VHS to DVD - legal?

Xbigman

I've been copying all my VHS stuff onto DVD recently and I have a question. I have loads of pre recorded VHS tapes which I want to copy over onto DVD for myself. I intend to keep the VHS originals (in the loft) so I viewed this the same as making back up copies of computer software.
I think this is legal as its not for resale. Am I right?
Regards



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chrisxr2

I am sure that if you have the original copy of something then you are legallyentitled to have a back up copy. I am sure someone more legal minded will confirm this. This is essentially the same as having an album on cd and then putting it onto your ipod.

Tony_H_3

Making copies of VHS to DVD is NOT legal. At the begining of each VHS tape will be the licensing agreement you will notice that amongst other things you are NOT permitted to make copies.

With SOME audio tapes/cd's you are right to assume that you can make copies for personal use, but this is not the case with movies. This is not to say that people don't do it but you should be careful. I think it would be most unlikely that the owners of the copyright would pursue this line of copying but they could & would have the legal right to do so!!

Xbigman

OK. I'm glad that is clarified. I've only bought stuff on DVD in the last year so everything I wanted to copy is, or has, been on the telly. It will just take longer to get it all back again.
Regards



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weatherwax_2

I've been copying all my VHS stuff onto DVD recently and I have a question. I have loads of pre recorded VHS tapes which I want to copy over onto DVD for myself.

Xbigman, I'd love to do this. How do you do it? I recall reading something about the method quite a while back on other sites, but the info turned my brain into instant putty.

Unless it's become radically easier, I'll have to put it on the back-burner (oops, bit of an awful pun), but I'm living in hope.

robnye

weatherwax wrote:

Xbigman, I'd love to do this. How do you do it? I recall reading something about the method quite a while back on other sites, but the info turned my brain into instant putty.

Unless it's become radically easier, I'll have to put it on the back-burner (oops, bit of an awful pun), but I'm living in hope.

similarly i would like to copy old home movies to dvd.... but i havent a clue.....

Xbigman

I bought a Bush VCR / DVD combi from Argos in the January sales (£200 instead of £300). You put in the VHS tape, then put in a blank DVD, then find the point on the VHS you want to start copying from, then press copy. You can hit the pause button and the DVD stops recording whilst you forward the VHS (to cut out adverts etc).

DVD technology isn't perfect and you get an odd failure and need to do it again, but it couldn't be simpler.

Home movie to DVD or VHS. Try your local camera shop. They usually have a transfer service but you have to pay for it. No idea on costs I'm afraid.
Regards



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Mattjimf

It may not be 100% legal, but the police won't do anything unless you are selling them on. One of my friends had a visit from the cops over alleged hard core material, he had loads of stuff he'd copied from VHS to DVD and they said as long as he wasn't selling it, they weren't interested.