Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc.

Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc. (1984), was a legal case where Sony challenged whether recording TV shows at home using their videocassette recorders (VCRs) infringed copyright. The Supreme Court ruled that making individual copies for personal use was a fair act and not copyright infringement, recognizing that technology can be used for lawful timeshifting and personal convenience. This case established the legal foundation for consumer rights to record and store copyrighted material for private use, balancing technological innovation with copyright laws.