Legal Definitions - home-style exemption

The Home-Style Exemption is a provision in the U.S. Copyright Act that allows for the public airing of radio and television broadcasts in public-accommodation establishments, such as bars and restaurants, without the risk of being sued for copyright infringement.

This exemption is called "home-style" because the equipment used for the airing must be a single receiver of the type typically found in homes. This means that businesses cannot use professional equipment to broadcast copyrighted material without permission.

A sports bar wants to show a live football game on their TVs for their customers. They can use a single receiver, like a cable box or antenna, to pick up the broadcast and display it on their TVs without worrying about infringing on the copyright of the game.

However, if the sports bar were to use a professional satellite dish or other equipment to pick up the broadcast, they would not be covered by the Home-Style Exemption and could be sued for copyright infringement.