DVDs in the past are still very valuable and worth to preserve and collect the treasure.
The hilight valuable DVDs:
Illegal and Legal DVD Copying - Very Controversial Topics
by: Matthew Henderson
Legal DVD copying is a highly controversial subject and is often the topic of heated debates, especially since nobody can agree on what the laws actually mean. Is it illegal to copy dvd's? Even as backup copies for personal use? If a consumer goes to the store and buys a DVD the legal way, brings it home only to find out that it skips in some places, is it still illegal for the consumer to burn a working copy of it for personal use?
The answer, in short, is both "yes" and "no".
For the most part, there isn't such thing as LEGAL DVD copying. However, some aspects of the law aren't specifically clear, and are open for interpretation. When it comes down to it, copying a DVD is illegal whenever the CSS (content scrambling system), which is an encryption code used to protect DVD's from being copied, is unscrambled.
The CSS encryption code, unfortunately for Hollywood, is incompetent. The code has been cracked, and there are now countless DVD copy programs that will burn exact copies anyway, despite the entertainment industry's best efforts. Although technically, legal DVD copying is nonexistent, according to Hollywood, anyway, their security measures failed and many people are copying DVD's anyway.
When it comes down to it, there *IS* such thing as legal DVD copying. What is ILLEGAL, however, is unscrambling the CSS encryption code. So unless one has access to old copies of DVD's, DVD burning software, and an old DVD burning drive, it's hard to copy a DVD in a legal manner. This doesn't stop the fact that there are countless software programs out there being made and upgraded every single day in order to burn successful copies, even it means to unscramble the scrambled code.
Some of these software programs are for advanced users. Technological savvy individuals can manually go straight through the encrypted protection themselves. Illegal or legal DVD copying---none of it matters to some people, just as long as they can make nice, quality copies successfully. Even those who don't have a lot of knowledge about how DVD copying software works can find the automatic process easy. None of it's really hard to catch on to.
What about making backup copies of software and/or games rather than movies? There are a lot of legal DVD copying purposes out there. After all, if copying EVERYTHING is 100% illegal, then why are DVD and CD burners even made in the first place? Why are DVD-R's sold on the market? Obviously, there are a lot of legal uses. Many people do backup important software and files on DVD's.
In order to find out more about legal DVD copying, it's best to read reviews on all the different software programs out there to find out how they all work. For some, none of it's a big deal and they could care less whether or not it is illegal or legal. For others, though, all of it *IS* a big deal, and they don't want to take any risks. Until Hollywood catches up with advanced technology and finds a way to change the laws so that everybody can be happy, we'll all only continue to debate about illegal and legal DVD copying.
About The Author
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Boirun
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_A_Gilbert
Legal Questions & Answers
LawFreeFAQ.com
Thanks for helping, but I need know when the age 18 he legal age for everything but drinking?
The Age of majority is the threshold of adulthood as it is conceptualised in law. It is the chronological moment when children legally assume majority control over their persons and their actions and decisions, thereby terminating the legal control and.
The D.C. madam Scandal?
Is it legal to expose the madams clients? Isnt it a violation of privacy? There really isn't any madame-client privilege. However, I think she should be gagged by court order to prevent her from extorting money from any of her clients. - no. it was a business. if you buy to much furtilizer at a.
The DVD I brought a few days ago stopped working! I want to replace it but..?
I want to replace it but the salesperson is not co-operating. Should I take the assistance of legal experts? Which section will it come under consumer protection law? You should contact a lawyer. It will come under onsumer fraudonsumer fraud exists when.
The impending Smoking Ban - actual legal wording?
The enclosed spaces ban starts 1st July. My question is : does the actual wording of the enacting legislation (I cannot find it on the Web) state something to the manner of 'tobacco derived smoking materials'. If so, what is the position with herbal cigarettes which may pose lesser or no.
The legal age limit for minor child in kansas to pick biological parent to live with?
my 14 year old daughter has not lived at home withher father who has custody for over a year and she wishes to move in with her mother i need the legal age a child can decide which parent they prefer to reside.
The legal position regarding the sale of goods over the internet?
Doe's anyone know the legal position if an internet retailer advertises a product at an incorrect price and the allows you to purchase by debit/credit card and sends an order confirmation by email. Are they comitted to selling the goods at that price or can they simply refund.
The meaning of 'within the site'?
I have a construction contract with two different sites in a single contract. The distance between the two sites is about 7km away. Please give your opinion or defination on the meaning of 'within the site' in terms of legal or contract management. I would say 'within the site' is referring to.in you.
The response: why cant pain killers be legal?
wow what a response, i think most of you think im voting yes for drug abuse, im not and i think anyone in pain should see a doctor, all im saying is, some of you need to watch the history channel and do some research, like why cocaine isnt legal anymore,.
The rx business should they be legal?
ok all of you who answered, i dont think you understood my point all im saying is pain killers, valium etc,, are legal in other countrys and less abused probably because there legal, all im saying is if anything should be illegal it should be alcohol, and abuse kids are for gods.
The wall that is being constructed in the border of Mexico is legal?
Obviously U.S.A. must take care of their interests and their laws, but were not the E.U. that took that piece of land in which they do not want to let enter the Mexicans? I have that doubt. Please send me answerssssss. I am not sure what.
They cheated, oh this is fraud?
I bought a phone that is supposed to be brand new but it appeared to be used. what legal action can I take? If I sue the company, will it be worth it? if I win the case will I get more money than what I paid for the phone? First, you must.
This question is for people that say pot is bad and morally wrong.?
Many people say pot is very bad for you because its a illegal drug and breaking the law. What about Salvia, this drug is perfectly legal in the United States and still gets you high. Since this drug is legal, their would be nothing wrong with.
To all who answered this question - Who started the rumor about the babies of immigrants, both legal?
and illegal - were legally and automatically American citizens when born in America? Links for explanation of question Latter link in part - Alien Birthright Citizenship: A Fable That Lives Through Ignorance. During.
Today i was online looking around and i started to look up the dating laws for minors.?
whats the oldest a 16 year old can date in florida? and isnt the legal age 18? There are absolutely no laws that regulate DATING age. Laws are concerned with age of consent to have sex and/or to marry. There very well.
Trial transcript?
How can I obtain a copy of the legal transcript of a jury trial that was held in Virginia in 2006? Can the defendent do so? A lawyer? Anyone? Thanks! Since the trial transcript is a public record, anyone who wants one can get one. However, you have to pay a per page transcription cost and if.
Truancy charges grandaughter with down syndrome legal rights of her parents shcool in PA. Kiski area distric?
she gets alot of colds/has a heart repairs/gets headaches so she does miss alot. can truancy charges be brought against her parents. Kaitlins/concerned grandmother As a mom to a little boy with Down syndrome who has also had a heart repair, I.
