Legality of DVD Ripping

[PaulR]

For a while, I've been wanting to put some of my DVDs onto my iPod. I found something that I am somewhat interested in, but on their website, they had a link to wikipedia. In that article, it said this about the legality of the program:

"In the noted "321" case, Federal District Judge Susan Illston, of the Northern District of California [6], ruled that the backup copies made with software such as DVD Decrypter are in fact legal but that distribution of the software used to make them is illegal."

and the fact that RealDVD or whatever was forced to stop developement.

I am not totally familiar with the law on this, I am not a poli sci major, or in law school. Does this mean that the programs themselves are illegal to distribute at all, or just illegal if you sell the programs?

sorry for my ignorance in this topic.

[Gurn Blanston]

It is illegal to distribute the program DVD Decrypter (or similar programs). It is not illegal to possess it, or to use it to make rips for your own use, as long as you do not distribute them. You can download ripped product to your iPod or burn it to other DVD's.



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Listening to:
Haydn: The Creation - Hogwood / Academy of Ancient Music / Emma Kirkby / Anthony Rolfe Johnson /  Michael George / Choir of New College Oxford - Hob 21 02 Oratorio "The Creation" pt 26 - Achieved is the glorious work

[PaulR]

It is illegal to distribute the program DVD Decrypter (or similar programs). It is not illegal to possess it, or to use it to make rips for your own use, as long as you do not distribute them. You can download ripped product to your iPod or burn it to other DVD's.



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Listening to:
Haydn: The Creation - Hogwood / Academy of Ancient Music / Emma Kirkby / Anthony Rolfe Johnson /  Michael George / Choir of New College Oxford - Hob 21 02 Oratorio "The Creation" pt 26 - Achieved is the glorious work

So it's illegal to download the program, or just illegal to buy it (Or them selling it)?

[DavidW]

So it's illegal to download the program, or just illegal to buy it (Or them selling it)?

I think it's illegal to upload the program.

[Gurn Blanston]

I think it's illegal to upload the program.

Yes, that's it. Upload or sell.



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Listening to:
Brahms - Works for Solo Piano - 1 - Katchen, Julius - Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35 - Book 1

[PaulR]

Yes, that's it. Upload or sell.



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Listening to:
Brahms - Works for Solo Piano - 1 - Katchen, Julius - Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35 - Book 1

so downloading is ok?

Sorry for all these stupid questions.  I am not a legal scholar.

[Gurn Blanston]

so downloading is ok?

Sorry for all these stupid questions.  I am not a legal scholar.

The person taking the risk there is the one offering it for download. In your OP, you quote the ruling:

"In the noted "321" case, Federal District Judge Susan Illston, of the Northern District of California [6], ruled that the backup copies made with software such as DVD Decrypter are in fact legal but that distribution of the software used to make them is illegal."

So anyone offering the software for sale or even for free is violating that court order.

You're OK. Just don't give it away to anyone. And don't give away your backups, or sell your legal originals and keep the backups. Then you will be in violation too. What you describe your intentions as doesn't violate anything that I can see.





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Listening to:
Brahms - Works for Solo Piano - 1 - Katchen, Julius - Variationen und Fuge op. 24 on a Theme by Handel

[PaulR]

The person taking the risk there is the one offering it for download. In your OP, you quote the ruling:

"In the noted "321" case, Federal District Judge Susan Illston, of the Northern District of California [6], ruled that the backup copies made with software such as DVD Decrypter are in fact legal but that distribution of the software used to make them is illegal."

So anyone offering the software for sale or even for free is violating that court order.

You're OK. Just don't give it away to anyone. And don't give away your backups, or sell your legal originals and keep the backups. Then you will be in violation too. What you describe your intentions as doesn't violate anything that I can see.





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Listening to:
Brahms - Works for Solo Piano - 1 - Katchen, Julius - Variationen und Fuge op. 24 on a Theme by Handel

All I want to do is to put some episodes of the simpsons, and house, and possibly some opera dvds onto my iPod.  I wouldn't share them.  Thanks!

