Copyright Law

Many people ask us about duplicating programs that are copyrighted. The law is very specific about what can and cannot be legally duplicated.

Unless you create the program yourself, it is probably copyrighted by someone else. Commercial films and programs you purchase are copyrighted. Almost all material broadcast on network, cable or satellite television stations is copyrighted. You may tape these broadcast programs for your own "personal use," but your rights do not extend to making additional copies.

You can face serious penalties and fines for duplicating copyrighted material. U.S. marshals shut down illegal duplication labs and confiscate thousands of pirated copies of films and videotapes every day.

We take this issue very seriously and we do not duplicate copyrighted material, except as allowed by law.

Copyright law is governed by the United States Code, Title 17. This document details the types of works that can be copyrighted, the rights the copyright holder has, situations where copies may be made without the holder's permission as well as the penalties for copyright infringement.

Title 17 of the US Code, Section 106 lists the rights the copyright holder has:

"...the owner of copyright under this title has the exclusive rights to do and to authorize any of the following:
(1) to reproduce the copyrighted work in copies or phonorecords;
(2) to prepare derivative works based upon the copyrighted work;
(3) to distribute copies or phonorecords of the copyrighted work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending"

Sections 501 and 506 deal specifically with copyright infringement and penalties:
"Anyone who violates any of the exclusive rights of the copyright owner as provided by sections 106 through 118 or of the author as provided in section 106A(a)...is an infringer of the copyright or right of the author, as the case may be"
"Any person who infringes a copyright willfully and for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain shall be punished as provided in section 2319 of title 18."
"When any person is convicted of any violation of subsection (a), the court in its judgment of conviction shall, in addition to the penalty therein prescribed, order the forfeiture and destruction or other disposition of all infringing copies or phonorecords and all implements, devices, or equipment used in the manufacture of such infringing copies or phonorecords."
"Any person who, with fraudulent intent, removes or alters any notice of copyright appearing on a copy of a copyrighted work shall be fined not more than $2,500."

Finally, Title 18, Section 2319 details the punishment for copyright infringement:

"Whoever violates section 506(a) (relating to criminal offenses) of title 17 shall be punished...and such penalties shall be in addition to any other provisions of title 17 or any other law."
"Any person who commits an offense under subsection (a) of this section shall be imprisoned not more than 5 years, or fined in the amount set forth in this title, or both, if the offense consists of the reproduction or distribution, during any 180-day period, of at least 10 copies or phonorecords, of 1 or more copyrighted works, with a retail value of more than $2,500; shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, or fined in the amount set forth in this title, or both, if the offense is a second or subsequent offense under paragraph (1); and shall be imprisoned not more than 1 year, or fined in the amount set forth in this title, or both, in any other case."

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Please note: Action Duplication is not in the business of providing legal counsel.

This is just a portion of the US Code related to copyright law.
You should consult a legal professional for a complete explanation of copyright laws and issues.