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Cyberwalker Tips and Tricks Newsletter - "DVD backup " edition	Andy Walker of Cyberwalker.com
Back up Your DVDs
>>Learn how to protect your DVD library the easy way (Click here to go straight to the VIDEO on the bottom of the page)

 

By Andy Walker
Created: February 9, 2006

I recently did an inventory of my DVD movie collection and realized I had over 100 DVDs - the little library is worth $1500 to $2000. And then I got to thinking I should really protect my investment, by backing them up.

But I discovered it's not as easy as it might seem. After all backing up a music CD is as simple as ripping the songs to MP3 files with a good CD burner. When it comes to commerical DVDs, copying them is a little more difficult.

That's because theU.S. movie studios have a vested interest in making it difficult for you to make copies of a movie. They don't want DVD pirates to create hundreds of illegal copies and sell them on the cheap.

They have invested in anti-copying technology called CSS or Content Scambling System to prevent digital copying of DVD content. CSS technology can be defeated easily, however it is illegal to copy DVDs in many jurisdictions, including in the US and Canada.

However, DVD copying software is largely available. I don't recommend that you break the law, but I do believe you have a right to know what's in the marketplace and the issues that surround topics that are of interest to you.

So let's talk about the issues around copying commerical DVDs.

Is it legal to make a duplicate of a commercial copy-protected DVD?

Not in Canada or the US.

Will you be prosecuted if you duplicate copy-protected DVDs?

That's up to the authorities where you live. It could happen, but generally enforcement targets large scale pirate operations.

Should you be morally allowed to make personal backups?

I think fair use dictates that you should be able to make a back up of a DVD for personal use as you can with other media. And i think the law will evntually swing that way in counrties where it is currently illegal to make DVD copies for personal use.

 

That said, even if it is illegal to copy protected DVDs in your country you can legitimately copy your own DVDs with, for exmaple, your home movies on them.

So what follows is a vidoe that teaches ytou a bit about DVD copying. It's aimed at those that live in jurisdictions where making DVD back-ups is legal. And its provided for informational purposes for those that what to know more about DVD technology and the issues around copying content.

 

 

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