Legal Definitions - bootleg copy

A bootleg copy refers to an unauthorized recording or reproduction of a live performance or broadcast. This means capturing and distributing content, such as a concert, play, or live sports event, without the express permission of the artists, performers, venue, or broadcasters who hold the legal rights to that content. It is distinct from pirating a commercially released album or movie, as it specifically involves capturing the content as it is happening or directly from a live transmission.

• Unauthorized Concert Recording

  Imagine a fan attending a popular music concert who uses a hidden microphone and camera to record the entire live performance. After the show, they upload the audio and video files to a file-sharing website or create physical discs to sell to other fans.

  This is a bootleg copy because the fan recorded a live performance without the permission of the band, the concert promoters, or the venue. The resulting recording is an unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted material from a live event.

• Illegal Live Stream of a Sporting Event

  Consider a major pay-per-view boxing match being broadcast live. An individual records the entire broadcast directly from their television feed and then streams it live on a free website, allowing others to watch without paying the broadcast fee.

  This constitutes a bootleg copy because the individual reproduced and distributed a live broadcast without the authorization of the sports league or the broadcasting network, who hold the exclusive rights to that live event.

• Secret Recording of a Theatrical Play

  Suppose an audience member secretly records a full Broadway play using a camcorder hidden in their bag. They then edit the footage and attempt to sell DVDs of the performance online.

  This is a bootleg copy because the recording was made of a live theatrical performance without the permission of the playwright, the actors, the production company, or the theater. The unauthorized recording and subsequent distribution infringe upon their intellectual property rights.