[mrtranscendence]

Well, you could memorize and recite copyrighted works all you want, as long as you're doing it in an empty room without anyone listening.

[criddell]

Would you say reading a book to my kids before bed is illegal?

[mrtranscendence]

Sorry, I was being a little flip. There's more to it than that, of course. Is the performance sufficiently transformative, is it educational, is it non-profit, etc.