Copyright Infringment When Upconverting/Downconverting?

We have found out that modifying a picture on upconvert or downconvert can result in copyright infringement.

The original format needs to be preserved.

A downconverted HD show can not be shown as a "center cut" SD presentation since some of the original picture content would be lost

An upconverted SD show to HD would have a a similar effect (when it is scaled up).

Distorting the original content falls into this same problem -- the "beautifullness" of the created art is lost.

Time to call in the lawyers.

Most distributors of programming are glad to sell you a re-formatted version at an additional cost.