Multimedia forum: Is it legal to make backup copies of my purchased DVDs and Blu-rays?

In short, it IS legal to make an "archival" copy of any DVD/CD content that you've legally purchased/acquired the rights to.

The terms of use of the subject content is what you must adhere to.

Take a look at a Microsoft Office or Win 7 DVD. It states: "Do NOT lend or make "ILLEGAL" copies of this disc". It does NOT state that you cannot make a copy (a legal one~ as a rightful license owner)

The key, is that a user adhere to the user license for/to the software/content that he/she purchases the right(s) to, and protecting it from illegal distribution/use.

Make a copy, and keep (archive) it safely stored away, and not only are you insuring your continued rights to the content but making a prudent decision in protecting your right long-term.

I seem to remember about you being able to take your disc to Best Buy, and they would make a "legal" copy for you for something like 10 bucks. Now let the people that have a better memory than me chime in.

Legal or illegal--it's a mess. Forget trying to figure it out. Most people don't care and go by their own moral compass. The movie companies just want to make money off of you, so they want you to keep buying the movie. They wanted you to buy it on VHS. Then buy it again when the better-quality DVD arrived. And buy it again when Blu-Ray arrived. And buy it again when you want it on your iPad. And buy it again when your disc gets damaged. When a Blu-Ray movie costs $25 to buy yet you can burn your own Blu-Ray disc and put it in a case for as little as $1.00 (in low, "home" volume), imagine how cheap it is for them to make hundreds of thousands of copies (or millions).

That's not a reason to steal a copy of a movie that you don't own, but if you believe it's fair to make a copy for your own use and protection of the original, what's wrong with that?

I have always made copies of my digital music CDs for use on my computers media players and to use in my cars etc. To protect myself agains theft, wear and tear. The software to do this had always been readily However, when it comes to movies the same can not be said. Where can I find such software that actually works?
Please let me know as between my dogs & kids, keeping these movies has become an extremely expensive endeavor.

In a word, Yes; you can legally make a backup copy of the movie you purchased. As long as it is for personal use. As in, making a copy to use, for yourself, and storing the original disc away. As you mentioned with records. Where it becomes illegal is if you were to sell, or even give away, the copy of the movie.

There is software available and everyone has their favorite program and/or method. The best thing to do is do a search and see what's available, test some, and see what works for you. Most software has a 15 or 30 day trial available. I don't think CNET would like it if I gave you links to any copying software.

I have often wondered the same thing and would like to know as well. I can tell you that I use a program called DVDFab to do just that. When my son was born he loved to watch Finding Nemo over and over and over. One day he figured out how to open the DVD case and broke the disc. As soon as I bought a new movie the first thing I did was googled a way to back up the dvd's so this would not happen again. Is it legal, I have no idea, but I figure I paid for the movie to begin with and as long as I am not distrubuting copies to the general public I should be able to do what I want with MY stuff.

My suggestion would be to look up ther Millenium Digital Rights laws regarding copyright. But, to correct something you said, you do not "purchase" a movie anymore. You "license" it and there should be a copy of this somewhere on the jacket of the DVD. It's just like software. You think you go to the store and "buy" software, but you are actually licensing it. Read this: http://www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf

A long time ago, in the 1960's I remember it was technically illegal to take a book in the library, make photo copies of a few pages and then return the book to the shelves. I guess you were supposed to properly borrow the book from the library and use it at home to read and take notes from or just use the book in the library. Today, with the invention of computer systems that can hold libraries of information, things are not so clear.

My suggestion though is to go ahead and make your copy but do NOT leave it on your computer or anywhere that anyone else can see it. Remember, though, that if there are any bits of software on the disc preventing copying, you cannot legally defeat those protections. It's all in the DMCA.

