[Publib] Backup copies

[Scott Zimmer]

I looked into it a few days ago.  Note that I am not a lawyer, but from what
I could tell, HAVING a backup copy is not precisely illegal -- though I'm
sure the MPAA would beg to differ.  What is illegal according to the DMCA is
part of the process of MAKING the backup copy.

Most commercial dvds (I mean major studio releases, not small-scale
instructional films about crafts & such) are encrypted to prevent piracy.
When you make a copy, you must use some kind of software to decrypt the dvd
(just as a dvd player decrypts it while playing it).  Breaking the
encryption to make a copy is the illegal part.

For what it's worth,

sz

On 2/16/07, JULIE GOYETTE <julie.goyette at highpointnc.gov> wrote:
>
>  I'm curious to know whether anyone out there has investigated the
> possibility of keeping a backup of DVDs.  I'm not talking about every DVD in
> the collection, just the expensive ones, parts of sets, etc.  Midwest Tapes
> has replacements for some DVDs but not everything.
>
> It's probably not allowed under fair use, but I thought I'd see if anyone
> out there has researched the possibility.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Julie Goyette
> Media Arts Supervisor
> Readers' Services Division
> High Point Public Library
> 901 North Main Street
> PO Box 2530
> High Point, NC  27261
> 336-883-3093
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Publib mailing list
> Publib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib
>
>


-- 
Scott Zimmer, Director
Le Mars Public Library
46 1st St SW
Le Mars, IA 51031
Phone: 712-546-5004
Fax: 712-546-5797
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