iPhone recording at live shows may soon be a thing of the past

Houston, July 1

Using iPhones to record at live shows might become a thing of the past as Apple has won a US patent for a technology that can force your iPhone into disabling the video-recording mode at concert venues.

The system uses infrared signals to send messages to your phone to tell it to shut down video recording.

Apple’s patent illustration showed a phone at a concert with the words “recording disabled” on screen. “An infra-red emitter can be located in areas where picture or video capture is prohibited, and the emitter can generate infra-red signals with encoded data that includes commands to disable the recording functions of devices,” the patent said.

“An electronic device can then receive the infra-red signals and temporarily disable the device’s recording function based on the command,” it added. The California-based US tech firm was awarded the patent on Wednesday amid growing concerns that live-recording by hundreds of camera phones spoils the experience of attending a music concert live.

In the past, various artists including Adele have been outspoken about fans filming their shows, with many claiming that it spoils the experience for other fans.

It’s not known whether Apple plans to put the patent into use and the company did not respond to a request for comment. — PTI