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VHS to DVD - Legality question
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Senior User
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Webster, NY, USA
Status:
Offline
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Supposing I bought a VHS widescreen edition of a science-fiction trilogy not available on DVD, is it possible to convert this to DVD from VHS legally (I would not be selling it, pirating it, etc. I actually would buy it on DVD were it available, but a certain man with two first names has not released it on DVD. I fear I will wear out my copy as I watch these quite frequently, and as the version I like isn't even available on VHS anymore I was wondering if there was a legal way for me to convert this to DVD.
Then there is my follow up question. I do not own a DVD burner (only a CD-RW), so is there a service somewhere where you can send in your VHS tapes and have them converted to DVD? If so, can someone give me a URL or other contact infor for the place.
Thank you. And in case I violate any MacNN laws, I ask that you forgive. As I said, I don't even know if what I want to do is legal (although I don't see why it wouldn't be), but who know with our legal system.
Peace,
O
B unce!
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Forum Regular
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Potemkin village
Status:
Offline
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I'll tag this with caveat that I ain't no lawyer.
On your first question, my understanding is that your fair use rights as a consumer allow you to make a backup of copyrighted material that you own. I don't believe there are stipulations on what shape and form that backup takes, so you are within your rights to tape a CD or shift a VHS video onto DVD. And for that matter -- and despite the squealing record companies and digital rights management nutters -- rip your CDs as MP3s and upload them to your iPod.
Key in all this is that you must own the original. That's how Apple plays the iPod -- it discourages you from going the Napster/Limewire route ("Don't steal music") while making it a bit tricky for your average Joe to upload files to his iPod and then download them to his buddy's Mac. But it's perfectly happy to equip iTunes to rip CDs.
On the second question, good luck. Finding a place to convert your stuff could be difficult, mainly because of the ownership issue. How do they know you own the tape and that you want the DVD for backup only? They don't. I'm sure there are places that'll do it for you, but many will politely decline if copyrighted material is involved.
<small>[ 06-25-2002, 03:08 PM: Message edited by: Joost ]</small>
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He that will eat the kernel must crack the nut.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Salt Lake City, UT USA
Status:
Offline
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There is actually a common mis-conception that because you have purchased a copyrighted material, you have the right to make a back up of this material.
This really only applies with software, and only in cases where the license agreement states that you are allowed to make a backup copy of the software.
People often assume and freely apply this to Video Games they own. Audio is a little bit different as it is protected by the Audio Home Recording act, which, as far as I'm aware protects your right to make copies of music from other tapes etc etc.
I'm uncertain how law currently falls with online music sharing, which is why I still do it. I haven't seen any laws that prohibit private, free, distribution. I would love for someone to show me the specific laws which note these things. (Although It would mean the destruction of a portion of my music library, I would rather be following the law.)
-A
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2008 iMac 3.06 Ghz, 2GB Memory, GeForce 8800, 500GB HD, SuperDrive
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