Legal Definitions - time-shifting

Definition: Time-shifting is the act of recording a TV show or movie to watch it at a later time. For example, if you record a show on your DVR to watch it later, you are time-shifting.

Time-shifting is legal and considered a fair use of technology. In a court case called Sony Corp. v. Universal Studios, Inc., the Supreme Court ruled that recording TV shows for personal use is not copyright infringement.

Example: Let's say you have a favorite TV show that airs at 8 pm on Monday nights, but you have to work during that time. You can set your DVR to record the show, and then watch it later when you have time. This is an example of time-shifting.

Another example of time-shifting is using a streaming service like Netflix or Hulu to watch a show that has already aired. You can watch the show at any time, even if it originally aired months or years ago.