True or False: Legislative intent may help you determine whether a statute was violated?
Thanks for you help. I'm a lawyer, but licensed in only one state and unable to offer any real legal advice outside of that state. However, there are a few basic legal realities that will apply in any jurisdiction. You can present an argument concerning.
Two roommates, one doesnt pay rent, both suffer?
My buddys roomie doesnt pay his rent, they are facing eviction. Both are on the lease. is there something the paying one can do to make the other pay, legally (or otherwise.) Only legal recourse is to pay the rent or face eviction; however, the paying roommate could sue the non-paying.
UK - can the landlord let himself in with no notice?
The thing is we are in our final month of tenancy and have not paid the finals months rent as the bond will cover this. Does the landlord now have legal right to come in annanounced? Landlords are not entitled to breeze in and out of your home.
Unpaid child support?
hi. i need direction from someone who has been down this road or advice from any legal stand. i have a court order for child support. have recieved nothing since dec. 2006. get the run around from attorney general about what will take place next. their father is in a rehab for a program that last.
Unwed Father's legal right to child??
What legal right does a unwed father have regarding a 10 year old child that he has never financially supported, nor emotionally? His name is on the birth certificate, but has never been established in the eyes of the courts,due to the childs mother not entering a court order for child support. If.
Using current law find a recent case on the formation of conntract.?
i need to find a recent case 2006 - 2007 on formation of a contract. it could be in any legal field but must be on the bases of formation of a contract I have looked back at various questions posed by you and you appear to.
VHS to DVD public services legal, or illegal? Please help!(USA)?
Hey guys. Is it legal or do I need some kind of permission to record Home Movies VHS tapes to DVD for the public? note- this would NOT be copyrighted material, period. However, I want to make sure I wouldn't be breaking any kind of law. If I understand.
Waht are the specific laws regarding found treasure on one's private property?
What happens if someone finds a Civil War cache, gold bars, Native American artifacts, dinosaur bones, whatever? (Serious question for a savvy lawyer please.) are you in America and no other person has legal claims to it? (like relative(s) or owner-in-fact of stolen or lost property,insured item.
War on Drugs?
Is it me or is the war on drugs stupid? I agree children should not be able to use drugs, but to prohibit both responsible and irresponsible adults from doing drugs, isn't that stupid? There is no answer that suffices to explain why alcohol and tobacco are legal and other drugs, mainly marijuana, are illegal. I.
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/law-articles/legal-questions-amp-answers-2082236.html#ixzz1VAuXz2Lw
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives
By this point, we all know just how much more amazing a DVD is than a VHS, leaving you wondering if you can convert your old VHS tapes to DVD to experience that added quality and longevity. Nowadays, you can find plenty of DVD rereleases of old shows and movies, but you might have a VHS tape that hasn't been given the same treatment, and may never get it. You might even find old home movies that you want to store for prosperity in the DVD format, so they are not lost forever. Given all of the controversy surrounding copyright infringement nowadays, you might be worried about whether or not it's legal to convert a VHS tape to a DVD, especially if it's copyrighted material.
There is no straight answer to that question, and a lot of factors play into it, such as your country of origin and its stance on copyrighted material, as it can change from nation to nation. Personal recordings, like home movies, are not copyrighted, and therefore you can do with them as you will, including VHS conversion. This becomes somewhat muddled when you have copyrighted material on a VHS. Let us look at 'fair use' and how that plays into video cassettes and the situation you find yourself in now.
The "Betamax Case"
At the time that Betamax was bought out by Sony, there were film industry execs who grew worried about the public getting this new video format. With Betamax, people could record TV shows, making copyright holders worried and concerned that it violated their ownership of the copyright, which could ruin them. There were also concerns that Congress would not put forth new legislation to protect the film industry, as it had just finished amending copyright law in general. In the end, Sony Corp. was sued by these corporations. The US District Court of California oversaw this case in 1976, where it was alleged that Sony could be held responsible for this copyright infringement, as they were releasing this device enabling that infringement to the general public.
The Supreme Court itself eventually handled this case, and the 1984 "Betamax Case," otherwise known as Sony Corp. of America versus Universal City Studios, Inc., was decided upon once and for all. According to the Supreme Court, it was fair use to record a television show using this device, provided that it was meant for time-shifting and watching it at a later date.
Basically, if you wanted to transfer your own VHS recordings of what you saw on TV, or even your commercially purchased tapes, it would not violate copyright legislation, and would be legal. There are situations that can fudge the issue, though. Fair use rights do not necessarily extend to each time a tape is copied no matter what. The method of the media transfer is a vital distinction to make.
The Digital Millenium Copyright Act was put forth in 1996 and combines a pair of treaties the World Intellectual Property Organization put forth into US copyright law. According to this legislation, it is illegal to create devices that are meant to get around copy protection put in place by companies. In a nutshell, taking out that DRM on your iTunes music or other media would be illegal, and a violation of copyright law.
Therefore, even though you can transfer media between formats, it is illegal to do so in a way that goes around the company's individual restrictions on this process, regardless of the type, making it a very sticky situation to find yourself in. A large discussion is being held currently on whether or not fair use is being violated in this instance, and there will likely be big decisions made in the near future about this subject.
Fair Use
In American copyright legislation, fair use is defined as a method of using copyrighted material that doesn't require you to ask the copyright holders for clearance. There are so many different situations that this applies to, it is within fair use to record programs from your television. Only America actually uses the term 'fair use,' but there are other nations that have a term similar to this; do your research in your home country to find the laws in that regard.
The Individual Ramifications of this Legislation
Macrovision is the type of copy protection mechanism put in place to prevent transferring of VHS tapes. Macrovision comes in the form of signals embedded into the tape that are meant to keep you from copying the media. You could face charges if you are found using anything that is meant to go around Macrovision in order to record the video. You can find workarounds, though. There are VHS players that are so old that they do not recognize the Macrivision signals, and it is well within your legal right to use these devices to transfer your VHS tapes.
It does not deliberately circumvent the signals, so you are not breaking any laws necessarily. Using things that are specifically meant to go around Macrovision would be illegal, however. Therefore, you can run into legal troubles if you use a separate device to filter out Macrivision signals on a device that does read them. As a result, you can find ways to work around a Macrovision copy protection, as long as it isn't specifically meant to do that precise thing, and you will not be arrested or charged.
Summary
Different countries have different legislation on this concern, so do your homework in order to find out what flies in your nation. However, you will often find that the laws are not all that different from the United States, and there is typically some form of fair use in place. Depending on the method that you use to do it, you will be able to legally copy your VHS media to a DVD format for prosperity. You cannot buy or use a device that specifically says it is able to work around Macrovision, and the customers and manufacturer or such a device can be held liable. However, you will be fine legally if you just happen to be using a device that will not read the signals at all on a VHS tape.
