Transfer of recorded sounds for unlawful use
Wis. Stat. § 943.207
in effect(1) Whoever does any of the following may be penalized as provided in sub. (3m):
(a) Intentionally transfers, without the consent of the owner, any sounds first embodied in or on a recording before February 15, 1972, with intent to sell or rent the recording into or onto which such sounds are transferred for commercial advantage or private financial gain.
(b) Advertises, offers for sale or rent, sells, rents or possesses a recording with knowledge that sounds have been transferred into or onto it in violation of par. (a).
(c) Transports a recording within this state for commercial advantage or private financial gain with knowledge that sounds have been transferred into or onto the recording in violation of par. (a).
(3m)
(a) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor under any of the following circumstances:
1. If the person transfers sounds into or onto fewer than 1,000 recordings or advertises, offers for sale or rent, sells, rents, possesses or transports fewer than 1,000 recordings in violation of sub. (1) during a 180-day period, and the value of the recordings does not exceed $2,500.
2. If the person transfers sounds on or to the Internet in violation of sub. (1), the transferred sounds are never replayed or are replayed by others from the Internet fewer than 1,000 times during a 180-day period, and the value of the transferred sounds does not exceed $2,500.
(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a Class I felony under any of the following circumstances:
1. If the person transfers sounds into or onto fewer than 1,000 recordings or advertises, offers for sale or rent, sells, rents, possesses or transports fewer than 1,000 recordings in violation of sub. (1) during a 180-day period, and the value of the recordings exceeds $2,500.
2. If the person transfers sounds on or to the Internet in violation of sub. (1), the transferred sounds are replayed by others from the Internet fewer than 1,000 times during a 180-day period, and the value of the transferred sounds involved in the violation exceeds $2,500.
(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a Class H felony under any of the following circumstances:
1. If the person transfers sounds into or onto at least 1,000 recordings or advertises, offers for sale or rent, sells, rents, possesses or transports at least 1,000 recordings in violation of sub. (1) during a 180-day period.
2. If the person transfers sounds on or to the Internet in violation of sub. (1) and the transferred sounds are replayed by others from the Internet at least 1,000 times during a 180-day period.
3. If the violation occurs after the person has been convicted under this section.
(4) This section does not apply to:
(a) The transfer by a cable television operator or radio or television broadcaster of any recorded sounds, other than from the sound track of a motion picture, intended for, or in connection with, broadcast or other transmission or related uses, or for archival purposes.
(b) The transfer of any video tape or nonvideo audio tape intended for possible use in a civil or criminal action or special proceeding in a court of record.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/943.207Fetched: 10/7/2026