Inherent Vice: Bootleg Histories of Videotape and Copyright

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The book delves into the evolution of home video technology and its impact on copyright law, highlighting the tension between media piracy and consumer rights. It examines how analog videotape, initially seen as a bootleg tool, challenged the film industry's resistance and led to significant legal changes favoring users' rights to record. Through this historical lens, the author illustrates how lessons from the past can inform current discussions on progressive media policy, making a case for the importance of fair use in today's digital landscape.