Can you legally convert VHS to DVD? Depending on your specific methods, you can indeed.
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/hardware-articles/legal-issues-regarding-vhs-to-dvd-transfer-2828337.html#ixzz1VAvBghxe
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives
Judge rules that DVD copying software is illegal
American software company RealNetworks has been banned from selling a program that lets people make copies of their DVDs, in a US court decision that could have far-reaching implications.
After a year-long case over the legality of the company's RealDVD software, a district court in San Francisco ruled that Real had violated America's copyright laws and granted a preliminary injunction against Real to prevent it selling the program.
The ruling stops Real from selling RealDVD, a piece of software that allows to make back-up copies of their movie discs and save them to their computer. Although free DVD ripping software is readily available online, Real raised the hackles of Hollywood executives in 2008 because it paid for a license to the DVD Copy Control Association, believing that it could be interpreted to allow the services they wanted to provide.
In her ruling, Judge Marilyn Hall Patel said that the complex meant that it was not illegal for consumers to copy their own DVDs – just illegal to produce a program that allowed them to do so.
"While it may well be fair use for an individual consumer to store a backup copy of a personally-owned DVD on that individual's computer, a federal law has nonetheless made it illegal to manufacture or traffic in a device or tool that permits a consumer to make such copies."
The case was brought by the Motion Picture Association of America - the consortium representing Hollywood studios that has become notoriously litigious in the face of unauthorised downloading and online file sharing.
Dan Glickman, the head of the MPAA, hailed the verdict.
"We are very pleased with the court's decision," he said. "This is a victory for the creators and producers of motion pictures and television shows, and for the rule of law in our digital economy."
"Judge Patel's ruling affirms what we have known all along: Real Networks took a license to build a DVD player and instead made an illegal DVD copier."
Campaigners had argued that consumers had the right to make personal copies of material they had legally obtained, and that Real should not be punished.
Lawyers for the MPAA, on the other hand, said that Real was breaking the terms of its license and profiting from a system that made it possible for consumers to rent or borrow movies for a nominal fee before copying them.
The court sided with the film industry, largely because it said broke a licensing agreement to access privileged details of the copy protection codes, known as the content scramble system or CSS.
Although Judge Patel earlier ruling that CSS was a trade secret – indicating the possibility that she might rule against Real – another company, Kaleidascape, had recently been ruled to have not violated the law in a similar position.
Another scheme for unscrambling the code, called DeCSS, was also challenged in court after its creation - but Jon Lech Johansen, the Norwegian teenager credited with working on the system, was acquitted by a court in Oslo.
"Real will likely appeal this ruling," said Fred von Lohmann, an attorney with the campaign group the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "Whatever the outcome of that appeal, this ruling sends a chilling message to any technology innovator interested in delivering new products that interact with the DVDs you own."
Real Networks, based in Seattle, said that it was "disappointed" in the ruling and would take time to examine the verdict closely before considering whether to appeal.
"We have just received the judge's detailed ruling and are reviewing it. After we have done so fully, we'll determine our course of action," the company said in a statement.
In this respect, it is important that you do what the law permits you to do and not otherwise. In order to be aware of these aspects, it is important that you know the laws that have been made to safeguard the aspect of copyrighted material. If you go and do your homework about copyrighted materials, you will find out that most of the media format files that you come across are copyrighted rightfully by the owner.
These materials would include e-books, music, movies, games, software application, etc. So why do the owners of these materials copyright their material? The answer is pretty simple. Copyrighting is done, in order to protect the rightful owner of the material by giving him the rights to his materials, may it be with respect to its ownership or its distribution.
In this way, the owner of the material has the complete freedom to either sell the material or simply distribute it as a freeware. In this respect, creating multiple copies of DVDs /CDs would be considered illegal without obtaining prior permission from the owner. This duplication may be with respect to copying movies, music, etc. Some of the examples of DVD duplication would include downloading movies from illegal websites, downloading movies from P2P (peer to peer) websites, etc. These examples are the illegal ways to copy DVDs and should be never resorted to in any respect.
The DMCA, i.e., Digital Millennium Copyright Act clearly specifies that it is illegal to play around with the CSS (Content Scrambling System) copy protection tool that is actually used by most of DVD films. However, keeping what the law states aside, many companies engage in manufacturing softwares or even freewares for that matter that makes copying DVDs as easy as a breeze. With the help of these DVDs, it becomes pretty easy for people to make copies of their favorite DVDs and do anything with it later on. The legality issue often comes up when these copied versions are sold, which then affects the entire industry.
In case of these softwares, there are some legal ones as well as illegal ones. The legal ones include names like Pinnacle Instant Copy, InterVideo DVD COPY, Ahead Software Nero 6.0 Ultra, DVD NeXt Copy, etc.
Can you legally copy DVDs?
DVD copying is a controversial and highly sought-after process. Not sure if what you're doing is legal? CNET sets your mind at ease.
By Jon Jacobi, Don Labriola, and Justin Jaffe
(April 6, 2004)
The hilight valuable DVDs:
Rango Johnny Depp | Evangelion: 1.11 You Are Not Alone [Blu-ray] Allison Keith-Shipp |
Lady and the Tramp (50th Anniversary Edition) Barbara Luddy | Eastbound & Down: The Complete Second Season [Blu-ray] Danny McBride |
by: Matthew Henderson
Legal DVD copying is a highly controversial subject and is often the topic of heated debates, especially since nobody can agree on what the laws actually mean. Is it illegal to copy dvd's? Even as backup copies for personal use? If a consumer goes to the store and buys a DVD the legal way, brings it home only to find out that it skips in some places, is it still illegal for the consumer to burn a working copy of it for personal use?
The answer, in short, is both "yes" and "no".
For the most part, there isn't such thing as LEGAL DVD copying. However, some aspects of the law aren't specifically clear, and are open for interpretation. When it comes down to it, copying a DVD is illegal whenever the CSS (content scrambling system), which is an encryption code used to protect DVD's from being copied, is unscrambled.
The CSS encryption code, unfortunately for Hollywood, is incompetent. The code has been cracked, and there are now countless DVD copy programs that will burn exact copies anyway, despite the entertainment industry's best efforts. Although technically, legal DVD copying is nonexistent, according to Hollywood, anyway, their security measures failed and many people are copying DVD's anyway.
When it comes down to it, there *IS* such thing as legal DVD copying. What is ILLEGAL, however, is unscrambling the CSS encryption code. So unless one has access to old copies of DVD's, DVD burning software, and an old DVD burning drive, it's hard to copy a DVD in a legal manner. This doesn't stop the fact that there are countless software programs out there being made and upgraded every single day in order to burn successful copies, even it means to unscramble the scrambled code.
