sracer

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Originally posted by hanna975 When I first started this thread, it was just a simple question. I didn't expect this. Especially reading that damn DMCA. Everybody has made some very valid points. One point is you can't crack their code, another is Fair Use. Depending on interpretation, they counter each other. This can and does leave this very open to debate. Hense this thread.

It is not open to debate, it is quite clear. The DMCA supercedes "Fair Use". That is why there is a massive uproar about the DMCA. There are 2 issues here... one is the legal issue, the other, the moral issue. Legally, it is very clear and straightforward... The DMCA makes digitally ripping DVDs is illegal. "Fair Use" makes analog copies of DVDs legal.

As for the "ethics" of being prevented from personal unencumbered use of something that we have legally purchased is a separate issue.

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Originally posted by hanna975 I've only heard of the movie companies going after one program, but in the end, the program is still available with minor changes. Has anyone heard about them going after individuals(not counting people who downloaded from or put on P2P networks) for making personal copies. Include a link if possible.

There have not been any reported legal actions against individuals who simply ripped their DVDs for personal use.

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Originally posted by hanna975 In the end, after all this discussion, I'm on the edge. I'm not completly convinced yet it's illegal, but stand by my right of Fair Use.

As I mentioned before, digitally ripping DVDs is illegal...plain and simple. Analog copies are legal. (Obviously referring to personal use)

hanna975

You're right sracer, I finishhed reading through the DMCA(my eyes, they burn), and it clearly states bypassing their measures is illegal.

Of course, the laws always protect the ones with money, but the poor folks who just want some rights of their own can't afford it. I hope their are some changes soon.

AMike is right also, even though we're the low man on the totem pole, we need to make our voices heard by going through our local polictitians.

Now the big question of the day. Does anyone know of any proven legal ways to back up our DVD's. It's important to me because of my plans for networking my house. I get tired of waiting thru those screens and menu's. I just want to watch the movie.

sracer

Quote:

Originally posted by hanna975 AMike is right also, even though we're the low man on the totem pole, we need to make our voices heard by going through our local polictitians.

Absolutely. Though it is going to take a long time and a lot of people to make that happen.

Quote:

Originally posted by hanna975 Now the big question of the day. Does anyone know of any proven legal ways to back up our DVD's. It's important to me because of my plans for networking my house. I get tired of waiting thru those screens and menu's. I just want to watch the movie.

This is what I do. I have a TV tuner card/video capture installed in my ThinkPad docking station and it works. Although I use it to watch TV on my notebook, (it can also be used for capturing VHS or DVD).

BUT, I still digitally rip my personally owned DVDs for personal playback on my PC and PPC.

My position is, I have the capability to make legal "fair use" copies but simply use a method that is more convenient. I think that it is a defendable position, but still questionable.

If you wanted a method guaranteed to be 100% legal, get a high quality video capture card (one with MPEG hardware encoding) for your PC and perform an analog capture. The quality will be surprisingly good.

hanna975

When I build my next computer, I'm planning on putting in one of those video cards. I was hoping just to have everything ready so I could just transfer the files and start playing them.
I'm waiting for my tax refund before I start building though. All the components should be cheaper by then once the top of the line stuff comes out.

What kind of file sizes do you get with you average movie.

reese

with dr divx i get about 600-800 mb