Library of Congress Buys Sports Audio Archive

[Willets Point]

This is the type of archive I dream of working with: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/sports/09archive.html?_r=3&emc=eta1

I thought this part most interesting:

Officially named the John Miley Sports Broadcast Collection, the archive of recordings spans 1920 to 1972, when sound recordings, according to the library, were not protected by federal copyright law.

So it turns out that the only reason many of these recordings are preserved is because some dude was recording off the radio. Imagine what would have happened had a gotten a cease & desist letter back then.

[Theoldmole]

I'd love to spend some serious time in this archive.

[RealityChuck]

Willets Point wrote: So it turns out that the only reason many of these recordings are preserved is because some dude was recording off the radio. Imagine what would have happened had a gotten a cease & desist letter back then.

No he wouldn't. If he recorded on blank audio tape, then he cannot be charged with copyright infringement.

Not to mention the "time shifting" rule that come into effect when VCRs became popular.