TV Licence article Discussion

blackfive

Here's a question.
You're obviously not allowed to watch or record programmes as they're being broadcast on the TV stations and all seem to be in agreement to that.
Now if sticking in strict compliance with that what would be the legality of getting someone with a TV Licence to record a programme for you on a recordable rewriteable DVD then give it to you for watching at some other time? This wouldn't be watching the programme as it was broadcast on television.
Of course you'd have to comply with the copyright requirements by making temporary and erase said recording from it once it had been watched.

adouglasmhor

cw18 wrote: »

in which case she was breaking the law

no sympathy for her - or for anyone else who gets caught
if yo break the law you have to be prepared to take the consequences

I take it you inspect all your friends TV licences before going into their houses, just in case, or do you just insist they turn it off at the mains and disconnect the antenna or comms cable? I have a lot of sympathy for her, how was she to know whether her employer had a TV license or not? She should not have been prosecuted but a slimy leech saw her as an easy target.

(OK I said Friends but it’s a theoretical question just imagine you have at least one).

adouglasmhor

davehills wrote: »

Firstly, I don't buy any of this "I have a telly and an aerial but don't watch live programmes" nonsense. I feel that if peeps choose to watch 'live' telly then they are morally obliged to pay the fee, regardless of whether you can "get away with it" or wiggle out of it due to a loophole. It's a bit like people who fiddle taxes or claim benefits they are not entitled to. If you owe it then you should pay it!

Secondly, I think that you can only stream programmes over two hours since they were broadcast. As I understand it viewing a programme less than two hours old is regarded as 'live' for which a licence is required. Before it's broadcast is OK too. Just not during the programme or two hours afterwards.

Also note that things like mobile phones need a TV licence if they are used for viewing 'live' TV or it is reasonably believed that the device will be used to watch 'live' TV.

I can stream programmes almost as soon as they are completed in many cases, i have no idea where you got this 2 hour figure from.

adouglasmhor

davehills wrote: »

I believe Sphagnum is actually right, but this was before streaming and downloading came along to muddy the waters.

Once upon a time you needed a radio licence, too!

No you just had to present a reasonable case it ws used for other purposes. TVL, BBC and their nut-huggers used to state it as fact, many cases that got to court went the other way though and even more were dropped beforehand.

mymedi

blackfive wrote: »

Of course you'd have to comply with the copyright requirements by making temporary and erase said recording from it once it had been watched.

You'd be breaking the copyright by doing that, not complying with it.
The act of making a copy of something AND distributing it breaks the copyright.

Now, if you friend were to "borrow" your private copy without your knowledge, you'd be Ok. :beer:

adouglasmhor

Buzby wrote: »

Very true - the original Wireless Telegraphy Act was for the 'installation' of equipment capable of receiving (1) radio, then (2) television, and finally split into B&W and colour.

You needed the licence effectively to have/use/own the receiver. Watching or listening was not relevant.

This changed with a new Act of Parliament - the Communcations Act 2000, lots of changes and formed the basis for the current 'advice' - but the main thrust is the interpretation. If you have the equipment, it means you are on the back foot, lack of an aerial is no defence. Te judge then decides whether you are lying or not.

Not having the equipment means this situation cannot arise.

Instalation is not the same as possession, you even then could have a TV with no ariel and not tuned to tv stations atached to a games console or a ZX spectrum, no need for a license.

anotheruser

492800 wrote: »

Just to check, are you sure? as all I can find is:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/insidethebbc/whoweare/licencefee/
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/what-does-your-licence-fee-pay-for-top13/

which doesnt mention the non-bbc channels you mention.

Hmm, I can't find the source


Also, not sure if this link is applicable:

http://www.bbctvlicence.com/

blackfive

mymedi wrote: »

You'd be breaking the copyright by doing that, not complying with it.
The act of making a copy of something AND distributing it breaks the copyright.

Now, if you friend were to "borrow" your private copy without your knowledge, you'd be Ok. :beer:

If it's distribution that's the technicality on copywrite then all I need to do is go round to my friend with my rewriteable DVD and do the recording of the programme by setting it up myself and then retrieve the DVD disc after it's been recorded ensuring the friend hasn't played the disc. That way it surely hasn't been distributed especially as the disc is owned by me.

Stephen61

This is completely wrong. You require a TV licence if you own any equipment with a built-in demodulator circuit for receiving TV channels. Regardless if you watch live TV channels. Even if you never switch the TV on, if your TV has a built-in TV turner and is capable of receiving these channel you must buy a licence. If you use a computer and monitor screen without a built-in demodulator circuit, then you can watch catch-up TV for free.

cw18

adouglasmhor wrote: »

I take it you inspect all your friends TV licences before going into their houses, just in case, or do you just insist they turn it off at the mains and disconnect the antenna or comms cable? I have a lot of sympathy for her, how was she to know whether her employer had a TV license or not? She should not have been prosecuted but a slimy leech saw her as an easy target.

(OK I said Friends but it’s a theoretical question just imagine you have at least one).

I wouldn't dream of turning on a TV in someone else's house without at least asking them - guess that's my upbringing!!

I'm very rarely at any friends house when the TV is on though - I don't go round to watch it, and avoid times they'll be watching as we can't catch up/do whatever I've gone round for if they're glued to the screen. It's sometimes on when I go to visit my parents or my daughter, and yes I know for sure they both have. I've only ever spent time with one person I know for sure didn't have - and I refused point blank to be in the property if he was watching anything but a DVD. He actually got a knock on the door and ended up signing up for a licence in order to avoid any further trouble - and I couldn't believe how much he complained about it. It'd have been hard for him to claim he wasn't watching when he was paying for cable TV though !!!