Is downloading TV shows stealing?

I've been wanting to download some tv episodes that I missed. Since they were recorded from broadcast TV, is this stealing or a violation of copyright?

uncaring, american pig-dog

if you are bypassing a pay tv channel that you do not have access to then YES

however if you do subscribe to the channel then IMO its fine

or if you are in a country where the program is not available any other way then i also say its fine.

for example we don't get jackass here in any way shape or form, except at the movies so i have all the episodes on my computer as its not in competition with any tv channel so MTV isn't losing money on it


Alltaken

if its free to ai then i say just download it!!!

they have already earnt their money from it from advertising


Alltaken

Technically it would be, but not one you are likely to face legal problems on. After all, if hollywood had had its way, nobody would own vcrs because they could be used to illegally record programs off the air. Now taping stuff is basically considered "fair use" whether it is or not. Personally, I get a lot of anime simply because it doesn't air around here, and by the time the dvds are released in 1-2years I won't remember much about what I downloaded anyway. I've grabbed some other shows as well, and most likely "illegally" but oh well.

IIRC, the judges ruling was basically that the benifits (able to view home movies, purchase movies/tv shows to watch at home) of legitimate use outweighed the possibility of some illegal uses. (copying Shawshank Redemption off of HBO, or "backing up" your neighbors tapes) Fair use came in because the media for tapes and floppies failed, so even though it was illegal to copy them, you could fairly make 1 copy for yourself as a backup in case your original purchase failed. At least, that's how I remember the case turning out.

It depends, I study Marketing and Broadcasting laws and there are guidelines.
If the T.V. show is shown with interrupting commercials, then it is illegal. According to the US Broadcast Accordance laws that are appended to the US constitution, it says in the Appendix IV, Caption I, letter B, "In the accordance to the media business contracts, where a broadcasting company accords to sell it's "ON" time (reffered back on the Index as broadcasting time) it is illegalto copy or reproduce any broadcasted program that has been legitimately sponsored by such company buying the service..." it goes on with the rant.
IF the program is like a documental which is made say by discovery channel and it doesnt have any sponsors, then you can copy it and watch it. This is because the principles of a broadcasting company is to broadcast free (not free as in GNU or free beer, free as in the Broadcasting and Media Accordance License) programs. Free which means you can have it, but not sell it or modify it, with several other points.

so now you tell me, is it legal?

--------------------------------------------------
My computer is so fast it proves the theory of relativity wrong...