers of the shows. Amen.

Pricing. I believe TJ said to someone on here that the full run of Silver Spoons (from Columbia House) if available (Why should'nt it be available. A good ?) would run you 750 Dollars.

I have fought the Good Fight. I have finished the faith. I have the knowledge that I have given answers to this complex dilemma (copyright) to the best of my ability. And now if anyone has anything to add...kindly give your name to Mrs. Adderberry (Brady Bunch reference) or in this case...submit to Sitcoms Online.

And everybody says:

Amen.

Amen.

Dude111 · 10-20-2025, 04:41 AM

Yes im sure its not kosher but im sure glad they dont really enforce it!!

I have gotton some gold this way of shows I wouldnt see otherwise...... (@ least not as nice)

06-12-2002, 03:44 PM	#1
The Gooch Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 03, 2001 Posts: 137	Is it illegal to tape sitcoms and then sell them on Ebay? I was just reading in Newsweek that somebody sold 90 episodes of Knight Rider for $ 126.00.

06-12-2002, 07:45 PM	#4
jayman75 I Love the 80s! Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2000 Location: THE GREAT UNITED STATES Posts: 3,809	I've also seen people buy a pencil with "The A-Team" or "The Facts of Life" on it, and then the winner of the auction gets a "bonus" of videos, movies, etc etc. I guess that works because they can say the item being "sold" is seperate from "the bonus." I did buy some tapes from "The Electric Company" about two years ago, and the seller ended up losing her ebay account. So, you have to be careful. Perhaps you get a warning first... I dunno...
	__________________ A fan of quality, classic television comedies and holiday specials... The Wonder Years,The Golden Girls,Burns and Allen, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Are You Being Served?, Family Guy, South Park, Designing Women, Dallas, The Facts of Life, Roseanne, Will and Grace, The Twilight Zone, Original Scooby-Doo, Murphy Brown, The Big Bang Theory... Talk to me about one of these shows, and I'm all yours...

06-12-2002, 09:54 PM	#7
kck Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 28, 2002 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 39	YES, no IF's, AND's ,or BUT's. YES
	__________________ Security is my biz, classic sitcoms are my passion

06-15-2002, 06:16 AM	#14
Robert Tilton Man of Barnes Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: North Carolina Posts: 437	Well I watched a famous episode of: Brady Grid in which the Brady Bunch was putting on a play in their backyard (Snow White) and Mike was at the market w/Sam. A cop came up to them and got into a conversation w/Mike. Indeed the cop learned that Brady Grid was putting on a play in the backyard for the retiring Mrs. Whitfield you see? Well anyway the cop asks Mike about getting seats for the play and I'll tell you Under The Anoiting that Mike told the Policeman that they were selling tickets to the play. The cop says: You got a permit for doing that? City law says you've got to have a permit. Now what we learn from Brady Grid in this episode (for the rest was mostly CheeseWiz) is that You Must Obey The Laws; in this case, putting on a play for the Real Thing, For Money, or For Bread is not allowed w/out the proper permits. Amen. Another reason Brady Bunch is good for all Nations, Tongues, and Kindreds. Be That As It May, just like you've got stockbrokers, you could have uh uh uh what do you call tape brokers. Anybody selling tapes of shows would have to get permission, AKA a permit, to do this for The People. Permission from who you ask? The producers and makers of the material in question. So dear hearts: Whenever you watch an episode, always watch the credits roll, and always READ THE DISCLAIMER. It should be at the end of the credits AKA Copyright such and such by er Sherwood Schwartz I think etc etc etc. For This Is The Law Of TV: You may tape all the shows you want to you heart's content for personal use. Have some buddies over, etc. But what you can't do is sell them for Money w/out giving credit for whoever made said work of art. And if you test a tape before you buy it and you find a "Deadly Black Bar" or "A Bug", you must consult the Viacom Hotline Immediately That's what the bugs are for!!! Of course a couple of these: Changes the sentence. I'm just joking. But seriously, if you're gonna tape the show and then sell it for Money, make sure you give credit to the makers of the shows. Amen. Pricing. I believe TJ said to someone on here that the full run of Silver Spoons (from Columbia House) if available (Why should'nt it be available. A good ?) would run you 750 Dollars. I have fought the Good Fight. I have finished the faith. I have the knowledge that I have given answers to this complex dilemma (copyright) to the best of my ability. And now if anyone has anything to add...kindly give your name to Mrs. Adderberry (Brady Bunch reference) or in this case...submit to Sitcoms Online. And everybody says: Amen. Amen.
	__________________ Pure Oxygen Breathed In Carbon Dioxide Breathed Out And The Brady Bunch Is Like Perfect. Righteous.

