In most areas around the world it is not legal to rip DVDs even though you own it. Technically it is OK to make personal copies, but the US’s Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) makes it illegal to break the copy protection on the DVD which is required to copy it. I don’t think anyone has yet been charge for making personal copies of their DVDs yet and don’t think the movie makers want to go after individuals. Just don’t share them on P2P sharing networks and you’ll be OK.
Making copies of DVD’s is actually not protected under the Fair Use laws as most people are led to believe. Fair Use law was implemented long before the ability to make personal copies of legally owned originals was ever possible. Fair Use typically covers the use of copyrighted material in specifc situations including education, quoting material, and a few other things (such as showing a clip of a movie on a news broadcast). This protected users of the material from lawsuits from the copyright holder for using a small snippet of their work. Most notably, Fair Use law is determined on a case-by-case basis and the ruling of one instance of fair use does not constitute another situation no matter how similar. However, it is possible that making copies of your DVD’s could fall under Fair Use law. There is just no blanket statement that says that copying your DVD’s is protected by law.
What most people are referring to is the Audio Home Recording Act (AHRA) which made it legal for people to make permanent digital recordings of their music for personal use. The act also refers to the selling of devices specifically made for the purpose of making said permanent recordings. Interestingly enough, the act also gives the right to copy television shows for viewing at a later time using a “time shifting” device such as a VCR. It does not have a specific clause for movies shown on television.
Many people just assume that because the ability to copy DVD’s exists, it falls under the same law as CD’s. However, there is no specific law giving a legal right to make personal copies of DVD’s like there is for music.
I will reitterate what others have said: the likelihood that you would ever be proscecuted for making personal copies is unlikely.
But honestly! When I buy a CD, i use iTunes to rip it so I can play on my iPod. I don’t see a difference with DVDs. I bought it, I own it, why shouldn’t I be able to rip it so I can watch it on my PSP or iPod?
There are many programs out there that can help you rip DVDs, some are free and some are not.
The Best Paid Software:
ImTOO DVD Ripper (Download for FREE Trial)is an awesome tool for ripping DVDs to any format, it also has a bunch of editing and custumization features.
Best Free DVD Ripper:
Handbrake is the best free software to rip DVDs and it works great, but you do need DVD43 to crack the encryption for Win.
