DVD Download Legality Question: What if I already own it?

Nephtys · Post by **Nephtys** » 2006-06-15 12:49am

Precisely as the subject says.

What is the legal standing if say, I own a copy of a DVD, then download a ripped AVI of the same thing from online for my use, because I don't want to rip and recompress my DVD for use on a portable player? Is that still 'intellectual property violation'?

Post by **Beowulf** » 2006-06-15 12:52am

Ripping and recompressing your DVD is a violation of the DMCA. *shrug* Probably yes.

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2006-06-15 01:06am

Yes, but on the same token copyright law allows for one backup. It doesn't specify the format, or the method.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2006-06-15 04:06am

The copyright law allows for one backup, provided that:
A) You do not use that backup and the original at the same time, and
B) You do not transfer that backup to anyone else.

Guess what? Downloading someone else's backup counts as transfering your backup copy to someone else, and is thus illegal by technicality.

IIRC, Canada's laws were a bit more sensible; the one sending you the backup copy is breaking the law, but it is perfectl ylegal for the receiver to get it.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2006-06-15 08:36am

Vertigo1 wrote:Yes, but on the same token copyright law allows for one backup. It doesn't specify the format, or the method.

Ahem.

Copyright.gov wrote:Is it legal to download works from peer-to-peer networks and if not, what is the penalty for doing so?
Uploading or downloading works protected by copyright without the authority of the copyright owner is an infringement of the copyright owner's exclusive rights of reproduction and/or distribution.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2006-06-15 08:25pm

Ultimately, I don't give a flying fuck about the technicaligy of the law in this issue. If I own a hard copy and I want a digital copy, I damned well will look to download it. On the long shot I ever got tagged by a company for that, I would tell them to go fuck themselves because they just LOST a customer (since I had already been buying their stuff). I would also make damned well sure to fight in court as vigorously as possible. Local ACLU doesn't much like the DMCA.

Chris OFarrell · Post by **Chris OFarrell** » 2006-06-15 08:36pm

In Australia the laws are quite a bit more flexable in this regard. As long as you HAVE a leagaly brought copy of something, you are entitled to make a backup of it onto whatever format you want.