HD DVD to Blu-ray -> Legal?

[sarnell2]

Would this be legal?

Purchase an HD DUD (like Transformers).
Rip the main Video and Audio file to your computer (HD DVD and Blu-ray both use H.264/MPEG-4 AVC / VC-1 / MPEG-2 as their video codecs).
Author a Blu-ray using the main video and audio that is set to autoplay.
Final Result (Intended for personal use only): BD containing just the main video/audio of an HD DVD release.

[bilbravo]

I'm pretty sure ripping it would be illegal due to DMCA.

That being said, "fair use" advocates would argue that since it is for your personal use you can do whatever you want.

I know those 2 points conflict one another, but there you have it.

[devils3023]

Doubt it could really be that simple but I'm not that familiar with ripping and burning videos on my computer.

[WickyWoo]

I'm pretty sure ripping it would be illegal due to DMCA.

That being said, "fair use" advocates would argue that since it is for your personal use you can do whatever you want.

DMCA trumps fair use. Illegal

Whether or not that is a good thing is certainly the subject of much and proper debate

[JackStraw]

I think it became illegal as soon as you said "rip the main audio and video file to your computer".

[CptGreedle]

legal or not, the quality would suck.

besides, it would not be the same (menus and extras would be different, or just not work).
I also think it is illegal but it is in the gray area of the law, and lots of people do it and get away with it and companies run their entire business off of this, claiming various rights in the process.

RIP at your own risk!

[bootman]

No different that the ripping of DVD for "archive" use.
Not allowed

[sarnell2]

Originally Posted by JackStraw

I think it became illegal as soon as you said "rip the main audio and video file to your computer".

Once you own the film though...Can't you do what you want with it, as long as you don't sell or share with others. I couldn't even do this as an experiment?

[bilbravo]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

DMCA trumps fair use. Illegal

I guess that was the point I was getting at, but didn't finish my thought :-)

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Whether or not that is a good thing is certainly the subject of much and proper debate

Too true...

[Manco]

Ok... who ripped one?

[Shadowself]

Originally Posted by sarnell2

Once you own the film though...Can't you do what you want with it, as long as you don't sell or share with others. I couldn't even do this as an experiment?

The problem is your statement, "Once you own the film..."

You don't own the film. You purchased the right to use one copy of it with restrictions. Technically you don't even own that copy. You own the physical media it is on and a limited right to use the data on that physical media. That's it.

It is a restricted right to use. You can't use it any way you want. This is where the "fair use" and DMCA and a whole lot of other legal mumbo jumbo comes into play.

But as a wise old legal expert once told me, "Anything is legal until a judge tells you it is not."

[Kristin Simard]

Aside from whether it is legal/illegal; fair use or not, it's a question of whether or not ripping for personal use is enforceable or even worth pursuing by a major corporation if it could even be enforced.

[monkyman]

Give it a try, I mean, who would know anyway unless you tryed to sell it or annouced it to the world. If you want to experiment, go ahead. Just don't tear the tag off your mattress!

[Kristin Simard]

Originally Posted by monkyman

Just don't tear the tag off your mattress!

That's for the retailer, not the owner.

[mystiksuicide]

I'll wait for the blu version, should be out next year.

[Kristin Simard]

Originally Posted by mystiksuicide

I'll wait for the blu version, should be out next year.

That's the best bet.

[Go Blu]

Originally Posted by mystiksuicide

I'll wait for the blu version, should be out next year.

Yeah, all this sounds like allot of work.
Too many other movies I still need to watch in the meantime.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

DMCA trumps fair use. Illegal

... Only if you're an American... :-)

[m6bigdog]

So why would you do that?

If you are buying the HD-DVD titles a HD-DVD player is a simpler and cheaper way to view the HD-DVD titles than all the software and computer equipment to burn a Blu-ray Disc!!

Computer expenses:
HD-DVD read only drive
Blu-ray burner
Software for burning the Blu-ray media
Blu-ray recordable media

So even if you could do the transfer you would still only have recorded the limitations of the HD-DVD format on to a the Blu-ray media; again - you get none of the advantages (video bandwidth & DTS Master Audio, etc.) of the Blu-ray format and you have spent all then money and time making the transfer.

[ikbradley]

If you bought the original HD DVD, then a very good argument for fair use could apply.

Besides, how many prosecutors would go after anyone that did the equivalent of taking a record and putting it onto tape. DMCA might be right, but the decision to prosecute is in the hands of overburdened District Attorneys that have no love for this b.s.

This, coupled with the anti-trust allegations, which have forced people to adopt HD DVD if they want some movies, I doubt any HD DVD lobbyist would pursue any legal recourse.

They need hipweighters for all the shit they are in, especially the dumping of goods below cost and exclusivity bribes to undermine the competition. Sounds like a cartel conspiracy if you ask me.