[mythtv-users] RE: Problems with DVD rip

[Michael T. Dean]

Johnathon Meichtry wrote:

> If your DVD-ROM drive in your PC has the DVD logo on it then I imagine 
> you are using an official licensed DVD player and the manufacturer 
> should have paid the approriate royalties to the DVD licensing group.

Licensed with the DVD FLLC (DVD Format/Logo Licensing Corporation - 
http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp and 
http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/nolise/dvdlogo2.htm ) but not with the DVD CCA 
(DVD Copy Control Association - http://www.dvdcca.org/ and 
http://www.dvdcca.org/css/ ).  The DVD CCA license is the one required 
to play back CSS-encrypted material.   (Considering how many licenses a 
DVD player requires, it's amazing they're affordable at all.  Especially 
when you consider some of those licenses mean nothing.  The DVD FLLC is 
licensing the use of the DVD Format/Logo for material that complies with 
the DVD format established by the DVD Forum.  But, the DVD Forum is a 
/self-appointed/ administrator of the DVD format.  Wouldn't it be nice 
to vote yourself in charge of something and start charging license fees 
for the use of that something.)

> The software you use to decrypt and play it is a different story 
> altogether i.e. legal vs. illegal use of deCSS etc.

And the use of deCSS is only illegal (in the US--and unlicensed in other 
countries (which may mean illegal in those countries, too)) because 
deCSS is not a DVD CCA-licensed software product.

> There is also a very very big difference between ripping DVD's to put 
> in your own Myth library and ripping to share with everyone else.

Ethically, yes.  Legally (in the US), it's still a federal felony 
offense because you are circumventing technological measures designed to 
protect copyrighted material--a direct violation of the DMCA.  Too bad 
ethics have little to do with legality.

>   My advice is not to be shy and aggresively rip all your DVD's and 
> get them into your Myth library as it totally changes the whole 
> experience.  But never share them and make sure the computer where you 
> host your ripped mpgs are totally cut off from the net i..e show 
> intent that you are doing it for the right reasons.
>
> If you remember that you own the physical media but not the content 
> and to always look out for the interests of the copyright holder then 
> you pretty much can't go wrong.  Thats my 2 cents worth anyway.

Good advice, but it doesn't change the legality of the act...  ;)  Of 
course, I've never played a DVD on my Myth box because doing so would be 
illegal, but if I had, I would agree with you that it makes watching DVD 
movies a better experience because my Myth box gives me full control 
over playback (including timestretch, post-processing quality, picture 
correction, etc.) and the picture I get on my 67" 1080p TV is^H^Hwould 
be much better than that I get from any other DVD player I've ever seen.

> Horray for mplayer/mencoder/vobcopy/decss/mythtv and all the other 
> fantastic tools that have totally changed the way my children view all 
> their DVD's "on-demand" in any room of the house.

Here!  Here!

>
> Johnathon
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Adeff" <adeffs at gmail.com>
> To: <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
> Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2005 12:27 AM
> Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] RE: Problems with DVD rip
>
>
>> On Wednesday 23 November 2005 13:14, Michael T. Dean wrote:
>>
>>> Alex Vishnev wrote:
>>> >Thanks for the advice. I did not know that MADAGASCAR was DRM 
>>> protected.
>>>
>>> Technically, any CSS-protected DVD is DRM-protected, and decrypting 
>>> that
>>> DVD on anything other than a licensed DVD player is a federal felony
>>> offense in the US (Digital Millenium Copyright Act)...
>>>
>>> Mike
>>
>>
>> Civil disobedience. It worked for our founding fathers (subsequently 
>> made
>> illegal by our "elected" officials).
>>
>> Steve
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