> Chances are that any videotape of a recent sitcom is bootleg.  As I understand
> the status of this murky portion of law, it is o.k. to copy for personal use,
> e.g., time shift.  It is not o.k. to take that copy into your classroom,
> though as a practical matter who's going to know?
>
> But trading tapes over a public network ? ? ? ?
 
I doubt that there is anything wrong with trading tapes of *television*
back and forth!  As long as one does not charge the public money to view
said tape, you can pass it along to as many people as you wish!
 
-doug