[Legally] Ripping HD DVDs?

Is it possible to rip HD DVDs and store them on a hard drive? I think the only real option would be the XBOX 360 HD DVD add-on, which can be used on a PC.


I'm going build an HTPC as soon as my projector is finished and I would like to be able to store my movies on it.

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[Post edited by Fumbled_Revolution on May 18, 2008]

Hey FR... well, have you bought all of the HD DVDs you intend to 'rip' - ? Event then, is it legal where you live? Have you received AUTHORIZATION to make a 'copy'?

Remember, every DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-ray has a forced-view FBI warning before the program starts. We've discussed this issue a few times here over the past few years, like on THIS THREAD - scroll down and see the links I gave to the Digital Millenium Copyright Act etc.



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-JIMI McLovin (the Voodoo Child)

I'm not looking to copy them, I just want to have all my movies saved on my HTPC (once it's completed) so anyone can watch them from any computer on my home network. This is also going to help me once I get my backyard screen completed (I'm also a member at BackYardTheater.com). With all my movies on my PC, I won't have to take my STB, 360 or PS3 and the movie outside... all I'll need it my PC.

Is it illegal to have backup copies of movies I have purchased on my computer?

If you are making a DIGITAL copy in some form (even for backup of a disc you purchased), well, I believe that's now illegal under the newer laws (DMCA etc).

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-JIMI McLovin (the Voodoo Child)

You've got to me kidding me! I can't even backup my own property anymore???

You can only make a 'back up digital' copy -IF- you have 'authorization', and/or if it's legal in your country. This is to protect the copyright holder from uncontrolled copies being made (AND PERHAPS DISTRIBUTED).

So, do you specifically have the authorization to make digital back-up copies of HD DVDs, Blu-ray, DVDs, etc...? If not, then it's technically illegal, although the equipment/software exists to do so, if one desires. Please consult your lawyer.

> DMCA - all the info you need

> DRM - Digital Rights Management

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-JIMI McLovin (the Voodoo Child)

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[Post edited by Love Hendrix! on May 18, 2008]

http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvdhd.html

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[Post edited by BruceAmes on May 18, 2008]

Then why does Die Hard 4 come with a digital copy you can put on your computer? Seems odd they'd break the rules that the DMCA put in place to protect them.

EDIT: What about people that own an iPod or Zune where one of its sole functions is to COPY digital media? If we are not allowed to COPY anything we own, then why can we do it in the first place via our iPods or Zunes? Not to mention, wouldn't this put Microsoft and Apple in a leagilty issue since their software allows us to do so? In fact, Windows media player lets me ripp any CD I own, thus making a COPY onto my hard-drive. Wouldn't this put Microsoft and Apple in as much guilt as the guy copying the media since they are doing nothing to protect the artists from anyone copying the media to a storage device in the first place? Sounds to me like there are a few loopholes in the DMCAs rules than one is led to believe.

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[Post edited by Tim Raynor on May 19, 2008]

Tim, if you remove the DRM on that "digital copy" then you would be breaking the law. Same with music bought from iTunes. Like you, when I first heard of these "digital copy" features, I was thinking "finally - studios are getting less restrictive with DRM and including an unprotected SD copy of their movie along with the Blu-ray we paid for!". Unfortunately, this isn't the case.

This mess will only get worse when downloading eventually becomes more popular.

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Windows media player lets me ripp any CD I own, thus making a COPY onto my hard-drive.

WMP only lets you rip and copy CDs without DRM or other protection - thus complying with the DMCA.

Edit: I would add that even creating or authoring software to remove DRM in order to copy HD DVDs (for example) is illegal in the USA and many other countries.

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[Post edited by Skyhawk on May 19, 2008]

Yes. DVDFab Platinum can rip HD DVD's. But you're gonna be looking at roughly 25GB of space PER movie. That's a little steep if you ask me. And it takes a long time. I used my Xbox HD DVD drive to rip Clerks 2 just to see how long it would take and how much space it would take up. The rip took about 40 minutes and it was 23.8GB. If you use Vista, you can pluch your Xbox HD DVD drive right into a USB slot and it works fine.

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This mess will only get worse when downloading eventually becomes more popular.

Uhm, downloading music free of DRM is the norm from iTunes, Yahoo, and the Zune Marketplace. Once video gets as popular as music downloads, the same thing will happen.

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Uhm, downloading music free of DRM is the norm from iTunes, Yahoo, and the Zune Marketplace. Once video gets as popular as music downloads, the same thing will happen.

And that's exactly what I've been getting at, and everytime I ask, I get the common black & white answers from Hawk or anyone who agrees with him. I've gone over the rules myself and NO it's not 100% clear as it definately contains loopholes which leave room for exceptions to the rules.

If we go by the black & white view that Hawk and a few others have about the DRM rules, then we absolutely CAN NOT COPY ANYTHING WE OWN. So, then, why do our big software companies give us the software and equipment to do so? It soesn't make a lot of sense if you ask me.

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Uhm, downloading music free of DRM is the norm from iTunes, Yahoo, and the Zune Marketplace. Once video gets as popular as music downloads, the same thing will happen.

The norm? LOL ... and movies only if Indie film makers/studios choose to do so: http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/10/15/itunes-plus-drm-free-tracks-expanding-dropping-to-99-cents
And to think, music was DRM free BEFORE music downloading ever began, while movies had forms of copy protection BEFORE downloading ever began. And you think Disney, Universal, and Sony will be offering DRM-free movies in the foreseeable future?

