By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 26/08/2026The VCR was one of the fastest-adopted technologies in the history of the world, and it was *disruptive*. The fact that you could record shows to watch later, skip the ads, build a library of your favorites, even loan your tapes around - it drove the studios and broadcasters *nuts*. 3/ 148638
By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 26/08/2026The VCR hit the market under a litigation cloud, lawsuits that went all the way to the Supreme Court, culminating with 1984's *Betamax*, whose key precept is that new technology doesn't violate copyright law if it can "sustain a substantial, non-infringing use": en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Co.... 4en.wikipedia.orgSony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc. - Wikipedia 124812
By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 26/08/2026As important as the VCR was as a device - creating the home video market, which begat DVDs, then streaming - the *Betamax* decision is even *more* important. 5/ 12345