Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Louisiana
Copyright Laws on Videocassette Editing
I wish to know if it is an infringement of any copyright laws for me to edit/splice a legally purchased videocassette for my children to view. I also wish to know if it is a copyright infringement if I edit my next-door-neighbor's videocassette for her children to view.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Copyright Laws on Videocassette Editing
No, you can edit your own videocassette (and by "edit" I assume you mean to leave out or rearrange the material already there). And, if all you are doing for your friend is basically the same thing, then there should be no problem with that either. College professors who teach film classes are allowed to edit and excerpt scenes to show their students various techniques, and what you are doing is basically the same thing although for a different purpose.