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Is there a .flac version for DVDs--something that is done with non-lossy compression??

[drogulus]

Is there a .flac version for DVDs--something that is done with non-lossy compression??

     The quality of DVD rips is up to you. If you want to make an exact copy you can do that, or you can compress the video. I don't think audio compression, other than what may already be on the disc, is really needed since most of the space is taken up by the video.

     My father's DVD rips look like they've been compressed a little, perhaps to fit on single layer DVDs (DVD 5). I don't think I'd even notice this if I played the discs on a TV instead of a PC monitor.

     Why would you want to use FLAC to copy a disc?

[Sarastro]

So anyone offering the software for sale or even for free is violating that court order.

So, just be greedy, and you'll do fine.

[DavidW]

Is there a .flac version for DVDs--something that is done with non-lossy compression??

Nope.  Dvd-video uses mpeg2 (a lossy format).  For that matter though, even blu-ray is stuck with lossy compression (albeit much better and at a higher bitrate) such as mpeg4.

And then we can even ask how does one define lossless?  The source is usually 35 mm film, which if taken to a digital transfer one arrives at a 4k master.  Even blu-ray must severely downconvert to 1080p, a small fraction of the original resolution.

[DavidRoss]

The person taking the risk there is the one offering it for download. In your OP, you quote the ruling:

"In the noted "321" case, Federal District Judge Susan Illston, of the Northern District of California [6], ruled that the backup copies made with software such as DVD Decrypter are in fact legal but that distribution of the software used to make them is illegal."

According to this line of reasoning, it should be illegal to distribute pens because they could be used to make forgeries, or string because it could be used to kill, or to sell copy machines.  Judge Illston, a Clinton appointee to the 9th District Court, is clearly an idiot.  I predict a bright future ahead for her if she enters electoral politics.

[ezodisy]

Judge Illston, a Clinton appointee to the 9th District Court, is clearly an idiot.  I predict a bright future ahead for her if she enters electoral politics.

why do you always bring your (right is right) politics into things?

[DavidRoss]

why do you always bring your (right is right) politics into things?

I think, rather, that it is the fellows who try to dismiss matters meriting consideration by labeling them as, say, "right(wing)" or "liberal" or "conservative" or "pinko," who "always bring politics into things."  And you are mistaken about my political views, apparently having judged me in accordance with your prejudices rather than by the positions I've taken.  It is quite common for people to hold views that do not align conveniently with the practices of either major American Party.  It is also quite common for people to demonize messengers rather than giving fair and open-minded consideration to messages that do not accord with their prejudices.

If a federal judge makes such a patently stupid decision as Ms Illston made in this case, one of the first questions most people ask is "How did such an idiot ever get such power?"  In this case, she was appointed by Clinton.  He is hardly the first or only President to make such boneheaded appointments, and neither major Party has a lock on such incompetence.  Making lifelong appointments to the federal bench is arguably the most important of the very few powers granted the President under the Constitution.  He has no power to tax, borrow, appropriate expenditures, regulate the money supply, make laws, raise and finance armies, declare war, or to manage the national economy; indeed, the Constitution explicitly forbids him such powers.  Successful predation by the ruling powers depends on the continuing ignorance of the masses who comprise their prey.

Far more interesting than your mistaken dismissal of my point by erroneously characterizing my political stance as "right is right" would be your response to the analogy I offered regarding pens, string, and copy machines.  Does the analogy hold? 

[ezodisy]

Judge Illston, a Clinton appointee to the 9th District Court, is clearly an idiot.

It is also quite common for people to demonize messengers rather than giving fair and open-minded consideration to messages that do not accord with their prejudices.

lol!

So, did you call her an idiot based on an excerpt from a Wikipedia article, or did you actually go and read her full statement?

I'm gonna guess the former.

David, I really don't care about your political views.

You are the one who keeps bringing these things up.

I apologise if I'm mistaken about your political views.

