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Copyright question

starwarsdad

Golden Member
If you own a VHS copy of a movie, can you make a copy of a DVD of the same film? Does that fall under fair use since you bought a "license" to view the movie?

I know that there are arguments about whether this would violate the DMCA, but I am not interested in the DMCA at this point, just copyright law.

Let's not get into trolling about stealing music and stuff please. I think this is a fair, honest question for study / debate.

Thanks!
 
I believe you can copy any copyright material for your own use as long as you don't sell it or otherwise distribute it.
 
Originally posted by: Harvey
I believe you can copy any copyright material for your own use as long as you don't sell it or otherwise distribute it.

Exactly... I think as long as only one copy is being viewed at a time, you're ok.
 
DMCA = Digital Millenium Copyright Act. It applies.

You have a "license" to view the VHS version. If you do not own the DVD, you do not have a license to view the DVD version.
 
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
DMCA = Digital Millenium Copyright Act. It applies.

You have a "license" to view the VHS version. If you do not own the DVD, you do not have a license to view the DVD version.

Screw that. They A) don't have the money to go after you, and B) How would they find you out, and C) Don't you think they have bigger fish to catch than you?

---

With an attitude like yours, the answer to question B) is we would be very tempted to help them. Think about it somewhere else for a week.

AnandTech Moderator
 
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
DMCA = Digital Millenium Copyright Act. It applies.

You have a "license" to view the VHS version. If you do not own the DVD, you do not have a license to view the DVD version.

Yup.

Same thing goes for cassette tapes vs. CDs

amish
 
Originally posted by: ptyes
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
DMCA = Digital Millenium Copyright Act. It applies.

You have a "license" to view the VHS version. If you do not own the DVD, you do not have a license to view the DVD version.

Screw that. They A) don't have the money to go after you, and B) How would they find you out, and C) Don't you think they have bigger fish to catch than you?

So, because you wont get a better job, dont think you will get caught, and think you are too insignificant a person to actually have to follow the law you think this is something you should be doing.

EDIT: Im an idiot. Sorry starwarsdad!
 
OK - when I said lets discount the DMCA, I was referring to the section that disallows "breaking" encyption, etc. Are there any precedents or case histories on this type of thing though. I only own the physical media and not the content that is on it, I accept that. But why would my "license of use" preclude this type of activity.
 
Originally posted by: starwarsdad
OK - when I said lets discount the DMCA, I was referring to the section that disallows "breaking" encyption, etc. Are there any precedents or case histories on this type of thing though. I only own the physical media and not the content that is on it, I accept that. But why would my "license of use" preclude this type of activity.

You have a license to view the material on the media you purchased. DVDs are not VHS tapes. They dont usually have the same content. You do not have a license to view the content of DVDs you do not own.
 
OK - I get all of this info when I read and agree to a EULA on software. When did I agree to this with video media? What constitutes unlawful reproduction? Can you point me to a statute on this?
 
Originally posted by: starwarsdad
OK - I get all of this info when I read and agree to a EULA on software. When did I agree to this with video media? What constitutes unlawful reproduction? Can you point me to a statute on this?

Check the FBI warning at the beginning for one.
 
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