Will your big-screen Super Bowl party violate copyright law?
arstechnica.com
Will your big-screen Super Bowl party violate copyright law?
1–10 of 19 posts
Re: Will your big-screen Super Bowl party violate copyright law?
#2The bigger question is that does having a bunch of friends over to watch anything on your big-screen tv violate copyright law?
Re: Will your big-screen Super Bowl party violate copyright law?
#3This is just bad jurisprudence. It's the reason why legal language is supposed to be intentionally vague; so that there aren't potential legal issues with doing something that a completely rational person might do. Obviously there is no intention for the law to be interfering with any super bowl parties you might want to have at home and no prosecutor would relish pursuing someone who did. This whole thing is pretty much a moot point unless you own a sports bar. That's what happens when lobbyists get to the lawmakers though...
Re: Will your big-screen Super Bowl party violate copyright law?
#4The bigger question is that does having a bunch of friends over to watch anything on your big-screen tv violate copyright law?
And the even BIGGER question then that is who will rehash this age-old topic around this time next year?
Re: Will your big-screen Super Bowl party violate copyright law?
#5I think this is covered by the "we don't want to discuss this issue, don't want to revamp a bad system, don't want to make a decision that will piss anyone off" law .... also known as "Don't ask, don't tell"
Re: Will your big-screen Super Bowl party violate copyright law?
#6This is just bad jurisprudence. It's the reason why legal language is supposed to be intentionally vague; so that there aren't potential legal issues with doing something that a completely rational person might do. Obviously there is no intention for the law to be interfering with any super bowl parties you might want to have at home and no prosecutor would relish pursuing someone who did. This whole thing is pretty…
Obviously there is no intention for the law to be interfering with any super bowl parties
As more and more aspects of life are affected by automation, "I didn't mean to" is less and less a useful excuse. Rules should specify what is and is not within the rules, and if that's very difficult, perhaps it's a sign that the rule is ill-considered.
Re: Will your big-screen Super Bowl party violate copyright law?
#7This is just bad jurisprudence. It's the reason why legal language is supposed to be intentionally vague; so that there aren't potential legal issues with doing something that a completely rational person might do. Obviously there is no intention for the law to be interfering with any super bowl parties you might want to have at home and no prosecutor would relish pursuing someone who did. This whole thing is pretty…
Obviously there is no intention for the law to be interfering with any super bowl parties As more and more aspects of life are affected by automation, "I didn't mean to" is less and less a useful excuse. Rules should specify what is and is not within the rules, and if that's very difficult, perhaps it's a sign that the rule is ill-considered.
I agree 100%, but there is precedent for lawyers to follow, so that is considered when pursuing each new case. Much like "I didn't mean to" is not an excuse, it is stated in law that ignorance of the law is not an excuse either.
It's the same that no one will prosecute a minor for sexting another minor even though it may be considered "child pornography", or at least they shouldn't.
What is needed is clear and concise law that does not bog down the process and micromanage what should be left open for interpretation. I stand by the fact that the aspects of law mentioned in the article are simply very poor jurisprudence.
Re: Will your big-screen Super Bowl party violate copyright law?
#8The bigger question is that does having a bunch of friends over to watch anything on your big-screen tv violate copyright law?
The article answers that:
> The rest of exemption five lays out a host of limitations to the exemption (yes, it's a bit confusing), but they all apply to "an establishment"—a public gathering place, not a home. The rules get remarkably specific, apply differently to small and large venues, and come with restrictions on how many TVs or radios can be used in a place of business without running into trouble.
Re: Will your big-screen Super Bowl party violate copyright law?
#9Dovetails nicely with the 'i break the law...' conversation here, http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1091814.
This is actually a concern as I've been invited to a superbowl party via facebook, no less. What happens when these invites are discoverable and suits decide to start filing lawsuits? Good times.
Re: Will your big-screen Super Bowl party violate copyright law?
#10This is just bad jurisprudence. It's the reason why legal language is supposed to be intentionally vague; so that there aren't potential legal issues with doing something that a completely rational person might do. Obviously there is no intention for the law to be interfering with any super bowl parties you might want to have at home and no prosecutor would relish pursuing someone who did. This whole thing is pretty…
There really is a gray area between "home" and "public exhibition" and it is extensively litigated over.
It sounds like a simple, reasonable thing to determine. Something that would never ensnare honest people who inadvertently walked across a line you imagine is well-delineated. But it really isn't.
Are most personal parties in the clear, despite size of TV? Sure. Does that mean all of them are or that you'll clearly know when you cross that line? Case law says "no" on both counts.