21-5806. Unlawful use of recordings. (a) Unlawful use of recordings is:

(1) Knowingly, and without the consent of the owner, duplicating or causing to be duplicated any sounds recorded on a phonograph record, disc, wire, tape, film or other article on which sounds are recorded, or recording or causing to be recorded any live performance, with the intent to sell, rent or cause to be sold or rented, any such duplicated sounds or any such recorded performance, or to give away such duplicated sounds or recorded performance as part of a promotion for any product or service;

(2) distributing or possessing with the intent to distribute, any article produced in violation of subsection (a)(1) knowing or having reasonable grounds to know that such article was produced in violation of law;

(3) possessing any article produced in violation of subsection (a)(1) knowing or having reasonable grounds to know that such article was produced in violation of law; or

(4) knowingly selling, renting, offering for sale or rental, or possessing, transporting or manufacturing with intent to sell or rent, any phonograph record, audio or video disc, wire, audio or video tape, film or other article now known or later developed on which sounds, images, or both sounds and images are recorded or otherwise stored, unless the outside cover, box or jacket clearly and conspicuously discloses the name and address of the manufacturer of such recorded article.

(b) Unlawful use of recordings:

(1) Is a severity level 9, nonperson felony, except as provided in subsections (b)(2) and (b)(3);

(2) as defined in subsection (a)(2) or (a)(4), is a class A nonperson misdemeanor if the offense involves fewer than seven audio visual recordings, or fewer than 100 sound recordings during a 180-day period; and

(3) as defined in subsection (a)(3), is a class B nonperson misdemeanor.

(c) The provisions of subsection (a)(1) shall not apply to:

(1) Any broadcaster who, in connection with or as part of a radio or television broadcast or cable transmission, or for the purpose of archival preservation, duplicates any such sounds recorded on a sound recording;

(2) any person who duplicates such sounds or such performance for personal use, and without compensation for such duplication; or

(3) any sounds initially fixed in a tangible medium of expression after February 15, 1972.

(d) The provisions of subsections (a)(1) and (a)(3) shall not apply to any computer program or any audio or visual recording that is part of any computer program or to any article or device on which is exclusively recorded any such computer program.

(e) As used in this section:

(1) "Owner" means the person who owns the original fixation of sounds embodied in the master phonograph record, master disc, master wire, master tape, master film or other device used for reproducing sounds on phonograph records, discs, wires, tapes, films or other articles now known or later developed upon which sound is recorded or otherwise stored, and from which the duplicated recorded sounds are directly or indirectly derived, or the person who owns the right to record such live performance; and

(2) "computer program" means a set of statements or instructions to be used directly or indirectly in a computer in order to bring about a certain result.

(f) It shall be the duty of all law enforcement officers, upon discovery, to confiscate all recorded devices that do not conform to the provisions of this section and that are possessed for the purpose of selling or renting such recorded devices, and all equipment and components used or intended to be used to knowingly manufacture recorded devices that do not conform to the provisions of such section for the purpose of selling or renting such recorded devices. The nonconforming recorded devices that are possessed for the purpose of selling or renting such recorded devices are contraband and shall be delivered to the district attorney for the county in which the confiscation was made, by court order, and shall be destroyed or otherwise disposed of, if the court finds that the person claiming title to such recorded devices possessed such recorded devices for the purpose of selling or renting such recorded devices. The equipment and components confiscated shall be delivered to the district attorney for the county in which the confiscation was made, by court order upon conviction, and may be given to a charitable or educational organization.

History: L. 2010, ch. 136, § 92; L. 2012, ch. 150, § 18; July 1.