"The Betamax case." "Respondents alleged that some individuals had used Betamax video tape recorders (VTR’s) to record some of respondents‘ copyrighted works which had been exhibited on commercially sponsored television and contended that these individuals had thereby infringed respondents’ copyrights." "After a lengthy trial, the District Court denied respondents all the relief they sought and entered judgment for petitioners. 480 F.Supp. 429 (1979). The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed the District Court’s judgment on respondents‘ copyright claim, holding petitioners liable for contributory infringement and ordering the District Court to fashion appropriate relief. 659 F.2d 963 (1981)." The US Supreme Court granted certiorari, 457 U.S. 1116 (1982); since (The US Supreme Court) had not completed it's study of the case last Term, it ordered reargument, 463 U.S. 1226 (1983). The US Supreme Court reversed.

Source:
http://www.intellectual-property-management.com/intellectual_property_case_law.htm