Legality of DVD Ripping

[George]

    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.

Are you on a MAC? Which software are you using?

[drogulus]

     I'm on a PC. There are Mac programs available. Mine is PC only. I can't be more helpful now because the internet is being destroyed by Google saying "This site may harm your computer". Yahoo Search is doing something similar. Google Help won't connect saying "this site may......"! Uhhh, somethings up. Could my computer be infected? How could that cause Google to go crazy? Hmmm....

[Lethevich]

     I'm on a PC. There are Mac programs available. Mine is PC only. I can't be more helpful now because the internet is being destroyed by Google saying "This site may harm your computer". Yahoo Search is doing something similar. Google Help won't connect saying "this site may......"! Uhhh, somethings up. Could my computer be infected? How could that cause Google to go crazy? Hmmm....

I'm getting that too atm - having to copy and paste search result URLs into the address bar to make them work. It's quite obnoxious that there is no option to say "ok you've told me, I still want to look at the site, I'm a grown up and can be trusted to make my own decisions"...

[George]

I'm getting that too atm - having to copy and paste search result URLs into the address bar to make them work. It's quite obnoxious that there is no option to say "ok you've told me, I still want to look at the site, I'm a grown up and can be trusted to make my own decisions"...

[ezodisy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7862840.stm

[drogulus]

I'm getting that too atm - having to copy and paste search result URLs into the address bar to make them work. It's quite obnoxious that there is no option to say "ok you've told me, I still want to look at the site, I'm a grown up and can be trusted to make my own decisions"...

     Yup, same here. It's security run amuck IMO. I'm glad it's not just me and the whole world is suffering.

     Later (45 sec.): It's fixed, just like the BBC said. Watch me trust them now. 

[drogulus]

     To return to DVD ripping:

Are you on a MAC? Which software are you using?

     I'm using AnyDVD at the moment which is primarily a region free program that has a sort of minimalist rip mode, or so it says. You can use it to rip to the HD then use any burn program you want with AnyDVD running in the background. For direct rip/burn from one drive to another you want something more full featured. Google "DVD ripping Mac" to see similar options like I just did.

     Incidentally, it bugs me when people say "Google is your friend" instead of helping if they can. It's like "Is this thread still alive?" instead if just not posting in it.

     So, Google is your friend (most of the time), but I hate you.

[Lethevich]

     Yup, same here. It's security run amuck IMO. I'm glad it's not just me and the whole world is suffering.

     Later (45 sec.): It's fixed, just like the BBC said. Watch me trust them now. 

Conspiracy theory: Google did it on purpose to remind everyone of their importance as a search engine, given several of their diversification failures such as Knol *tinfoil hat*

[drogulus]

     

Conspiracy theory: Google did it on purpose to remind everyone of their importance as a search engine, given several of their diversification failures such as Knol *tinfoil hat*

    Oh yeah, well how do you explain that Yahoo Search was doing it at the same time?*

    _{*(Sterling Hayden voice) How does that figure into your International Communist conspiracy timeline, eh?} 

[George]

OK,guys, I need your help.

[Sarastro]

so downloading is ok?

[Coopmv]

I see no legal problems with this at all if the ripped DVD's are purely for personal enjoyment, which is no different than making a cassette tape in the past ...

[nut-job]

I see no legal problems with this at all if the ripped DVD's are purely for personal enjoyment, which is no different than making a cassette tape in the past ...

I don't think there has ever been a legal judgment that states that you do not have the right to make a copy for your own use.   I think it would also be perfectly legal to write your own program that reads DVDs and makes the image data available.  However, everyone who obtains the trade secrets required decode a DVD does so under a strict licensing agreement.  The trouble is that the software for ripping DVDs is not written from scratch, it is derived from the proprietary software, in violation of the licensing agreement.  This leads to the odd situation we are in, where it is legal to copy a DVD, although all of the actual copying software is illegal.  It's not illegal to use the software, but it was illegal for someone to give it to you.