But the thing is, just like with a woman I once tried to sleep with -- if you keep flirting with me, it isn't my fault if I call you on it.

Don't flash the skin and you won't get groped.

Simple.

That's all I've got to say on the matter.

Federal District Judge Susan Illston may or may not be an idiot, but she's there and you're stuck with her. If I were you I'd be more concerned by this Geithner appointment which seems to be the same old thing but in drag (leopard, spots, etc)

[George]

How can one rip a DVD and change the region code? Can this be done?

I'm on a MAC and I use XLD for music ripping, not sure if it can rip DVD. I also have Toast 9.

I have never ripped or burned a DVD, but I have a few DVDs that I'd love to copy and change the Region code, or simply make a DVD-R that will be universal.

[DavidRoss]

So, did you call her an idiot based on an excerpt from a Wikipedia article, or did you actually go and read her full statement?  I'm gonna guess the former.

If I were you I'd be more concerned by this Geithner appointment which seems to be the same old thing but in drag (leopard, spots, etc)

Actually, I read neither.  My understanding is that her injunction against X-Copy was based on an apparent violation of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act.  The provision of that act violating a user's right to make copies of items they've purchased for their own use is itself a violation of a longstanding principle in copyright law.  I still believe that the principle of outlawing a technology because it could be put to wrong uses is deeply flawed and counter to fundamental principles of Common Law.  I am very sympathetic to the plight of copyright holders, but believe that vigorous prosecution of wrong-doers is the answer, not extending the reach of the law and abusing the rights of the innocent.

Of course, we all suffer from a recent reversal of tradition in which the authorities have found it much easier to punish the innocent rather than to prosecute the guilty.

The Geithner appointment certainly is the same old thing in drag.  Anyone expecting anything different from Obama wasn't paying attention when he chose Joe Biden as his running mate!  My problem with Geithner isn't his expertise, but rather his honesty.  I saw some of his confirmation hearing.  The guy is a complete liar and thus has demonstrated his unfitness for the public trust...and anyone who believes that his failure to pay SSI and Medicare taxes was "an innocent oversight" is an utter fool.  I don't like having crooks in positions of power.  They tend to abuse that power and to plunder the public trust.  This is due to the nature of the character of those who seek such power and has nothing to do with the political party to which they belong or the platitudes they mouth to con the gullible sheep they seek to shear.  That is why the founders of the US tried to severely and explicitly limit the powers of government. 

[Bulldog]

The Geithner appointment certainly is the same old thing in drag.  Anyone expecting anything different from Obama wasn't paying attention when he chose Joe Biden as his running mate!  My problem with Geithner isn't his expertise, but rather his honesty.  I saw some of his confirmation hearing.  The guy is a complete liar and thus has demonstrated his unfitness for the public trust...and anyone who believes that his failure to pay SSI and Medicare taxes was "an innocent oversight" is an utter fool.  I don't like having crooks in positions of power.  They tend to abuse that power and to plunder the public trust. 

What really got to me about the Geithner mess was the comment I kept hearing - "He's uniquely qualified for the position".  I'm so tired of these ridiculous types of statements.  These days, it seems that so many folks elevate their own importance as well as that of others.

My wife did the same thing yesterday.  Although she broke her elbow and needs to rest before her surgery on Friday, she insisted on going to work today.  Why?  She told me she has a very important job.  I love her greatly, but this "I'm important" crap will only delay her recovery and sap what strength she has left.

[drogulus]

How can one rip a DVD and change the region code? Can this be done?

I'm on a MAC and I use XLD for music ripping, not sure if it can rip DVD. I also have Toast 9.

I have never ripped or burned a DVD, but I have a few DVDs that I'd love to copy and change the Region code, or simply make a DVD-R that will be universal.

    The DVD software I'm familiar with allows you a number of options such as removing region codes, warnings, and previews. There are other things you can do I'm just starting to learn about. Making discs universal is easy. You just choose that instead of a region.