Well, I have a 65″ widescreen HDTV and I was going to invite all of you over for the game but I guess I can’t do it now. Seems the NFL doesn’t want folks having SuperBowl watch parties where the TV screens are larger than 55 inches, unless, of course, you happen to have a sports bar.
h/t Va Progressive
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39 Comments
Awww, Drat! Now what am I supposed to do?
How is the NFL supposed to enforce such a stupid rule? Are there going to be cops ready at the door to arrest anyone who breaks it?
Of course this could also affect my plans for viewing the Super Bowl. Is the NFL trying to lose fans or is it just incidental?
Hey… If we all bring about 2 dozen 13inch TVs, can we come over then?
Wonkette, er, Whackette – I thought Republitarian wasn’t going to let you come?
CR – dumb rule.
Scott – I don’t know where we’d put 2 dozen 13″ TVs
Republitarian is easy to negotiate with; you just have to know how.
Just to be clear – this isn’t a restriction on in-home viewing. The rules cited (which come from Fairness in Music Licensing Act of 1998 (17 U.S.C. § 110(5)(B)(i)(II))) apply to public showings (generally thought of as showings in a sports bar or something). The idea was that sports bars shouldn’t be making money (by charging for admission) off of what the NFL was providing for free (by broadcasting it over the air). That the church in the article wasn’t actually charging doesn’t seem to make a difference, under the text of the statute.
Don’t like it? Tell Congress to actually listen to someone besides Disney, the NFL, or the RIAA when writing our IP laws. Our own Rick Boucher will almost certainly listen.
(The above isn’t legal advice, etc., etc.)
Aww, bummer. Well, I guess I’m just going to have to find another place to party on… Er, who’s playing?
MB – I’m confused by what you wrote. Are you saying the churches should be able to show the games?
(And don’t go telling folks it doesn’t apply to home viewing. I’ll have a house full of bloggers
)
Well, I’m saying that the law is on the side of the NFL in this case. On the question of should, in a moral sense, I really don’t know. Or care. It’s just football. I had Redskins tickets to every home game for three years, and maybe went to three.
[Borrowing from CR] Lightning strikes in 3, 2, . . .
So the law allows sports bars but not churches. Hmmm
As for those Redskins tickets – let me see if I can find my big stick – to whack you over the head
You caught that didn’t you Vivian? Rats…
No, those restrictions apply to all public performances, unless otherwise agreed to by license. Those big sports bars, with giant screens? Have themselves a license.
Confusing? By design. We lawyers find a way to make ourselves necessary . . .
Ah, so it’s a license. I didn’t know that.
And no, I didn’t miss that “we lawyers” thing, either.
(What is it with blogs and lawyers?) Even so, I’ve still got a big stick with your name on it 
Party at Vivian’s!
And, yes, MB needs a good, swift whack!
The copyright law (as lobbied for and “changed” for corporate interests) should show everyone WHY corporations need to be regulated (IF you didn’t know that already….)
We need a NEW copyright law that us consumer friendly….instead of corporate friendly and one that will let us once again view great documentaries like Eyes on the Prize that used to be legal (like big tv screens and are no longer legal…)
So let’s bring back the right to see (and make) documentaries like Eyes on the Prize AND get our right to have as big a tv we want in our home without corporations feeling they have the right to enter our homes and start making rules….BUZZ BUZZ
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