Some of these software programs are for advanced users. Technological savvy individuals can manually go straight through the encrypted protection themselves. Illegal or legal DVD copying---none of it matters to some people, just as long as they can make nice, quality copies successfully. Even those who don't have a lot of knowledge about how DVD copying software works can find the automatic process easy. None of it's really hard to catch on to.
What about making backup copies of software and/or games rather than movies? There are a lot of legal DVD copying purposes out there. After all, if copying EVERYTHING is 100% illegal, then why are DVD and CD burners even made in the first place? Why are DVD-R's sold on the market? Obviously, there are a lot of legal uses. Many people do backup important software and files on DVD's.
In order to find out more about legal DVD copying, it's best to read reviews on all the different software programs out there to find out how they all work. For some, none of it's a big deal and they could care less whether or not it is illegal or legal. For others, though, all of it *IS* a big deal, and they don't want to take any risks. Until Hollywood catches up with advanced technology and finds a way to change the laws so that everybody can be happy, we'll all only continue to debate about illegal and legal DVD copying.
About The Author
Know what you can and can't do regarding Legal DVD copying. Since some programs are legal and others illegal, Matt Henderson created a DVD copy software reviews website in order to provide consumers with complete and in-depth information. Visit http://www.dvdcloningsoftware.com to find out more.
Legally Copy a Protected DVD - A How To Guide
By Rob Boirun
Legalities with Copying DVDsCopying protected DVDs can be a tricky process if you don't know what you are getting yourself into initially. First off most commercial DVD movies contain some form of copy protection such as CSS or Content Scrambling System, which essentially is a process added during the Mastering stage of DVD creation and before the discs are burned to DVD's. This is to keep casual home users from making duplicate copies and giving them to their friends or family members, just like we used to do with music CD's.
Note: Some countries have allowed you to burn a single backup copy of a copy protected DVD for personal use, or for need as a backup provided that you are the original owner of the disc. Look at the Freedom and Innovation Revitalizing U.S. Entrepreneurship Act of 2007 which explains some guidelines on when copy protected DVD's can be circumvented without penalty. Although it is illegal to make additional copies to sell (or give) to other people for free or for money. You have been warned, pirate.
Choose the Right Software for Copying Protected DVDs
Since there is potentially an issue with circumventing DVDs, software makers tend to stay away of including the protection removal code from their software. Mainly vendors within the USA, Canada, UK, Australia do not publish their software with the DeCSS code, or the code that can break copy protections on most movies. So by purchasing a software from one of these companies is not illegal in the lease bit and you can't go to jail or be fined by owning it. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before getting a backup application.
For burning backup copies of copy-protected DVDs, your Windows box should be equipped with the following hardware: Note: if your computer is older than 10 years old then you may want to upgrade. But since 10 year old Windows machines don't tend to work anymore this shouldn't be an issue.:)
Caring for Your DVDs
Now that you know the legalities of copying a protected DVD movies and what software to use on what type of PC you can now begin the process of making those backups. No more worrying about the kids scratching them or losing them behind the couch. Just remember that once you have the right hardware and software the act of making copies is a painless event. Just don't go selling those copy protected DVDs to anyone alright!
Note: Some countries have allowed you to burn a single backup copy of a copy protected DVD for personal use, or for need as a backup provided that you are the original owner of the disc. Look at the Freedom and Innovation Revitalizing U.S. Entrepreneurship Act of 2007 which explains some guidelines on when copy protected DVD's can be circumvented without penalty. Although it is illegal to make additional copies to sell (or give) to other people for free or for money. You have been warned, pirate.
Choose the Right Software for Copying Protected DVDs
Since there is potentially an issue with circumventing DVDs, software makers tend to stay away of including the protection removal code from their software. Mainly vendors within the USA, Canada, UK, Australia do not publish their software with the DeCSS code, or the code that can break copy protections on most movies. So by purchasing a software from one of these companies is not illegal in the lease bit and you can't go to jail or be fined by owning it. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before getting a backup application.
- Stay away from "free" DVD-Copying programs because most sites offering the freeware software have a tendency to infect your computer with viruses, spyware, or other malware.
- Make sure the software allows you to back up copy-protected DVDs. Even though most don't come out and spell out this feature because of legalities most will still be able to with the help of a 3rd party plugin.
- Make sure that the software is supported on your version of Windows or Mac. Some older backup apps have not been updated since Windows XP, make sure the one you choose is current.
- Make sure you look at a few DVD Copy Software Review sites before deciding.
For burning backup copies of copy-protected DVDs, your Windows box should be equipped with the following hardware: Note: if your computer is older than 10 years old then you may want to upgrade. But since 10 year old Windows machines don't tend to work anymore this shouldn't be an issue.:)
- A 500 MHz processor
- 128 MB RAM
- 10 GB available hard-drive space
- At least 1 DVD Burner.
Caring for Your DVDs
Now that you know the legalities of copying a protected DVD movies and what software to use on what type of PC you can now begin the process of making those backups. No more worrying about the kids scratching them or losing them behind the couch. Just remember that once you have the right hardware and software the act of making copies is a painless event. Just don't go selling those copy protected DVDs to anyone alright!
Rob Boirun is a tech writer for various online tech sites. References used were: BurnWorld how to guides at Copy Protected DVD Movies Guide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Boirun
Legal Issues Regarding VHS to DVD Transfer
By Keith A Gilbert
Caution: Do not take the content of this article to be legitimate legal advice. This is merely for entertainment and speculation.By this point, we all know just how much more amazing a DVD is than a VHS, leaving you wondering if you can convert your old VHS tapes to DVD to experience that added quality and longevity. Nowadays, you can find plenty of DVD re-releases of old shows and movies, but you might have a VHS tape that hasn't been given the same treatment, and may never get it. You might even find old home movies that you want to store for prosperity in the DVD format, so they are not lost forever. Given all of the controversy surrounding copyright infringement nowadays, you might be worried about whether or not it's legal to convert a VHS tape to a DVD, especially if it's copyrighted material.
There is no straight answer to that question, and a lot of factors play into it, such as your country of origin and its stance on copyrighted material, as it can change from nation to nation. Personal recordings, like home movies, are not copyrighted, and therefore you can do with them as you will, including VHS conversion. This becomes somewhat muddled when you have copyrighted material on a VHS. Let us look at 'fair use' and how that plays into video cassettes and the situation you find yourself in now.
The "Betamax Case"
At the time that Betamax was bought out by Sony, there were film industry execs who grew worried about the public getting this new video format. With Betamax, people could record TV shows, making copyright holders worried and concerned that it violated their ownership of the copyright, which could ruin them. There were also concerns that Congress would not put forth new legislation to protect the film industry, as it had just finished amending copyright law in general. In the end, Sony Corp. was sued by these corporations. The US District Court of California oversaw this case in 1976, where it was alleged that Sony could be held responsible for this copyright infringement, as they were releasing this device enabling that infringement to the general public.
