DVDfab - DVD burning software question legality/technical etc!

vader1_2

Hi there,
just received a shiny new Archos 605Wifi and was hoping to burn my DVD`s onto it.
Was recommended DVDfab software which I purchased. I downloaded etc but entered three of my DVD`s got the message that they were CSS protected.

Do I need to use another program to get over this? Any recommendations?

And am I entering into very dodgy legal territory? Not a great lover of doing anything too bad - as I I am a good boy at heart!

Your thoughts/musings are greatly appreciated!

superscaper

The legality is that in the UK you're not allowed to copy DVDs at all into any format (without the copyright holders' permission). Even for personal use or backup.

vader1_2

Thanks for that.
But is it in the same territory as copying your CD`s onto your Ipod etc? My undertsanding is that that is technically illegal too?
However as it is for personal consumption then it would be very rare for a prosecution to take place?

superscaper

vader1 wrote: »

Thanks for that.
But is it in the same territory as copying your CD`s onto your Ipod etc? My undertsanding is that that is technically illegal too?
However as it is for personal consumption then it would be very rare for a prosecution to take place?

I don't think it's quite the same because with music we have an explicit statement by the BPI that they want it to be legal and they have no intention of prosecuting. There's no equivalent statement for the film industry and the very fact that they're deliberately putting copy protection mechanisms in place I think demonstrates their attitude to it. I guess it would be rare if indeed possible for a prosecution for personal use but I think in this case where there's no industry acceptance and you'd have to break copy protection (which is specifically mentioned in the forum rules) I'm not sure it'd be allowed for anyone to post copy protection circumvention methods and/or software.

Millionaire

As superscaper says, I think it's against forum rules to discuss software that breaks copy protection on DVD films.

Regarding Legality of it, yes its classed as illegal, even for personal use.

vader1_2

Oops, sorry!

Many thanks all.

superscaper

vader1 wrote: »

Oops, sorry!

Many thanks all.

Not your fault, I'm not completely sure on the rules over there but you may want to check out www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums they discuss a lot of different media player type stuff.

sra

***Board Guide Note***

Hi
Just deleted a post.

Please bear in mind it's not allowed to discuss how to copying DVD's as it comes under the rules about breaking copy-protection systems (So whether or not it's legal is irrelevant)

Shaunyboy

So how do you legally get films onto a portable video player?

It seems a little bizarre to be able to buy the dvd for £15 but not be able to put it on your portable video player. Am i missing something here?

superscaper

Shaunyboy wrote: »

So how do you legally get films onto a portable video player?

It seems a little bizarre to be able to buy the dvd for £15 but not be able to put it on your portable video player. Am i missing something here?

You can buy films online and I suppose so long as it's within their t&cs download those perfectly legally onto a video player. Or of course copy your own home made DVDs as by definition you have the copyright holders' permission.

Shaunyboy

superscaper wrote: »

You can buy films online

Where can you buy films online?

All the sites I can see are for music not films.

Any ideas?