News

U.S. Copyright Office Says No DVDs on iPods

Monday, November 27th, 2006 at 12:10 PM - by

New copyright exemptions go into effect in the United States on November 27, but the proposed exemptions to allow copying commercial DVDs to portable media players, like Apple's iPod, were rejected. Even though consumers won't be allowed to copy DVDs for personal use, film professors can use software to copy movie clips from the discs for educational use.

The blind can now use applications that hack into and read copy protected books, and its also okay to crack the software on cell phones so they can be used with other carrier services.

Consumers have been operating outside the law when copying DVDs to their computers so they can watch movies on iPods and other portable media players. In contrast, they have been able to copy music CDs for some time now. Movie studios, however, have been strongly opposed to copying films for fear of losing revenue.

The new copyright exemptions are in effect for three years. Additional information about the exemptions is available at the U.S Copyright Web site.

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burreyeann said:

member since 25 Feb 2005 with 1125 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:17 pm

Music is copyrighted, yet I can make a personal copy legally. When I purchase a DVD, am I buying the DVD and it's contents - or just renting it - since they are both copyrighted material.

Just because the technology that we now use to view copyrighted material, (i.e. DVD player, computer, Video iPod, or even the Zune) doesn't change the fact that your time shifting when and where you want to view your purchase.

Here's a quote from http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-protect.html:

Quote:
What does copyright protect?

Copyright, a form of intellectual property law, protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture. Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed.

Systems are (VHS Tape vs. Hard Drive) and methods of operation are (VCR vs. iPod).

We are able to purchase copyrighted material right now-music-and legally make a fair use copy of it to listen to on any device capable of playing it. If we can do this with music-why not movies?

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A guest said: (hide)

Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:09 pm

It's bizarre - space and time shifting isn't infringement, yet it's illegal for protected (e.g. DVD) content under the DMCA.

Annoyingly, the DMCA bans "circumvention" of copy protection technology (e.g. the CSS encryption and Macrovision scrambling on DVD movies) regardless of whether it's for infringing or non-infringing purposes.

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burreyeann said:

member since 25 Feb 2005 with 1125 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Tue Nov 28, 2006 6:17 am

Well then, I say it's time to change this law.

I can make a back-up of copyrighted software, music, even books. Yet "THE ALMIGHTY MOVIE" (DVD) can't be copied.

Our laws are made by the people, for the people. Take a stance against big corporations and get this law thrown out - so we can enjoy our Fair Use Privileges!

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