The Supreme Court itself eventually handled this case, and the 1984 "Betamax Case," otherwise known as Sony Corp. of America versus Universal City Studios, Inc., was decided upon once and for all. According to the Supreme Court, it was fair use to record a television show using this device, provided that it was meant for time-shifting and watching it at a later date.
Basically, if you wanted to transfer your own VHS recordings of what you saw on TV, or even your commercially purchased tapes, it would not violate copyright legislation, and would be legal. There are situations that can fudge the issue, though. Fair use rights do not necessarily extend to each time a tape is copied no matter what. The method of the media transfer is a vital distinction to make.
The Digital Millenium Copyright Act was put forth in 1996 and combines a pair of treaties the World Intellectual Property Organization put forth into US copyright law. According to this legislation, it is illegal to create devices that are meant to get around copy protection put in place by companies. In a nutshell, taking out that DRM on your iTunes music or other media would be illegal, and a violation of copyright law.
Therefore, even though you can transfer media between formats, it is illegal to do so in a way that goes around the company's individual restrictions on this process, regardless of the type, making it a very sticky situation to find yourself in. A large discussion is being held currently on whether or not fair use is being violated in this instance, and there will likely be big decisions made in the near future about this subject.
Fair Use
In American copyright legislation, fair use is defined as a method of using copyrighted material that doesn't require you to ask the copyright holders for clearance. There are so many different situations that this applies to, it is within fair use to record programs from your television. Only America actually uses the term 'fair use,' but there are other nations that have a term similar to this; do your research in your home country to find the laws in that regard.
The Individual Ramifications of this Legislation
Macrovision is the type of copy protection mechanism put in place to prevent transferring of VHS tapes. Macrovision comes in the form of signals embedded into the tape that are meant to keep you from copying the media. You could face charges if you are found using anything that is meant to go around Macrovision in order to record the video. You can find workarounds, though. There are VHS players that are so old that they do not recognize the Macrivision signals, and it is well within your legal right to use these devices to transfer your VHS tapes.
It does not deliberately circumvent the signals, so you are not breaking any laws necessarily. Using things that are specifically meant to go around Macrovision would be illegal, however. Therefore, you can run into legal troubles if you use a separate device to filter out Macrivision signals on a device that does read them. As a result, you can find ways to work around a Macrovision copy protection, as long as it isn't specifically meant to do that precise thing, and you will not be arrested or charged.
Summary
Different countries have different legislation on this concern, so do your homework in order to find out what flies in your nation. However, you will often find that the laws are not all that different from the United States, and there is typically some form of fair use in place. Depending on the method that you use to do it, you will be able to legally copy your VHS media to a DVD format for prosperity. You cannot buy or use a device that specifically says it is able to work around Macrovision, and the customers and manufacturer or such a device can be held liable. However, you will be fine legally if you just happen to be using a device that will not read the signals at all on a VHS tape.
Can you legally convert VHS to DVD? Depending on your specific methods, you can indeed.
There is no straight answer to that question, and a lot of factors play into it, such as your country of origin and its stance on copyrighted material, as it can change from nation to nation. Personal recordings, like home movies, are not copyrighted, and therefore you can do with them as you will, including VHS conversion. This becomes somewhat muddled when you have copyrighted material on a VHS. Let us look at 'fair use' and how that plays into video cassettes and the situation you find yourself in now.
The "Betamax Case"
At the time that Betamax was bought out by Sony, there were film industry execs who grew worried about the public getting this new video format. With Betamax, people could record TV shows, making copyright holders worried and concerned that it violated their ownership of the copyright, which could ruin them. There were also concerns that Congress would not put forth new legislation to protect the film industry, as it had just finished amending copyright law in general. In the end, Sony Corp. was sued by these corporations. The US District Court of California oversaw this case in 1976, where it was alleged that Sony could be held responsible for this copyright infringement, as they were releasing this device enabling that infringement to the general public.
The Supreme Court itself eventually handled this case, and the 1984 "Betamax Case," otherwise known as Sony Corp. of America versus Universal City Studios, Inc., was decided upon once and for all. According to the Supreme Court, it was fair use to record a television show using this device, provided that it was meant for time-shifting and watching it at a later date.
Basically, if you wanted to transfer your own VHS recordings of what you saw on TV, or even your commercially purchased tapes, it would not violate copyright legislation, and would be legal. There are situations that can fudge the issue, though. Fair use rights do not necessarily extend to each time a tape is copied no matter what. The method of the media transfer is a vital distinction to make.
The Digital Millenium Copyright Act was put forth in 1996 and combines a pair of treaties the World Intellectual Property Organization put forth into US copyright law. According to this legislation, it is illegal to create devices that are meant to get around copy protection put in place by companies. In a nutshell, taking out that DRM on your iTunes music or other media would be illegal, and a violation of copyright law.
Therefore, even though you can transfer media between formats, it is illegal to do so in a way that goes around the company's individual restrictions on this process, regardless of the type, making it a very sticky situation to find yourself in. A large discussion is being held currently on whether or not fair use is being violated in this instance, and there will likely be big decisions made in the near future about this subject.
Fair Use
In American copyright legislation, fair use is defined as a method of using copyrighted material that doesn't require you to ask the copyright holders for clearance. There are so many different situations that this applies to, it is within fair use to record programs from your television. Only America actually uses the term 'fair use,' but there are other nations that have a term similar to this; do your research in your home country to find the laws in that regard.
The Individual Ramifications of this Legislation
Macrovision is the type of copy protection mechanism put in place to prevent transferring of VHS tapes. Macrovision comes in the form of signals embedded into the tape that are meant to keep you from copying the media. You could face charges if you are found using anything that is meant to go around Macrovision in order to record the video. You can find workarounds, though. There are VHS players that are so old that they do not recognize the Macrivision signals, and it is well within your legal right to use these devices to transfer your VHS tapes.
It does not deliberately circumvent the signals, so you are not breaking any laws necessarily. Using things that are specifically meant to go around Macrovision would be illegal, however. Therefore, you can run into legal troubles if you use a separate device to filter out Macrivision signals on a device that does read them. As a result, you can find ways to work around a Macrovision copy protection, as long as it isn't specifically meant to do that precise thing, and you will not be arrested or charged.