Tim, the DMCA is very clear in what you can copy and what you can't. If the copying involves the bypassing, reverse engineering, removal, or disabling of DRM or other copy protection, it is illegal (DVD movies for example).

If the copying does not require the removal or disabling of copy protection (CD music for example), you can make copies for restricted uses, such as for backup purposes.

If you have difficulty interpreting this legislation and think it all shades of gray, a quick review of cases related to the DMCA shows that it's a pretty black & white distinction for Amercan judges and the court system. Which I'm afraid is what counts.

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[Post edited by Skyhawk on May 20, 2008]

Fumbled Rev, when your ready to go with you PC, give me a holler...

It's really easy to do.

Make sure you PC is at least a Dual Core, 3 Gigs or more of Ram, try and stick with XP Prof, HD compatible video card (ATI HD2600 or higher, GeForce 8800 or newer). HD DVD Drive(XBOX 360 unit works well), and a BR Drive(LG or ASUS make a combo BR/DVD-DL for $150). Oh yeah Cyberlink HD. Oh shoot forgot about audio, Creative does make a true 7.1 HD sound card, but I'm still using my SPDIF output for AC3 5.1 of 6.1.

Vista is a Memory Pig. Not really needed, Xp does a great job of handling HD video. If you do decide to go Vista, go Home Premium, but turn off Windows defender(option should be still available at least it was when I ran trial for MS) Oh yeah at least 4 Gigs of Ram!

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[Post edited by ReaggieP on May 20, 2008]

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And you think Disney, Universal, and Sony will be offering DRM-free movies in the foreseeable future?

Well, it's a good thing most people are a little more progressive than you are Hawk. I'm sure that's what most people said when things like iTunes and the Zune Marketplace started showing up with downloadable music. It'll happen. It's the natural progression of things.

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Well, it's a good thing most people are a little more progressive than you are Hawk.

Don't shoot the messenger dude. CDs don't even have DRM, and much if not most of their download counterparts do. That's a fact. Unlike CD format, all major studio DVD movies have DRM, and it's been historically important to them. Any increase in the popularity of downloading movies will only increase the studios' perceived need of protecting their software.

If you think the removal of DRM or other means of copy protection from movie media is "progressive", I suggest you take it up with the studios themselves, as I have not control over them.

Spoonard, I don't think your "progressive" defense will mean much inside a court room... (well, that's if you ever get caught).

The point being - don't deny it now - is that you have not received AUTHORIZATION to make a digital copy (regardless of your reasoning), and the laws are there to protect the copyright holder of the content. Unauthorized copies can turn into unauthorized distribution, which means the original copyright holder (and the distributor) will not be compensated for those 'unauthorized' backup digital copies.



And another thing... that FBI WARNING is there to remind you cannot play 'ignorant' if ever caught. The warning is on the outside of the disc packaging, the disc itself (usually), and is a forced-view on the TV screen whenever you play the disc. So, you've been warned.

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-JIMI McLovin (the Voodoo Child)

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[Post edited by Love Hendrix! on May 20, 2008]

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Spoonard, I don't think your "progressive" defense will mean much inside a court room... (well, that's if you ever get caught).

I will NEVER get caught simply ripping an HD DVD, SD DVD or a DRM protected CD. There is no way to mintor that on a computer that has no internet connection (Which is my rig I use for testing/playing with malicious things!)

But that's besides the point here. My point was that in much the same manner as music, video will also become DRM free in the future. What different path will online video sales follow that is so different than digital music?

Thanks for the tip Reaggie! I think I may take you up on your offer

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Fumbled Rev, when your ready to go with you PC, give me a holler...

It's really easy to do.

Make sure you PC is at least a Dual Core, 3 Gigs or more of Ram, try and stick with XP Prof, HD compatible video card (ATI HD2600 or higher, GeForce 8800 or newer). HD DVD Drive(XBOX 360 unit works well), and a BR Drive(LG or ASUS make a combo BR/DVD-DL for $150). Oh yeah Cyberlink HD. Oh shoot forgot about audio, Creative does make a true 7.1 HD sound card, but I'm still using my SPDIF output for AC3 5.1 of 6.1.

Vista is a Memory Pig. Not really needed, Xp does a great job of handling HD video. If you do decide to go Vista, go Home Premium, but turn off Windows defender(option should be still available at least it was when I ran trial for MS) Oh yeah at least 4 Gigs of Ram!

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My point was that in much the same manner as music, video will also become DRM free in the future. What different

What is different is that, generally speaking, music has never had copy protection (save a few experiments on CD "Sony esp.", and SACD/DVD-A). while movies have always had some form of copy protection. As the resolution of the content increases, there seems to be a greater influence to using some form of copy protection.

I see no signs of studios willing to let totally DRM-free HD movies into the wild. In fact, recently a studio or two was influenced in their HD format choice because of the extra layer of DRM offered! That's certainly not a sign that any major studio will be removing DRM from their media any time soon (or in the foreseeable future as I said).

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What is different is that, generally speaking, music has never had copy protection

Well, I was speaking in terms of digital music distribution here, which has up until recently has ALWAYS had some form of DRM or another.

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[Post edited by spoonard on May 21, 2008]