It is permitted under copyright law to make duplicates of copyrighted works only for specific reasons. These reasons are covered under Copyright and Fair Use statutes, and include:

	Duplication for the purpose of archival preservation. Duplication for personal use Duplication to replace a damaged copy

Here are some excerpts from the copyright law:

Agreement on Guidelines for Classroom Copying in Not-For-Profit Educational Institutions with respect to Books and Periodicals Section 107 of H.R.2223: Reproduction and uses for other Purposes

A problem of particular urgency is that of preserving for posterity prints of motion pictures made before 1942. Aside from the deplorable fact that in a great many cases the only existing copy of a film has been deliberately destro6yed, those that remain are in immediate danger of disintegration – they were printed on film stock with a nitrate base that will inevitably decompose in time. The efforts of the Library of Congress, the American Film Institute, and other organizations to rescue and preserve this irreplaceable contribution to our cultural life are to be applauded, and the making of duplicate copies for purposes of archival preservation certainly falls within the scope of “fair use.” (while this doesn't specifically include videotape, I believe it fits the same criteria...)

"Audio Home Recording Act (AHRA) (P.L. 102- 563, 106 Stat. 4237, codified at 17 U.S.C. 1001 - 1010)", October 1992.

Section 106 of the Copyright Act. Section 1008 of the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992, entitled "Prohibition on certain infringement actions," states, "No action may be brought under this title [The Copyright Act] alleging infringement of copyright based on the manufacture, importation, or distribution of a digital audio recording device, a digital audio recording medium, an analog recording device, or an analog recording medium, or based on the noncommercial use by a consumer of such a device or medium for making digital musical recordings or analog musical recordings." (concerning the rightful availability of digital recorders...)

Among the sections of this act is an alternative to the fair use for musical recordings. Basically it stipulates that no (legal) action may be taken for "noncommercial use" by "consumers" for making analog or digital copies of "musical recordings". (while this doesn't specifically include videotape, I believe it fits the same criteria...)

 List of know videos and videos currently submitted for inclusion in the Archive: