In 1984, Walt Disney Studios and Universal Studios brought Sony Corp. of America to court in a case that was brought through the ranks to the Supreme Court. The two studios were upset that Americans had been recording live television programs onto VHS and Betamax tapes, and wanted the action to be ruled illegal. On January 17th, 1984, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Sony, on the basis that noncommercial home use recording was considered "fair use", and that access to free public information is a First Amendment public interest served by this use. The ruling was reversed in part by the Ninth Circuit Court later, which held Sony liable for contributory copyright infringement, and stated that the main purpose of the Betamax tapes was copying.
