Section 13A-8-81

Transfer, manufacture, distribution, etc., of certain sounds without consent prohibited; applicability; penalties; recording rights; evidence of performer's consent.

(a) It shall be a felony for any person to:

(1) Knowingly transfer or cause to be transferred, directly or indirectly, by any means, any sounds recorded on a phonograph record, disc, wire, tape, film, videocassette or other article now known or later developed on which sounds are recorded, with the intent, for commercial advantage or private financial gain, to sell or rent, or cause to be sold or rented, or to be used for profit through public performance, such article on which sounds are so transferred, without consent of the owner;

(2) Knowingly transfer or cause to be transferred, directly or indirectly, by any means, onto any phonograph record, disc, wire, tape, film, videocassette or other article now known or later developed, any live performance, for commercial advantage or private financial gain, without the consent of the owner; or

(3) Manufacture, distribute, transport or wholesale any article with the knowledge that the sounds or performances are so transferred without consent of the owner.

(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person engaged in radio or television broadcasting who transfers, or causes to be transferred, any such sounds other than from the sound track of a motion picture intended for, or in connection with broadcast or telecast transmission or related uses, or for archival purposes.

(c) Penalties for violations hereof are prescribed in Section 13A-8-86(a).

(d) Subdivision (a)(1) of this section applies only to sound recordings that were initially fixed prior to February 15, 1972.

(e) In the absence of a written agreement or operation of law to the contrary, the performer or performers of the live performance shall be presumed to own the rights to record or authorize the recording of the live performance. In any proceeding where a performer's consent is in issue, a person who is authorized to maintain custody and control over business records reflecting consent shall be considered a proper witness, subject to all rules of evidence relating to competency and admissibility.

(Acts 1975, No. 1063, p. 2125, §2; Code 1975, §13-3-151; Acts 1989, No. 89-532, p. 1089, §1.)