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Ripping movies is illegal?

Halvard

Halvard

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 26, 2009
126
0
When I'm going on vacations I usually rip some DVD's on my MacBook with a program called "Handbrake". I use that program becouse then I can put subtitle on it aswell. I do this becouse then I can add the movies to my iPad.

But is that illegal? I mean I have bought the movie and I'm not sharing it with anyone...

And one more question. I'm pretty sure this is illegal (I haven't done it), but can I rent a movie from my local movie rent place and rip them and put them on my MacBook and then deliver them again?
Or is that illegal? I'm pretty sure that is illegal so I haven't done it and I'm not going to unless its legal.

Please delete this post if it is an illegal subject or something like that.
 
You are allowed to rip DVDs that you physically own. You are to delete the ripped DVD as soon as you no longer own the physical disc. Do not share or redistribute the ripped DVD media in anyway. The ripped media must remain on devices you own. You are not allowed to rip DVDs that you rent from Netflix or other rent services. The only part about ripping that is illegal is making the software that rips the DVD. There is nothing wrong with use the software.
 
It ia a gray line. Many people backup their personal videos to have a digital verion for use with their idevices or to preserve the originals from getting damage in the name of fair use

However, while it may be technically illegal, unless you are being blatant about what you are doing, sharing the movie, etc, I wouldn't think you would have much to worry about

As per renting movies and ripping them.....while possible, that is pretty cut and dry illegal...but once again the risk of getting caught is minor
 
Ripping a movie you own is not illegal. It's yours, as long as you don't share it.

Ripping a rented movie is illegal.

These answers are black and white, and there is plenty of gray in between, but basically what I've said is true. You are particularly moral one aren't you? It's monumentally small odds that if you ripped a movie that you did not own that you would run into any trouble.
 
If you ask me, you can do whatever you want with what you own. As long as you don't start making copies to sell or share, then you won't get into trouble with lawyers.

As for ripping rented movies, of course you're not supposed to do that, but if no one knows you're doing it...
 
I've never even thought of ripping DVD's that I've rented, but I just asked that question while I had another question on that subject :)

Thank you guys for answering! :)
 
In Norway it's legal to rip movies eve if they are rented, lend at the library or even borrowed from close friends or relatives. As long as you have legal possession of the movie you may copy it for personal use.

That was one of the loopholes they didn't close last time "Åndsverkloven" was up for review. They did however add some clauses on DRM, and the issue with different zones (e.g. for DVDs) are a bit murky, but generally if you copy it for yourself you're in the clear. Sharing those copies with anybody online, though, are just as illegal in Norway as the rest of the world.

Look up some of the articles/interviews with Jon Bing on the subject. He's one of the leading experts on legal matters in the digital world, at least in Norway.
 
It's not a gray area. Ripping a movie is legal. Circumventing DRM, even on disks you've bought, is illegal in the US under the DMCA. Other countries have different laws.

I have no moral qualms about ripping my own DVDs to view in iTunes or on an iPod, but I don't share the rips.

No one has been prosecuted for backing up their own DVDs.
 
plinden said:
It's not a gray area. Ripping a movie is legal. Circumventing DRM, even on disks you've bought, is illegal in the US under the DMCA. Other countries have different laws.

I have no moral qualms about ripping my own DVDs to view in iTunes or on an iPod, but I don't share the rips.

No one has been prosecuted for backing up their own DVDs.
Click to expand...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there an exception made for circumventing CSS in the 2010 DMCA review?

Edit: Got it, not sure if it covers personal use of your own DVDs but here is the text
(1) Motion pictures on DVDs that are lawfully made and acquired and that are protected by the Content Scrambling System when circumvention is accomplished solely in order to accomplish the incorporation of short portions of motion pictures into new works for the purpose of criticism or comment, and where the person engaging in circumvention believes and has reasonable grounds for believing that circumvention is necessary to fulfill the purpose of the use in the following instances:

(i) Educational uses by college and university professors and by college and university film and media studies students;

(ii) Documentary filmmaking;

(iii) Noncommercial videos
Click to expand...
 
Guiyon said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there an exception made for circumventing CSS in the 2010 DMCA review?

Edit: Got it, not sure if it covers personal use of your own DVDs but here is the text
Click to expand...

I don't believe it does cover personal use from the text in your post.

I'm really not sure where people are getting there info from with regards to this issue being legal because it certainly isn't (or wasn't) in the vast majority of the world (unless things have changed in the last 18 months). It would also be helpful if posters would specify which country their stated law is referring to. One must remember that each country has their own laws and some countries don't even have any laws at all.

Changing the topic slightly, I don't think anyone has ever been lynched for making their own personal copies. The people that the film companies and government agencies are after are those who illegally distribute the movies.
 
Mitthrawnuruodo said:
In Norway it's legal to rip movies eve if they are rented, lend at the library or even borrowed from close friends or relatives. As long as you have legal possession of the movie you may copy it for personal use.

That was one of the loopholes they didn't close last time "Åndsverkloven" was up for review. They did however add some clauses on DRM, and the issue with different zones (e.g. for DVDs) are a bit murky, but generally if you copy it for yourself you're in the clear. Sharing those copies with anybody online, though, are just as illegal in Norway as the rest of the world.

Look up some of the articles/interviews with Jon Bing on the subject. He's one of the leading experts on legal matters in the digital world, at least in Norway.
Click to expand...

Ahh thank you! :)
I'm from Stavanger so I just follow those rules! :)
I've never had the need to copy the CD, and I don't think I will have that need, but a good thing to know! :)
 
Since it's not really something which is enforced by the law, I suggestion you make a logical decision based on ethics.

If you own the DVD/BD, then I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to consume it in any way you want, as long as it does not involve distribution to others (say, unless you lend them the physical media at the same time).

As for renting, I don't see why you can't consume the media in any way you want, while the physical media is in your possession. After that time, you have no right to consume it, it might as well have been pirated.

Just exercise common sense...
 
I totally agree with you!

Some years ago the law was so it was allowed for people to download pirate movies, but not upload (Its changed now, so both are illegal). So people thought that it was 100% ok to download movies...

Its not always if its legal or not, but also what is the right thing to do..
 
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