Copying DVDs...

[Whiternoise]

so what your saying is that , its still illegal to copy, yet not illegal to create and sell software that allows copyign of dvd's and create baclups?

well surely that would mean they are encoraging copying.

Clearly they are aware of the market for DVD copying software, i'm sure they know that most of their users will be using it to rip copyrighted DVDs to create "backups". However, it is against their EULA and of course against the law to use Nero to copy the latest Batman DVD.

On the other side, Nero is good for burning just about everything else. Some universities require theses and so on to be given in on DVDs. Some engineering courses require you to submit massive CAD files that would be impossible to email so you have to send in a DVD. A lot of camcorders still use DVDs to store data (though they're quickly being phased out by SSDs). Consequently film makers and photographers, both amateur, semi pro and pro need DVDs to back up their photos, send out preview copies of films, etc. Wedding togs often send out a taster DVD so people can pick the photos they want from the day (it's cheaper than printing a proof book).

This is the case with practically anything you can buy. If i bought a chainsaw and used it to cut down some trees, no problem. If i went on a supermarket rampage with it, i'd be jailed for life. Ultimately it's you exercising your free will.

If the law banned everything that could be used for an illegal purpose, we wouldn't be allowed out of our houses.

[Saracen]

I always thought that it is OK to copy for personal use and I know that in many countries Europe that is the case. But in most places I presume same in UK is that it is illegal to bypass the protection software on the DVDs and commercial DVDs have it.

That's one of the tricky bits about copyright law - international conventions (Berne, etc) mean that the bulk of the provisions are similar, but there are certainly bits that are different.

Personally, when I talk about copyright law, being UK-based, I mean UK law. I try to point that out regularly, but don't always mention it.

What you can and can't do for personal use (the "fair use" or "fair dealing" exemptions) vary. In the UK, an essential backup of software made by a legitimate user is legal, but only because that specific scenario has been made so. It doesn't, unfortunately, extend to other media, like films on DVD or to music CDs.

However, there's also a provision in UK copyright law about getting round "technological measures" that protect digital material being specifically illegal. I've never seen a categoric answer as the whether it's still illegal to get round technological measures if the copy you're creating by doing so is legal.

However, in general, making copies of films and music, without the copyright owner's consent, is technically illegal in the UK. Other countries vary, but then, some other countries implemented a small levy on all blank media to raise funds to compensate copyright owners for such "personal" uses, and the UK didn't. Of course, that means that in those countries, you pay that levy on blank media even if the use you put the media to doesn't involve anyone else's copyright. So they get you, one way or the other.

[Saracen]

so what your saying is that , its still illegal to copy, yet not illegal to create and sell software that allows copyign of dvd's and create baclups?

well surely that would mean they are encoraging copying.

As others have said, there's nothing illegal about copying in itself, or encouraging it, because what you're copying could be perfectly legal. It only becomes a problem if the material is copyright protected and you have neither permission from the rights owner or are using a statutory exemption.

I can make and/or legally copy a DVD of my own work, and if /I give you permission, you could legally copy it too ... but only if I give permission. Software manufacturers aren't responsible if users use legal software with legitimate legal uses illegally. If their software didn't have a legal purpose, such as something custom-designed for an explicitly illegal purpose, like cracking Sky encryption, it might be different, but the likes of Nero aren't in that category.

[joelietz]

Yes, you have to steer clear of copywritten material if you're going to make copies but there are a ton of places where one can get dvd duplicator equipment. If you're a musician or a member of a theater group or something and you want to copy your performances then you can certainly do that in volume with the right equipment because you own the copyright.

People need to know the difference between something being illegal, and something that will get you prosecuted.

The standard definition of piracy in terms of the fuzz is you mulitple copies that you can sell or no licenced copy.

Eg if you had a dvd and copy on your nas. They are going to be hard pushed to nail you with anything, as this is probably a licence issue, hence a civil matter. However if you had a dvd and two pirated copies of the same DVD, you would be swimming up poo lane with your tongue as a paddle.

Just use common sense. Use what you have paid for, and pay for what you use.