Summary
Different countries have different legislation on this concern, so do your homework in order to find out what flies in your nation. However, you will often find that the laws are not all that different from the United States, and there is typically some form of fair use in place. Depending on the method that you use to do it, you will be able to legally copy your VHS media to a DVD format for prosperity. You cannot buy or use a device that specifically says it is able to work around Macrovision, and the customers and manufacturer or such a device can be held liable. However, you will be fine legally if you just happen to be using a device that will not read the signals at all on a VHS tape.
Can you legally convert VHS to DVD? Depending on your specific methods, you can indeed.
Keith Gilbert is managing director of the resource VHS Video Tape to DVD. If you are doing cassette to CD conversion as well as VHS to DVD transfers, it is a valuable resource to visit. You can research VHS to DVD hardware/machines, how-to's, software, and more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_A_Gilbert
Legal Questions & Answers
LawFreeFAQ.com
Thanks for helping, but I need know when the age 18 he legal age for everything but drinking?
The Age of majority is the threshold of adulthood as it is conceptualised in law. It is the chronological moment when children legally assume majority control over their persons and their actions and decisions, thereby terminating the legal control and.
The D.C. madam Scandal?
Is it legal to expose the madams clients? Isnt it a violation of privacy? There really isn't any madame-client privilege. However, I think she should be gagged by court order to prevent her from extorting money from any of her clients. - no. it was a business. if you buy to much furtilizer at a.
The DVD I brought a few days ago stopped working! I want to replace it but..?
I want to replace it but the salesperson is not co-operating. Should I take the assistance of legal experts? Which section will it come under consumer protection law? You should contact a lawyer. It will come under onsumer fraudonsumer fraud exists when.
The impending Smoking Ban - actual legal wording?
The enclosed spaces ban starts 1st July. My question is : does the actual wording of the enacting legislation (I cannot find it on the Web) state something to the manner of 'tobacco derived smoking materials'. If so, what is the position with herbal cigarettes which may pose lesser or no.
The legal age limit for minor child in kansas to pick biological parent to live with?
my 14 year old daughter has not lived at home withher father who has custody for over a year and she wishes to move in with her mother i need the legal age a child can decide which parent they prefer to reside.
The legal position regarding the sale of goods over the internet?
Doe's anyone know the legal position if an internet retailer advertises a product at an incorrect price and the allows you to purchase by debit/credit card and sends an order confirmation by email. Are they comitted to selling the goods at that price or can they simply refund.
The meaning of 'within the site'?
I have a construction contract with two different sites in a single contract. The distance between the two sites is about 7km away. Please give your opinion or defination on the meaning of 'within the site' in terms of legal or contract management. I would say 'within the site' is referring to.in you.
The response: why cant pain killers be legal?
wow what a response, i think most of you think im voting yes for drug abuse, im not and i think anyone in pain should see a doctor, all im saying is, some of you need to watch the history channel and do some research, like why cocaine isnt legal anymore,.
The rx business should they be legal?
ok all of you who answered, i dont think you understood my point all im saying is pain killers, valium etc,, are legal in other countrys and less abused probably because there legal, all im saying is if anything should be illegal it should be alcohol, and abuse kids are for gods.
The wall that is being constructed in the border of Mexico is legal?
Obviously U.S.A. must take care of their interests and their laws, but were not the E.U. that took that piece of land in which they do not want to let enter the Mexicans? I have that doubt. Please send me answerssssss. I am not sure what.
They cheated, oh this is fraud?
I bought a phone that is supposed to be brand new but it appeared to be used. what legal action can I take? If I sue the company, will it be worth it? if I win the case will I get more money than what I paid for the phone? First, you must.
This question is for people that say pot is bad and morally wrong.?
Many people say pot is very bad for you because its a illegal drug and breaking the law. What about Salvia, this drug is perfectly legal in the United States and still gets you high. Since this drug is legal, their would be nothing wrong with.
To all who answered this question - Who started the rumor about the babies of immigrants, both legal?
and illegal - were legally and automatically American citizens when born in America? Links for explanation of question Latter link in part - Alien Birthright Citizenship: A Fable That Lives Through Ignorance. During.
Today i was online looking around and i started to look up the dating laws for minors.?
whats the oldest a 16 year old can date in florida? and isnt the legal age 18? There are absolutely no laws that regulate DATING age. Laws are concerned with age of consent to have sex and/or to marry. There very well.
Trial transcript?
How can I obtain a copy of the legal transcript of a jury trial that was held in Virginia in 2006? Can the defendent do so? A lawyer? Anyone? Thanks! Since the trial transcript is a public record, anyone who wants one can get one. However, you have to pay a per page transcription cost and if.
Truancy charges grandaughter with down syndrome legal rights of her parents shcool in PA. Kiski area distric?
she gets alot of colds/has a heart repairs/gets headaches so she does miss alot. can truancy charges be brought against her parents. Kaitlins/concerned grandmother As a mom to a little boy with Down syndrome who has also had a heart repair, I.
True or False: Legislative intent may help you determine whether a statute was violated?
Thanks for you help. I'm a lawyer, but licensed in only one state and unable to offer any real legal advice outside of that state. However, there are a few basic legal realities that will apply in any jurisdiction. You can present an argument concerning.
Two roommates, one doesnt pay rent, both suffer?
My buddys roomie doesnt pay his rent, they are facing eviction. Both are on the lease. is there something the paying one can do to make the other pay, legally (or otherwise.) Only legal recourse is to pay the rent or face eviction; however, the paying roommate could sue the non-paying.
UK - can the landlord let himself in with no notice?
The thing is we are in our final month of tenancy and have not paid the finals months rent as the bond will cover this. Does the landlord now have legal right to come in annanounced? Landlords are not entitled to breeze in and out of your home.
Unpaid child support?
hi. i need direction from someone who has been down this road or advice from any legal stand. i have a court order for child support. have recieved nothing since dec. 2006. get the run around from attorney general about what will take place next. their father is in a rehab for a program that last.
Unwed Father's legal right to child??
What legal right does a unwed father have regarding a 10 year old child that he has never financially supported, nor emotionally? His name is on the birth certificate, but has never been established in the eyes of the courts,due to the childs mother not entering a court order for child support. If.
Using current law find a recent case on the formation of conntract.?
i need to find a recent case 2006 - 2007 on formation of a contract. it could be in any legal field but must be on the bases of formation of a contract I have looked back at various questions posed by you and you appear to.
VHS to DVD public services legal, or illegal? Please help!(USA)?
Hey guys. Is it legal or do I need some kind of permission to record Home Movies VHS tapes to DVD for the public? note- this would NOT be copyrighted material, period. However, I want to make sure I wouldn't be breaking any kind of law. If I understand.
Waht are the specific laws regarding found treasure on one's private property?
What happens if someone finds a Civil War cache, gold bars, Native American artifacts, dinosaur bones, whatever? (Serious question for a savvy lawyer please.) are you in America and no other person has legal claims to it? (like relative(s) or owner-in-fact of stolen or lost property,insured item.
