On The Legality of Public Viewing?

[wessman]

It's a shame somebody would even have to ask this question, not because most of us know what the answer is, but because we have become such slaves to copyright regs...

On The Legality of Public Viewing?
from the customer-satisfaction-vs.-media-mogul-legalities dept.
posted by Cliff on Tuesday June 10, @15:55 (tv)
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/06/10/1951238

[0]bobej1977 asks: "I'm looking into opening a technology-centric cafe/bar, and am wondering about the legality of showing different types of media in the cafe. Specifically, I'm interested in using a PVR to build a library of popular television shows (Futurama, Simpsons, Enterprise, etc) and making it available to patrons of the cafe. Many establishments show live sports events or even popular shows but where exactly is the legal-line that a business shouldn't cross? While I'm at it, what about showing DVDs in the cafe? While I'm sure that doing so is prohibited, would it be tolerated since I wouldn't be charging to watch them? The precedent I'm thinking of is that some electronics or video rental stores that show movies, in the store. If not, what kind of arrangements could be made to get permission, if I'd like to have a LOTR-a-thon?"

Links:
0. http://www.circuitscafe.com

[Winphuk]

There's this sports bar, not too far from me called "Damon's".
It's set up so you can eat, and watch TV at the same time, and they even give you a channel flipper at the table, so you can see Baseball, Simpsons, CNN or whatever on a big screen in front of you.

[Aaron73153]

As long as your not charging the patrons to view these videos you should be ok., right?

Yes it is sad about how much power the media companies have now in enforcing copyrights, able to take action without the courts, terrible.