In talking to our friend Ivan Bender about this issue, he seems to feel that
making a copy of an at risk videotape or film (i.e. one in danger of biting
the dust) is probably permissable if it can be demonstrated that a reasonable
attempt was made to acquire the work at a fair market price (this is somewhat
similar to the copyright law's stand on OP print materials). I
personally feel a hell of a lot more comfortable doing this with
non-theatrical works than with feature films...
I also believe that copying in advance of need (i.e. making a circulating
or working copy in anticipation of heavy wear, etc.) is a VERY unwise and
legally unsound practice. Similarly, transferring formats (e.g. 3/4" to
1/2") without permission would probably also not hold up in court (unless,
perhaps, it could be demonstrated that the tape being copied was OP and
at risk of falling apart, and that attempts were made to buy a
replacement in the desired format).
Again...most of this falls into the land of unlitigated and unknown...
Gary Handman
Director
Media Resources Center
Moffitt Library
UC Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
510-643-8566
ghandman@library.berkeley.edu