R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 6-13.1 § 6-13.1-15
Piracy of recordings
Operative Text
(a) As used in this section, "article" means a phonograph record, disc, wire, tape, film, compact disc, audio or video cassette, compact video disc, or other device on which sounds or images are or can be recorded or otherwise stored. (b) Unless exempt under subsection (d), it is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or association knowingly to: (1) Transfer or cause to be transferred any sounds recorded on any article on which sounds are recorded onto any other article; (2) Transfer or cause to be transferred any performance, whether live before an audience or transmitted by wire or through the air by radio or television, onto any article; or (3) Sell, distribute, circulate, offer for sale, distribution, or circulation, possess for the purpose of sale, distribution, or circulation, or cause to be sold, distributed, circulated, offered for sale, distribution, or circulation, or possessed for sale, distribution, or circulation, any article on which sounds or performances have been transferred without the consent of the person who owns the master article from which the sounds are derived or the right to record the performance. (c) It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or association to sell, distribute, circulate, offer for sale, distribution, or circulation or possess for the purposes of sale, distribution, or circulation, any article on which sounds or images have been transferred unless the article bears the actual name and address of the transferor of the sounds in a prominent place on its outside face or package. (d) This section does not apply to any person who transfers or causes to be transferred any sounds or images intended for, or in connection with, radio or television broadcast transmission or related uses for archival purposes or solely for the personal use of the person transferring or causing the transfer and without any compensation being derived by the person from the transfer. (e) Every person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and: (1) For the first offense is punishable by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than six (6) years, or by both fine and imprisonment. (2) For a subsequent offense is punishable by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten (10) years, or by both fine and imprisonment. (3) The court in its judgment of conviction may order the forfeiture and destruction or other disposition of all infringing articles and all implements, devices, and equipment used in the manufacture of the infringing articles.
Rhode Island General Laws § 6-13.1-15 prohibits the unauthorized copying, transfer, or distribution of recorded sounds or live performances onto any physical medium—such as tapes, discs, or digital storage devices—without the consent of whoever owns the master recording or the right to record the performance. The law also requires that any article bearing transferred sounds or images must display the transferor's actual name and address prominently on its outside face or packaging. Exemptions exist for personal, non-commercial use and for archival or broadcast-related transfers. Violations are classified as felonies, carrying potential fines and prison sentences.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Although R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-15 is a consumer-protection and criminal statute rather than a landlord-tenant regulation, property owners and managers who operate venues, common areas, or amenity spaces where recorded media is reproduced or distributed should be aware that knowingly facilitating unauthorized copying or sale of recordings on their premises could implicate this provision. Compliant operators generally ensure that any media-related activities conducted on their properties involve properly licensed or authorized recordings. Maintaining clear policies about commercial media use in shared or rental spaces is a common practice among operators seeking to avoid exposure under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-15 is a criminal statute rather than a tenant-rights provision, but renters who encounter landlords or others selling or distributing pirated recordings—such as through a rental property's common areas or commercial operations—should know that such conduct may constitute a felony under this section. Tenants who believe they have witnessed a violation can report the activity to local law enforcement or the Rhode Island Attorney General's office, which handles consumer-protection matters under Chapter 6-13.1. Tenant-rights organizations or a legal aid provider can help clarify whether a specific situation falls within the scope of this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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