It was one thing when a person would buy a book, read the book and then give the book to a friend to read. But, with Peer-to-Peer, you could allow millions to read it and that would be a loss for the publishers and the writers. While people think they have the right to do with whatever they "think" they bought, they are wrond and the people getting hurt are themselves because eventually they will have to raise prices and it would mean less money and incentive for the creative people to produce the movie.

If you have, then you have purchased a movie DVD with copy protection.

I am sorry i disagree with the peer to peer,and that the publisher`s and the writers would be a loss to them. Fact they are already filthy rich. I was brought up in the Beatle`s era,the Stones ect...We scraped our hard earned money to buy records,and books. When you saved the money up you could not get to the shop fast enough to buy the stuff. I live in England,and the public put these people to where they are now. I have yet to hear from any band,writer,or inventor,that has complained about this. The Beatles took Apple to the High Court in London,and lost because has the Barrister pointed out the Judge was about to pull the the plug out of iTunes,and he bottled it. Apple are using groups, music,and bands cannot stop them. These famous groups are not bothered about your ordinary Joe Public. What they are complaining about is these giant companies like Apple making millions out of this racket,because they have the money to back them up allegedly ? Apple also get all there stuff manufactured in China? WHY cheap labour,and then they charge us a fortune for there products. Think about the Chinese people that are committing suicide,and fallen asleep while they are working very long hours?

The reply by Hforman is essentially correct in that the legal definition rules this world. I work for a software licensing company. Every day I answer the question - Do I own the software? It depends on how you purchase it. If you purchase software via FPP (Fully Packaged Product) from a brick/mortar store, then you have a physical version of the software. However the CD/DVD is only the physical media (vehicle) used to transport the software from the store to your computer. You don't actually "OWN" the software - you have purchased the licensing rights to install the software.
Likewise for audio/video CD's/DVD's, you have purchased the rights to use the content, but not to distribute the content. As the line between a physical disc and licensing the software evolves, we find ourselves being challenged by our definition of "ownership". Mere possession of the physical disc does not absolutely convey ownership rights to a product. The current laws are based on physical ownership and do not accurately address current use models, which is why there are many interpretations of whether it is legal or not to copy an item.

Bottom line is that you are ultimately responsible to decide for yourself, whether you are doing the right thing or not. If it doesn't feel right, chances are it's not.

But laws in the United States are written by corporate lobbyists to benefit corporations, not people. It is definitely legal to copy CDs and DVDs etc. for personal use in Canada, and that is backed up by a ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada, which told your American corporate masters where to put their American copyright law, and it's dark there.

If you want to copy media legally, do it in Canada.

Yes philw, a U.S.A. Federal law "period" (called a fullstop in the rest of the English-speaking world). Your laws don't apply outside your country.

There is legal advice that states, "Only answer questions that you are asked and never volunteer information." In other words, do not advertise it. If no one else knows, then the information is safe. In the situation of copying DVDs or Blu-rays, if your conscience is clear that you will not profit from the copy or distribute it, then you have nothing to worry about. It usually does not profit a Company to legally prosecute an individual under these circumstances, especially when the person has done no harm and the law is rather vague in this case. Why prosecute if the chance of success is doubtful.

Our local sheriff dept for the first time ever --this year will have it's team of PC investigators going under cover to yard sales looking for such items like copies of blu-ray, CD's DVD's computer programs and such. If they catch you they arrest you on the spot and sees anything/everything you have in way of computer crap and it falls under Reasonable cause/Probable cause to search your home without a warrant. So BE CAREFUL.

SAY WHAT ??? HOLD IT NOW WAIT A DAMN MINUTE -- I PAID FOR IT... I BOUGHT IT !!!
Remember this:
You Do Not Own your PC !!! or any program you have !!! You Do Not Own any CD's or DVD's or Blu-ray.
You merely pay the legal life time rights and loaner fee's to view it and use it but you will NEVER in any way shape or form Own It. Got to read all that (fine written tiny printed stuff) folks. People click (Accept it) alday long, people see it, but have you ever let your Attorney read it? (You Do Not Own It. Period).