Can VHS tapes be converted to DVD?
If a VHS tape contains copies of free-to-air or subscription television broadcasts, this is permissible. (This is covered by the educational licence arrangements – specifically, the statutory licence under Part VA of the Copyright Act – the Statutory Broadcast Licence. The statutory licence arrangements are managed centrally by the Department on behalf of all Victorian Government Schools.) If a VHS tape contains other content, then it may be possible to convert the tape to DVD depending on the application of the ‘flexible use exception’ in the Copyright Act (s200AB). Conversion will be possible if: • the VHS tape has been legitimately acquired; • the DVD copy is being made for the purpose of educational instruction; • it is not possible to buy a DVD copy within a reasonable time; and • you are not going to use the DVD copy in a way that would unreasonably prejudice the copyright owner. It is not permissible to convert VHS tapes to DVD ‘just in case’ they are needed, nor is it permissib