War on Drugs?
Is it me or is the war on drugs stupid? I agree children should not be able to use drugs, but to prohibit both responsible and irresponsible adults from doing drugs, isn't that stupid? There is no answer that suffices to explain why alcohol and tobacco are legal and other drugs, mainly marijuana, are illegal. I.
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/law-articles/legal-questions-amp-answers-2082236.html#ixzz1VAuXz2Lw
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives
Legal Issues Regarding VHS To DVD Transfer
Caution: Do not take the content of this article to be legitimate legal advice. This is merely for entertainment and speculation.By this point, we all know just how much more amazing a DVD is than a VHS, leaving you wondering if you can convert your old VHS tapes to DVD to experience that added quality and longevity. Nowadays, you can find plenty of DVD rereleases of old shows and movies, but you might have a VHS tape that hasn't been given the same treatment, and may never get it. You might even find old home movies that you want to store for prosperity in the DVD format, so they are not lost forever. Given all of the controversy surrounding copyright infringement nowadays, you might be worried about whether or not it's legal to convert a VHS tape to a DVD, especially if it's copyrighted material.
There is no straight answer to that question, and a lot of factors play into it, such as your country of origin and its stance on copyrighted material, as it can change from nation to nation. Personal recordings, like home movies, are not copyrighted, and therefore you can do with them as you will, including VHS conversion. This becomes somewhat muddled when you have copyrighted material on a VHS. Let us look at 'fair use' and how that plays into video cassettes and the situation you find yourself in now.
The "Betamax Case"
At the time that Betamax was bought out by Sony, there were film industry execs who grew worried about the public getting this new video format. With Betamax, people could record TV shows, making copyright holders worried and concerned that it violated their ownership of the copyright, which could ruin them. There were also concerns that Congress would not put forth new legislation to protect the film industry, as it had just finished amending copyright law in general. In the end, Sony Corp. was sued by these corporations. The US District Court of California oversaw this case in 1976, where it was alleged that Sony could be held responsible for this copyright infringement, as they were releasing this device enabling that infringement to the general public.
The Supreme Court itself eventually handled this case, and the 1984 "Betamax Case," otherwise known as Sony Corp. of America versus Universal City Studios, Inc., was decided upon once and for all. According to the Supreme Court, it was fair use to record a television show using this device, provided that it was meant for time-shifting and watching it at a later date.
Basically, if you wanted to transfer your own VHS recordings of what you saw on TV, or even your commercially purchased tapes, it would not violate copyright legislation, and would be legal. There are situations that can fudge the issue, though. Fair use rights do not necessarily extend to each time a tape is copied no matter what. The method of the media transfer is a vital distinction to make.
The Digital Millenium Copyright Act was put forth in 1996 and combines a pair of treaties the World Intellectual Property Organization put forth into US copyright law. According to this legislation, it is illegal to create devices that are meant to get around copy protection put in place by companies. In a nutshell, taking out that DRM on your iTunes music or other media would be illegal, and a violation of copyright law.
Therefore, even though you can transfer media between formats, it is illegal to do so in a way that goes around the company's individual restrictions on this process, regardless of the type, making it a very sticky situation to find yourself in. A large discussion is being held currently on whether or not fair use is being violated in this instance, and there will likely be big decisions made in the near future about this subject.
Fair Use
In American copyright legislation, fair use is defined as a method of using copyrighted material that doesn't require you to ask the copyright holders for clearance. There are so many different situations that this applies to, it is within fair use to record programs from your television. Only America actually uses the term 'fair use,' but there are other nations that have a term similar to this; do your research in your home country to find the laws in that regard.
The Individual Ramifications of this Legislation
Macrovision is the type of copy protection mechanism put in place to prevent transferring of VHS tapes. Macrovision comes in the form of signals embedded into the tape that are meant to keep you from copying the media. You could face charges if you are found using anything that is meant to go around Macrovision in order to record the video. You can find workarounds, though. There are VHS players that are so old that they do not recognize the Macrivision signals, and it is well within your legal right to use these devices to transfer your VHS tapes.
It does not deliberately circumvent the signals, so you are not breaking any laws necessarily. Using things that are specifically meant to go around Macrovision would be illegal, however. Therefore, you can run into legal troubles if you use a separate device to filter out Macrivision signals on a device that does read them. As a result, you can find ways to work around a Macrovision copy protection, as long as it isn't specifically meant to do that precise thing, and you will not be arrested or charged.
Summary
Different countries have different legislation on this concern, so do your homework in order to find out what flies in your nation. However, you will often find that the laws are not all that different from the United States, and there is typically some form of fair use in place. Depending on the method that you use to do it, you will be able to legally copy your VHS media to a DVD format for prosperity. You cannot buy or use a device that specifically says it is able to work around Macrovision, and the customers and manufacturer or such a device can be held liable. However, you will be fine legally if you just happen to be using a device that will not read the signals at all on a VHS tape.
Can you legally convert VHS to DVD? Depending on your specific methods, you can indeed.
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/hardware-articles/legal-issues-regarding-vhs-to-dvd-transfer-2828337.html#ixzz1VAvBghxe
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives
Judge rules that DVD copying software is illegal
- Bobbie Johnson, San Francisco
- guardian.co.uk,
- Article history
American software company RealNetworks has been banned from selling a program that lets people make copies of their DVDs, in a US court decision that could have far-reaching implications.
After a year-long case over the legality of the company's RealDVD software, a district court in San Francisco ruled that Real had violated America's copyright laws and granted a preliminary injunction against Real to prevent it selling the program.
The ruling stops Real from selling RealDVD, a piece of software that allows to make back-up copies of their movie discs and save them to their computer. Although free DVD ripping software is readily available online, Real raised the hackles of Hollywood executives in 2008 because it paid for a license to the DVD Copy Control Association, believing that it could be interpreted to allow the services they wanted to provide.
In her ruling, Judge Marilyn Hall Patel said that the complex meant that it was not illegal for consumers to copy their own DVDs – just illegal to produce a program that allowed them to do so.
"While it may well be fair use for an individual consumer to store a backup copy of a personally-owned DVD on that individual's computer, a federal law has nonetheless made it illegal to manufacture or traffic in a device or tool that permits a consumer to make such copies."
The case was brought by the Motion Picture Association of America - the consortium representing Hollywood studios that has become notoriously litigious in the face of unauthorised downloading and online file sharing.
Dan Glickman, the head of the MPAA, hailed the verdict.
"We are very pleased with the court's decision," he said. "This is a victory for the creators and producers of motion pictures and television shows, and for the rule of law in our digital economy."
"Judge Patel's ruling affirms what we have known all along: Real Networks took a license to build a DVD player and instead made an illegal DVD copier."
