HDTV-Rip

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HDTV-Rip is a method of copying video that involves recording television shows or movies broadcast in high definition quality, often with 5.1 surround sound. The recording can either be done directly through a PC video capture device, or via a networked digital video recorder box. Either during or after recording, the video may be compressed using a variety of codecs, such as MPEG-4.

In the United States, fair use doctrine ensures the legality of the practice of making backup copies for personal use, especially when time shifting. Similar laws exist in other countries. Despite this, the most common use of the term 'HDTV-Rip' itself is in the context of copyright infringement, where it is used to indicate the video quality of bootleg content. The product of an HDTV-rip is often distributed through Internet file sharing or hard copy DVDs or VCDs. Because of this, content rights-holders have endorsed the implementation of a broadcast flag in order to help prevent this method of piracy.