For anyone following this thread, Rick's reference to the "DMCA" means the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. And yes, Rick, I live in the U.S.
Rick, this seems like an incredibly narrow distinction to you, but the act does not prohibit fair use, meaning in this case personal use. However, it does make fair use extremely difficult, if not impossible, because courts have interpreted the act as rendering DVD-copying programs illegal. I have a feeling the law will evolve, but that's an argument for another day. Right now, the only point I want to make is that we shouldn't casually toss around accusations of illegal behavior when people write to the list with questions about copying DVDs. If doing so for their own purposes, it would be perfectly legal, even though the act, as interpreted by federal courts, makes the copying software illegal. Call it Catch-22.
For anyone interested, here's a link to one online discussion: http://counsel.cua.edu/FEDLAW/Dmca.cfmRecognizing this thread isn't JAWS-related, I won't respond to any more messages. However, I urge us all to be careful when we say that what someone wants to do is illegal. Francis, whose message started this thread, understandably believed that what he wanted to do made sense, and he was right. It's a sad development that the technology to carry out his wishes has been banned.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Rick Harmon" <rharmon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>Under US law it's not legal to copy a copyrighted DVD. Go look it up in The DMCA. I don't agree with it but non the less it's the law. I don't know where you live, perhaps it's not the US.
Rick ======= Visit my webpage and podcast feed at www.blind-geek-zone.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Adrian Spratt" <A.Spratt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 5:17 PM Subject: Re: copying dvdsApparently I wasn't clear. Copying for one's personal use has always been legal. In itself, there's nothing illegal about copying a copyrighted DVD to one's own PC. But perhaps once on a system, it would be easier to copy onto other DVDs and disseminate for non-personal uses what would then be illegal material. Manufacturers no doubt prevent all copying from being done out of fear of broader dissemination.
The reason I'm making this point is that this isn't the first time that erroneous allegations of illegality have been made here. Recently someone accused another pair of listers of asking and answering a question about a procedure the lister said was illegal when, in itself, it wasn't. It's unjust to accuse someone of doing something illegal unless it is. I understand and share your concern about actual copyright infringement. I've been criticized here for being too conscientious about protecting copyright, such as by refusing to distribute a copy of a newspaper article to the list. But we must take care not to cast blame where there isn't any. If we're concerned about possible misuse, as we should be, it would be appropriate to warn that any copying must be limited to personal purposes.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Rick Harmon" <rharmon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>I just stated as to why Nero will not copy a copy protected DVD. No commercial software will do this because it's illegal under the law to do so. I didn't say he couldn't do it, I just stated that Nero won't do it and why it won't do it. Rick
======= Visit my webpage and podcast feed at www.blind-geek-zone.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Adrian Spratt" <A.Spratt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 3:34 PM Subject: Re: copying DVDs Rick,I believe your response here is unduly hard. Francis is right that we ought to be able to copy any work we buy for our own purposes, as we photocopy newspaper articles for our own files and CDs onto cassette and even onto our PCs. There can be nothing illegal about copying the content of a DVD onto our own system. However, it may be that manufacturers copy-protect their DVDs against even this personal use out of fear of distribution occurring from that point.
So what Francis wants to do isn't illegal, but that doesn't mean he will be able to do it. I don't know the answer to this second question, but it's the one he's asking.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Rick Harmon" <rharmon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Nero doesn't copy copy protected DVD's since this is Illegal. Rick ======= Visit my webpage and podcast feed at www.blind-geek-zone.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "francis" <francisrwama@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <jaws-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>hi there, I bought a dvd but nero tells me that I'm unable to copy this dvd, because of copy protection, but surely I ought to be able to copy it onto my computer? visit my website www.francisrwama.com
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