• The Mac-Forums Community Guidelines (linked at the top of every forum) are very clear, we respect US law and court precedence when it comes to legality of activity.

    Therefore to clarify:
    • You may not discuss breaking DVD or BluRay encryption, copying, or "ripping" commercial, copy-protected DVDs.
    • This includes DVDs or BluRays you own. Even if you own the DVD or BluRay, it is still technically illegal under the DMCA to break the encryption. While some may argue otherwise, until the law is rewritten or the US Supreme Court strikes it down, we will adhere to the current intent of the law.
    • You may discuss ripping or copying unprotected movies or homemade DVDs.
    • You may discuss ripping or copying tools in the context that they are used for legal purposes as outlined in this post.

Ripping Home DVDs

V

Vorksholk


Joined
Apr 17, 2010
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Hello, I know that ripping a DVD that is copyrighted is illegal due to certain restrictions in the, but I was wondering about something different.

I am recording home VHS's to DVDs for myself and friends (kids videos) and I was wondering, is it illegal to then rip the data off the disc and turn it into a file such as AVI or MP4? I didn't think so, but I just wanted to confirm. :) :)
 
bobtomay

bobtomay

,
Retired Staff
Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
26,561
Reaction score
677
Points
113
Location
Texas, where else?
Your Mac's Specs
15" MBP '06 2.33 C2D 4GB 10.7; 13" MBA '14 1.8 i7 8GB 10.11; 21" iMac '13 2.9 i5 8GB 10.11; 6S
Am no lawyer and have no idea what you mean by "home" VHSs.

To the best of my limited understanding:

Copying of DVDs in and of itself for personal use is not against the law. What is against the law that the movie studios managed to get through congress is breaking encryption set up to prevent your fair use.

The copying of copyrighted material and then turning around and selling or even giving copies to others for free, would be against copyright laws.

If these "home" VHSs are videos you and/or your friends have taken, you can make all the copies and do whatever you want with it. If you're talking about commercial copyrighted material, see above.
 
Kash

Kash


Joined
Dec 3, 2006
Messages
9,383
Reaction score
417
Points
83
Location
Irvine, CA
Your Mac's Specs
Black Macbook C2D 2GHz 3GB RAM 250GB HD iPhone 4 iPad 3G
bob, he says the videos are of some kids. So in other words, home movies.

Vork, yes it's ok to rip those DVDs to AVI or MP4. I suggest the program Handbrake
 
OP
V

Vorksholk


Joined
Apr 17, 2010
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Thank you! I thought it was so, but I was not sure if using such programs at all was illegal, or if it was just using it to circumvent the dvd encryption that was illegal. Thank you for clearing this up, I thought it was so.
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top