06-12-2002, 05:41 PM	#2
Kristina Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Mar 27, 2001 Location: CaLiFoRnIa, UsA Posts: 8,890	Yes it is, they are violating copyright laws. I believe they can actually be taken to prison. People are aloud to tape a sitcom but not actually sell it for money.

06-12-2002, 06:31 PM	#3
Lance Link Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 27, 2001 Posts: 224	Just like movies, TV Shows are protected by copyright and it is illegal to sell them whether it be on e bay or on a tape trading group which the mpaa checks to see who is selling videos that hasn't officially been released . I think sometimes e bay closes their eyes with some sellers and let's them sell away while others they remove the item for auction. Go Figure.

06-12-2002, 09:43 PM	#6
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	If it is illegal, why is TJ allowing people to offer to buy or sell episodes of shows on these message boards? If they used the message boards on this site to promote that, wouldn't this site be shut down already? I'm certain Universal Studios, Paramount, and other parties come by this site and they have done nothing as far as even issuing a cease and desist order, at least as far as I know.

06-13-2002, 12:13 PM	#8
DetectiveGriffin Sankontessou! Senior Member Join Date: Aug 08, 2001 Location: North Central Indiana Posts: 1,288	well, i dont agree with folks selling stuff but i am kind of glad that the proliferation of it has caused the copyright holders to recognize the need to put out their titles on dvd. someone told me the other day that 21 jump street and booker are being considered for release, and i imagine its because of this. did anybody ever read the article at onion.com anout buying mama's family on ebay? it was so funny. i dont know if it was real or made up, but it was stellar. I think you can find it by searching for mama's family in their archives. too funny.

06-13-2002, 02:37 PM	#9
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,128	I've bought a few things off ebay that turned out to be from TV. Of course they never SAID they were from TV. It's a slap in the face when you think you're getting something rare and it turns out to be from TV. Annoying.

06-13-2002, 02:55 PM	#10
Kristina Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Mar 27, 2001 Location: CaLiFoRnIa, UsA Posts: 8,890	What's the point in buying taped videos even? Unless they were taped a lloooonnngg time ago then why would anyone want it? I want Gilligan's Island on tape, every episode, and I just barley started. People shouldn't charge people for something they can make themselves.

06-13-2002, 11:05 PM	#12
DetectiveGriffin Sankontessou! Senior Member Join Date: Aug 08, 2001 Location: North Central Indiana Posts: 1,288	agreed! Im terrified to buy them on ebay; not that i could afford to anyway. "Good" pirates (near perfect 2nd gen tapes, willingness to refund) are the exception, but i have met some. this dude in uk i know tried to buy walker texas ranger from some chick recently. in the uk it is heavily edited for violence, so he wanted them bad. she said she woiuld sell him 20 tapes for $20, but there was a non negatiable delivery of england of $280 american dollars. I told him no to and he asked for his $20 back. She wouldnt give it until I told him I would send the police to her door. I dont care one bit if other people sell, live and let live, i say; but when people are like that about --- errr, i wanna go after them myself. I understand where you're coming from about recording stuff yourself, but the main reason homemade tapes are so popular is because many of the people who want them dont have access to them. Tons of people dont have popular channels like cartoon network, nick, and tvland, for instance. For me, i found traders to record for me in canada and los angeles, because i had no access to the shows playing in those areas. But it does wig me out when i see people who are willing to pay lots of money for something then can get and just refuse to do themselves. I was raised to be a cheapskate though, so maybe thats why <GGG>

06-14-2002, 04:59 PM	#13
Sitcomwriter Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 27, 2001 Posts: 7,354	There is a difference between trading and selling.What you can do on this site is trading in which you trade tapes for tapes.Selling is tapes for money,which is illegal.

10-20-2025, 04:41 AM	#15
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,339	Yes im sure its not kosher but im sure glad they dont really enforce it!! I have gotton some gold this way of shows I wouldnt see otherwise...... (@ least not as nice)