Knightmare.com

And if memory serves correctly, you're only allowed to keep programmes you tape from TV for 24 hours. I could be wrong though.

Anyway, on the whole copyright palaver I'll say what my dad always does. If they were actually going to enforce these laws (the ones pertaining to selling of secondhand tapes etc) then the expense of bringing all these cases to court would far surpass the actual 'damage' done.

Now, when people start making a PROFIT over copyright crime (e.g. mass manufacture and selling of pirated movies and music) that's when the police are likely to get involved. (and I can assure you that they do, the Barras gets raided every week or so)

Exactly.

(Although I think the 24 hours thing is actually 72 hours after recording, or 24 hours after first viewing the recording, whichever happens first. However, I'm not entirely sure either!)

Yes, like a lot of copyright law, it's quite, quite stupid. Lending a book to a friend is ALSO illegal, libraries need to have a license to do so. Hey, when it comes down to brass tacks, even fanfiction can be illegal. But only twats prosecute on something as harmless as that. *coughAnneRicecough*

Oh good greif don't get me started on Copyright laws.

I amoung my other pass times am what is comernly referd to as a Themester some one who downloads TV & Film Theme Tunes of the net. I know technicaly I'm breaking the Law but I'm not profiting from it, it is for my own personal enjoymant.

The Copyright laws are stupidety personifeyd. Only when money is being made should it be a crime.

I always thought it was 24 hours as well!! But how stupied is that other fact about it being illegal to invite freinds round to watch a video, I meen thats what I'm talikng abouut.

(Right. Rant over I feel better for getting that off my chest.)

That's GENERALLY right, Skarkill, but one thing you're missing. Downloading complete material off the internet for personal use can be, and is, unfair as it may be depriving the originators of a fair profit i.e. you'll be taking pleasure from their work without paying them for it.

Therefore only abandonware - material that has been withdrawn from commercial release - should be exempt from copyright. Old eps of Knightmare would generally be seen in this bracket, although again we have to be careful not to make too many assumptions..

"I don't download SONGS. I don't download things like Britney Spears or The Bee Gees.

I only Download Theme Tunes Like the Knightmare One. I meen theres no Sound track for it is there?

Don't take the remark personally, Skarks. I'm just saying that some downloads are illegal, and the way you described it in your previous post made it sound like the law is totally wrong and that anything should go. I'm just giving an example of where the law has got it just right.

And as an afterthought, consider this... even downloading theme tunes is questionable. Shouldn't Tony Hatch get royalties from us when we download the Knightmare theme? It's a grey area.

Oh don't get me wrong I accept the need for Copyright laws I just think that they should be based on commern sence and only be envoked when the Pirate or themester is doing it to make a profit.

Essentially in total agreement with what I and Elita said earlier.

To be fair, that generally IS the only time that the police bother with them. They have the nous to realise when they're making a lot of pointless work and expense for themselves.

Before this copyright argument spirals out of control, I had better make the whole Knightmare tape trading business perfectly clear...

NKTP: Neil Jones has not updated this site for a very long time.  Therefore, do not take any of the information or contact details there to be accurate at this time.  It is also unlikely to be updated in the near future, so it is best ignored.

As far as trading goes, there have been some worries in the past with certain traders making profit on their copying, and indeed on E-Bay people have been known to seel a series for a good £60+.  This is why tape trading is, to say the least, not advised any longer.

That is the general story.

As far as piracy law goes, it is very hard to inforce, and as Nic said, a rather discreat transaction is at worst hard to trace, rather than the unfortunate person on e-bay.  

So the trick is...Don't use a fog horn when a whisper will do, but do be careful who you're whispering to.

A lot of copyright laws make very little sense and are barely enforced these days, but as Kieran so rightly says if you want to do trades be careful who you're trading with! Thats all I have to say on this matter.

So the trick is...Don't use a fog horn when a whisper will do, but do be careful who you're whispering to.

Remember that the walls have ears, so they say. Anyway I thought that downloading mp3s such as full albums and singles is illegal also or did the laws on downloading mp3s changed? I want to know that if downloading them is illegal then how come when you click on an mp3 download site it says that it's totally legal? Or is it just illegal when you are making a profit from them?

You shouldn't believe everything you read on an Internet site.

Like CD's and videos, MP3s are not necessarily illegal, only their creation/distribution without authorisation from the copyright holder. The sites that CLAIM that their material is perfectly legal MIGHT be telling the truth, but once again you shouldn't bet your life on it.

Still, it's an excellent question, Liza, so I'm sending you an immediate cash prize of £500 as a reward. But before you get too excited, I recommend you re-read that first line.  

A bit like those dodgy junk letters that you get saying you have definately won for example a very high cash prize. You certainly have to read the small print. How many of those are hoaxes? I would say the majority if not all of them are! When we get those sorts of letters we say 'what's the catch!'.