Stevens says Betamax's substantial noninfringing uses defeat contributory liability
John Paul StevensAssociate justice writing the Supreme Court majority
The majority finds substantial noninfringing uses and rejects contributory liability for selling the equipment.
“The Betamax is, therefore, capable of substantial noninfringing uses. Sony's sale of such equipment to the general public does not constitute contributory infringement of respondent's copyrights.”
Original text
Where this statement fits
Sony v. Universal: Stevens and Blackmun split over home recording
The Supreme Court rejected contributory-infringement liability for Sony's sale of Betamax recorders. Stevens's majority treated private home time-shifting as fair use on the record presented; Blackmun's dissent disputed that analysis and its treatment of market harm.
Source and context
Original text
About this source
The majority and dissent disagree about home time-shifting, market effects and contributory liability. The decision concerns the record before the Court.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The majority considers authorized recording and noncommercial home time-shifting on the trial record and finds no demonstrated likelihood of the required market harm.
After the quotation
Stevens concludes that Sony's sale of the equipment does not create contributory liability and reverses the court of appeals.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to Sony's sale of Betamax for home recording, Stevens's majority expressly justifies the challenged activity on the record presented.
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More from this case
Read the full caseBlackmun says time-shifting is not fair use even under Sony's own formulation
“Accordingly, even under the formulation of the fair use doctrine advanced by Sony, time-shifting cannot be deemed a fair use.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Stevens says Betamax's substantial noninfringing uses defeat contributory liability". First published: 2026-10-28. Last updated: 2026-10-28. https://disputeindex.com/events/7063-the-majority-finds-substantial-noninfringing-uses-and-rejects