Campaigners had argued that consumers had the right to make personal copies of material they had legally obtained, and that Real should not be punished.
Lawyers for the MPAA, on the other hand, said that Real was breaking the terms of its license and profiting from a system that made it possible for consumers to rent or borrow movies for a nominal fee before copying them.
The court sided with the film industry, largely because it said broke a licensing agreement to access privileged details of the copy protection codes, known as the content scramble system or CSS.
Although Judge Patel earlier ruling that CSS was a trade secret – indicating the possibility that she might rule against Real – another company, Kaleidascape, had recently been ruled to have not violated the law in a similar position.
Another scheme for unscrambling the code, called DeCSS, was also challenged in court after its creation - but Jon Lech Johansen, the Norwegian teenager credited with working on the system, was acquitted by a court in Oslo.
"Real will likely appeal this ruling," said Fred von Lohmann, an attorney with the campaign group the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "Whatever the outcome of that appeal, this ruling sends a chilling message to any technology innovator interested in delivering new products that interact with the DVDs you own."
Real Networks, based in Seattle, said that it was "disappointed" in the ruling and would take time to examine the verdict closely before considering whether to appeal.
"We have just received the judge's detailed ruling and are reviewing it. After we have done so fully, we'll determine our course of action," the company said in a statement.
Is Copying DVDs Legal?
Perhaps, the subject title is one of the most controversial topics for the past few years. DVD copying is getting a lot of media attention and its all thanks to the law, which has taken this matter in its own hands. Yet, there are many people who are still confused, since they just don’t understand whether DVD copying is legal or illegal? Thanks to the thousands of free download on the Internet. It often becomes difficult for the Internet users to determine whether to proceed with DVD copying or not?In this respect, it is important that you do what the law permits you to do and not otherwise. In order to be aware of these aspects, it is important that you know the laws that have been made to safeguard the aspect of copyrighted material. If you go and do your homework about copyrighted materials, you will find out that most of the media format files that you come across are copyrighted rightfully by the owner.
These materials would include e-books, music, movies, games, software application, etc. So why do the owners of these materials copyright their material? The answer is pretty simple. Copyrighting is done, in order to protect the rightful owner of the material by giving him the rights to his materials, may it be with respect to its ownership or its distribution.
When Is Copying DVD's Illegal?
In this way, the owner of the material has the complete freedom to either sell the material or simply distribute it as a freeware. In this respect, creating multiple copies of DVDs /CDs would be considered illegal without obtaining prior permission from the owner. This duplication may be with respect to copying movies, music, etc. Some of the examples of DVD duplication would include downloading movies from illegal websites, downloading movies from P2P (peer to peer) websites, etc. These examples are the illegal ways to copy DVDs and should be never resorted to in any respect.
The DMCA, i.e., Digital Millennium Copyright Act clearly specifies that it is illegal to play around with the CSS (Content Scrambling System) copy protection tool that is actually used by most of DVD films. However, keeping what the law states aside, many companies engage in manufacturing softwares or even freewares for that matter that makes copying DVDs as easy as a breeze. With the help of these DVDs, it becomes pretty easy for people to make copies of their favorite DVDs and do anything with it later on. The legality issue often comes up when these copied versions are sold, which then affects the entire industry.
In case of these softwares, there are some legal ones as well as illegal ones. The legal ones include names like Pinnacle Instant Copy, InterVideo DVD COPY, Ahead Software Nero 6.0 Ultra, DVD NeXt Copy, etc.
Can you legally copy DVDs?
DVD copying is a controversial and highly sought-after process. Not sure if what you're doing is legal? CNET sets your mind at ease.
By Jon Jacobi, Don Labriola, and Justin Jaffe
(April 6, 2004)
Up until February 2004, 321 Studios' hugely popular line of DVD-copying products, including DVD X Copy, DVD X Copy Xpress, and DVD Copy Plus, gave consumers the power to make backup copies of DVDs--even those with copy protection. But when a San Francisco federal judge ruled that 321 Studios' products were illegal because they circumvented commercial DVDs' antipiracy technology--not because it's illegal to make copies, mind you--the party was over. Since then, 321 Studios has released new, ripper-free versions of its line of DVD copying apps, but these programs are considerably less potent and cannot copy commercial DVDs. The ability to create copies of the media you've purchased for personal use is a long-accepted facet of the fair-use doctrine in U.S. copyright law (at least, it used to be). However, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) states that it's illegal to break the CSS copy-protection mechanism employed by most commercial DVD movies. What does that mean? Most fair-use advocates say that the policy directly contradicts U.S. copyright law, but the DMCA seems to indicate that you cannot make a copy of a commercial DVD, even for personal use, and you certainly cannot give a copied DVD to anyone or watch copied DVD files on your computer. We assume that fair use will eventually catch up and be established as a safety valve for consumers (which has been the pattern with previous technologies, such as VHS), but for now, the territory is still uncertain and a bit dangerous.
Still, there is software out there--even freeware--that will circumvent the copy-protection schemes used on commercial DVDs and enable you to make copies of store-bought DVDs. However, CNET does not encourage or condone the illegal copying of commercial discs, and doing so places you in violation of current intellectual property law.
Now that 321 Studios' line of products can no longer copy protected DVDs, they join a competitive field of mainstream disc-copying programs that can duplicate unprotected DVDs--your own home movies, for example. Furthermore, there are a handful of inexpensive, full-featured suites that feature disc-copying components (again, of non-copy-protected discs). We've reviewed a few of them here; read on to see which are the best--and legal--to use for your copying needs.
Jon L. Jacobi is a San Francisco-based freelance writer and a frequent contributor to CNET Reviews. Don Labriola has been a frequent contributor to the mainstream computer press since 1991. Justin Jaffe is an associate editor for CNET Reviews, covering monitors, CD and DVD burners, and software.
Still, there is software out there--even freeware--that will circumvent the copy-protection schemes used on commercial DVDs and enable you to make copies of store-bought DVDs. However, CNET does not encourage or condone the illegal copying of commercial discs, and doing so places you in violation of current intellectual property law.
Now that 321 Studios' line of products can no longer copy protected DVDs, they join a competitive field of mainstream disc-copying programs that can duplicate unprotected DVDs--your own home movies, for example. Furthermore, there are a handful of inexpensive, full-featured suites that feature disc-copying components (again, of non-copy-protected discs). We've reviewed a few of them here; read on to see which are the best--and legal--to use for your copying needs.
Jon L. Jacobi is a San Francisco-based freelance writer and a frequent contributor to CNET Reviews. Don Labriola has been a frequent contributor to the mainstream computer press since 1991. Justin Jaffe is an associate editor for CNET Reviews, covering monitors, CD and DVD burners, and software.
