Copyright, and Back-ups.

You know, you wouldn’t believe the amount of discussion a simple mention of something can cause.

Or possibly you would …

But I mentioned, the other day, that I have a new exterior drive.

Mostly to store backed up video files on.

And I’ve had a few people quietly mention that iffy legality of the practise.

Hmmmm …

Let me try and briefly summarise here, for you.

I’ve quite a few TV series and films on DVD.

And I keep back-up copies — mostly done with HandBrake, MacTheRipper or Fairmount — in case any of them get damaged: I should also add that none of them leave my exterior drive, for love nor money.

But from what I’ve been told, or able to find out … ?

That — with-in the UK — is illegal.

As is — as I and many others have sone — using iTunes to copy music from my CD collection to my iPod.

Although I believe there’s a set of government guidelines that allow for this.

However, those regulations don’t cover DVDs.

||⋘•⋙||

Now here’s where I’m possibly going to be contentious.

The law that states this is bloody stupid!

As I see it, I’ve paid you, the artist, some of my hard earned cash for a film, song or album you’ve made.

I believe that I, as the owner of that copy, have the moral — if not legal — right to watch or listen to that copy when I want, and how I want.

And more to the point, where I want.

I like to watch Dr Who when I’m writing the Teasers, for example: I find it a lot easier to do this with QuickTime, rather than on the TV.

I can also see myself upgrading to a video capable iPod, at some point: I’d like to watch them on that, and don’t see why I should pay double — by buying the episodes from the iTunes Store — for the privilege, when I’ve already bought the DVD versions.

||⋘•⋙||

Now, if you’re in the States, things are slightly easier: you can copy DVDs for personal use, so long as those don’t come from copy-protected DVDs.

Which sounds just as arse-about-tit, from where I’m sitting, given the amount of copy-protected DVDs there are, out there. Spain, as a counter example, allows you to back up any DVD you own, regardless of whether it’s copy-protected. Or even a legal copy.

||⋘•⋙||

So I’m hoping that those creatives out there won’t be annoyed — too much — if I put their work on my external drive, so I can watch it at my leisure.

The way I see it … ?

I’ve paid the piper.

I get to call the tunes …