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Can You Be Sued For Helping Clients Rip DVDs?

Posted by timothy on from the ooh-jah-you-betcha-probly dept.

DRMer writes "CE Pro has a series of stories that tries to untangle the legalities of DVD ripping in light of the recent RealDVD announcement from RealNetworks. In one of the stories, EFF Attorney Fred von Lohmann discusses the potential liability of those who resell or install DVD-ripping machines (the courts have yet to rule). Another article provides a rather amusing look at how manufacturers justify the legality of their products. Here's one example: 'We are just like Microsoft Vista that does not have a CSS [Content Scramble System] license.'"

3 of 231 comments (clear)

  1. Re:right vs wrong and legal vs illegal by Lord_Frederick · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The issue is that different people will give different answers for both 1 and 2.

  2. Location, location, location by phorm · · Score: 4, Interesting

    And in both cases, a lot of this seems to depend on where you live.

    In North America, Canada seems safer, but there's also a push to hit us with new laws that would be even more draconian than those in the US.

    Personally, if person X wants to pay person Y $1.50 to copy his (bought and paid for) "Little Mermaid" DVD so that the kids don't ruin the original, why shouldn't he be able to?

  3. Re:Yes by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You don't own it.... you own a license to view what's on the disk. See how they get you there.

    I retain right of first sale on DVDs, CDs, and books.

    I own the disk, and while I'm limited in what I can do with its contents .... this "license to view what's one the disk" argument is fallacious. Don't buy into the unproven claims of the *AAs. This is more than just what they claim they've licensed you to do.

    Cheers

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.