Copying TV programs for private and domestic use

Making copies of programs on TV for personal use is now allowed under the Copyright Act.
This is sometimes known as ‘time shifting’ as the programs are being taped to watch at a more convenient time.

But conditions apply:

• Only one copy of a program can be made
• It can only be shared amongst a family or household
• It must be deleted once it is watched and
• The copy cannot be used in class.

Copies made under these provisions must be for ‘private and domestic use’. However, the Supplementary Explanatory Memorandum states that they do not have to be made or watched in a domestic setting. This means that when a video is made of a TV program to watch later, these can be watched or listened to outside the home.

According to the Attorney General’s FAQs, the audience for the program can include friends or family. So members of a household could include friends.

Broadcast copies for teaching or educational purposes must still be processed under the Screenrights Licence.

The Audio Visual Production Unit may be able to assist you with this or you can follow the Screenrights labelling requirements to make the item a Screenrights copy.

.See also:

• Guidelines for using audiovisual materials in pdf format
• Guidelines for using audiovisual materials in rtf format

Send inquiries to the university's Copyright Advisor.