MPAA Makes Unauthorized Copies of DVD

An anonymous reader writes "There's a story on ArsTechnica about how the MPAA has admitted that they made unauthorized copies of a movie. That in itself is a bit of tasty hypocrisy, but if it turns out that they ripped a DVD, then the MPAA could find themselves in violation of the DMCA." From the article: "According to Mark Lemley, a professor at the Stanford Law School, the MPAA may have been within its rights to make copies of the film. Given that the MPAA's intent isn't financial gain and that the whole situation may rise above the level of trading barbs through the media into legal action, making a copy may be justified. Personally, I can't see any justification for an organization such as the MPAA ignoring a directive from a copyright owner, but IANAL." Update: 01/24 19:52 GMT by Z : Made title more accurate.

Comments

What do the courts say?

[flyinwhitey]

"He wasn't stalking them, he was filming them. He is a legitimate film maker."

This has been ruled on then? The case has been decided?

"IANAL" but I'll inject my legal commentary anyway

"but I believe that it has been held up in the courts many times that you have no expectations of privacy in a public place."

What does that have to do with stalking?