Have you encountered VHS or Cassette piracy in the 80s? (piefed.social)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by Shadow79@piefed.social to c/piracy@lemmy.dbzer0.com

52 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Like that infamous "ET" torrent in 1982 where it involved a "pirate" sneaking a huge JVC camcorder (with a VHS reel) recording the entire movie in theaters, given this was before DVD's existed (don't even ask about pirate bay, those weren't available yet). The same applies to "torrented" music, one would have a spare tape cassette recording the song played via the radio, that's how they torrented content back then if they can't afford an official copy.

Only millennials or Gen X who were kids back then would've encountered or witnessed VHS or Cassette "torrents" from either friends or family and often or not, piracy in the pre internet days was rife even before torrent sites were a thing. There are VHS "torrents" of TV shows or series (placing a camcorder which faces the TV screen with a spare reel recording the entire show (ads included), then used to fast forward upon replay.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] rc__buggy@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Late '80s. We would coordinate who would buy which cassette album and then go to the person's house with the best "dub" deck and make copies. There was 2x and maybe even 4x copy speed but the quality would suffer. Usually good enough for our shitty car stereos though. 90 minute tapes could normally get an album on each side. IIRC the high quality blanks were about $1.50 each if you bought a 10 pack. $8 for a tape of a regular band or something older like Led Zeppelin, $12 for a brand new hit album.

Making mix tapes for your crush was HUGE at the time. Hey, if I can't write poetry at least I can make her a cassette of love songs, right?

this post was submitted on 23 May 2026

48 points (84.3% liked)

Piracy: ꜱᴀɪʟ ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪɢʜ ꜱᴇᴀꜱ

69291 readers

250 users here now

⚓ Dedicated to the discussion of digital piracy, including ethical problems and legal advancements.

Rules • Full Version

1. Posts must be related to the discussion of digital piracy

2. Don't request invites, trade, sell, or self-promote

3. Don't request or link to specific pirated titles, including DMs

4. Don't submit low-quality posts, be entitled, or harass others

Loot, Pillage, & Plunder

We heartily recommend visiting the free port of freemediaheckyeah (aka FMHY) while you sail the high seas, for all the freshest links the ocean has to offer.