Ethical question concerning VUDU D2D program

[socal9]

Here's my question and I wanted to see what your opinions are on this matter.

I had a DVD in my collection that I upgraded to HDX on VUDU using their In Home Disc to Digital program last year. If I have someone that wants to buy my old DVD, is it ethically wrong to keep the HDX copy on VUDU?

I ask this question because from what I understand it is ethically wrong to have a disc, make a copy of it onto your server, and then give away the original disc. With the VUDU D2D question however, you are paying for the HDX version.

Any thoughts on this?

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by socal9

Here's my question and I wanted to see what your opinions are on this matter.

I had a DVD in my collection that I upgraded to HDX on VUDU using their In Home Disc to Digital program last year. If I have someone that wants to buy my old DVD, is it ethically wrong to keep the HDX copy on VUDU?

I ask this question because from what I understand it is ethically wrong to have a disc, make a copy of it onto your server, and then give away the original disc. With the VUDU D2D question however, you are paying for the HDX version.

Any thoughts on this?

You paid a (substantially) discounted price to own the HDX copy not make a copy of the disc. Walmart doesn't actually convert the disc you bring in nor does the home software. It just checks the disc for what it is, see if it's on the list of D2D titles, then allows you to buy the HDX at the lower price.

What you do with the disc afterwards is up to you.

[Joeker]

Socal9, one of the seven circles of hell is reserved specifically for people that do what you did.

May Lord Xenu have mercy on your soul.

[socal9]

Originally Posted by Joeker

Socal9, one of the seven circles of hell is reserved specifically for people that do what you did.

May Lord Xenu have mercy on your soul.

Ay caramba! I haven't actually done the dastardly deed and thought about just giving it away but this doesn't sound to appealing.

[applanche]

Originally Posted by Joeker

Socal9, one of the seven circles of hell is reserved specifically for people that do what you did.

May Lord Xenu have mercy on your soul.

I heard that due to overflow from the sheer number of people doing this, they had to expand to two of the seven circles of Hell.

[alexy25]

Originally Posted by socal9

Ay caramba! I haven't actually done the dastardly deed and thought about just giving it away but this doesn't sound to appealing.

[socal9]

Judging by most of the responses it seems this forum is not the place to ask ethical questions. Movin' on.

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by socal9

Judging by most of the responses it seems this forum is not the place to ask ethical questions. Movin' on.

I just think most everyone read your ethical question as being tongue-in-cheek. How could it be wrong to convert your physical collection to digital and then want to off load your physical collection to free up space? Do you think that disc-to-digital is requiring you to keep your disc after you've redeemed it for digital? It's really not different from someone buying a combo pack, redeeming the digital copy slip and then selling off the disc(s). Did you rightfully buy that disc? Did you rightfully redeem for a digital copy? Good. There's no problem then.

[dubious]

If you just want to unload your collection now that you've gone digital, perhaps it is more ethical to donate them to Goodwill? Surely, the Gods must be forgiving of sin if there is good intent?

[Greyman]

Originally Posted by socal9

Judging by most of the responses it seems this forum is not the place to ask ethical questions. Movin' on.

Originally Posted by master gandhi

I just think most everyone read your ethical question as being tongue-in-cheek. How could it be wrong to convert your physical collection to digital and then want to off load your physical collection to free up space? Do you think that disc-to-digital is requiring you to keep your disc after you've redeemed it for digital? It's really not different from someone buying a combo pack, redeeming the digital copy slip and then selling off the disc(s). Did you rightfully buy that disc? Did you rightfully redeem for a digital copy? Good. There's no problem then.

Actually, at one time the terms for Vudu disc to digital mentioned keeping the discs in your possession.
I can't seem to find that now, maybe they changed it.

Edit:
Here it is:
http://www.vudu.com/termsofservice.html

You may have the opportunity to convert your physical Blu-ray™ and DVD discs into electronic copies that may be stored and viewed through the VUDU Service via the Disc to Digital program. The Disc to Digital program is only available for physical Blu-ray™ and DVD titles that have been legitimately purchased and are presently owned by you. VUDU reserves the right to refuse conversion of a title, or to limit or cancel your access to a previously converted title, if VUDU reasonably believes the title does not meet, or no longer meets, the purchase and ownership criteria set forth in this paragraph.

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by Greyman

Actually, at one time the terms for Vudu disc to digital mentioned keeping the discs in your possession.
I can't seem to find that now, maybe they changed it.

Oh, in that case, it is wrong to do it. I've never used D2D, so I never knew about those terms and conditions.

[dubious]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

Variation of the ethical dilemma and I'm going to guess a very different answer:

If you own the disc, convert it with D2D, then sell the physical disc -- question the judgement of doing so, but not ethics.

1a. Converting a disc rental or library borrow with the D2D program.

2a. Borrow a disc from a Friend and use the program to convert.

2b. Does it make a difference if the friend has already done so (assuming the same disc can be converted more than once).

2c. Does it change if the friend hadn't converted the disc, but you share your UV/Vudu account with him

Some countries maintain a firing squad just for this dissuading this scenario.

[Greyman]

People have openly talked about selling their discs on the Vudu forums and nothing has ever happened to their collection as far as we know.

The clause could be there just to satisfy the Studios.

[socal9]

Thanks for all the responses. I have legally obtained all my discs and have converted quite a few to digital. When it came to my attention that there was someone interested in some of my old DVDs (yeah, believe it or not, some people still want them) that's when this question arose in my mind. I'm an old fashioned kind of guy who tries to do things the right way (ethically) and that's why I asked. Digital can have some grey areas at times.

[Wasgo]

Originally Posted by socal9

Thanks for all the responses. I have legally obtained all my discs and have converted quite a few to digital. When it came to my attention that there was someone interested in some of my old DVDs (yeah, believe it or not, some people still want them) that's when this question arose in my mind. I'm an old fashioned kind of guy who tries to do things the right way (ethically) and that's why I asked. Digital can have some grey areas at times.

Originally Posted by VUDU

Disc to Digital:

You may have the opportunity to convert your physical Blu-ray™ and DVD discs into electronic copies that may be stored and viewed through the VUDU Service via the Disc to Digital program. The Disc to Digital program is only available for physical Blu-ray™ and DVD titles that have been legitimately purchased and are presently owned by you. VUDU reserves the right to refuse conversion of a title, or to limit or cancel your access to a previously converted title, if VUDU reasonably believes the title does not meet, or no longer meets, the purchase and ownership criteria set forth in this paragraph.

They reserve the right to cancel your 'conversion' if you no longer own a disc, implying, at minimum, they think you ought to keep the disc. However, the terms do not prohibit you from selling the discs, and the use of the word conversion is a poor attempt to have it fall under existing copyright laws for converting media.

Realistically, they don't care, and they don't offer an option to cancel a conversation if you sell a disc, so I wouldn't feel morally obligated to keep it by their misleading tactics.

[Zorkel567]

Ignoring the Terms and Services, I have to say, I don't see a problem selling it if you owned it when you converted it. If you were borrowing it from a library or a friend and converted, I could see that ethically being wrong. But if you paid for it and then decide to sell it to someone else later on down the line, I don't see the issue.