Can I make copies of my DVDs?
One reader wants to know how to replace his damaged DVD movies and music CDs
Follow @infoworldWilliam sends in a loaded question about his movie and music collection:
As everyone knows, it's illegal to make copies of my CDs and DVDs, which means that it is also illegal for me to make backup copies. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is always saying that if the DVDs are damaged, we can get a copy by providing the damaged original to them. My question is: Where do we get that copy? I've tried the stores where I purchased the originals and was told they do not replace DVDs. I've tried contacting the manufacturers but have had no success. I have several defective DVDs, which I now can use only as coasters because I was not able to make a backup. Can the Gripe Line find someone who can tell us what our recourse is? I expect you will only find that we will just have to suck it up and weep.
First of all, let's start with the loaded part of the question: "We all know that it's illegal to make copies of CDs and DVDs." I don't think we do know that. In fact, I think there is a lot of confusion about this.
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Can I copy my music CDs?
It is a commonly held opinion that making a backup copy of your music CDs is within your "fair use" rights. CDs are fragile and music is expensive. Ripping a CD to a computer or a portable music player for preservation and convenience is a common practice, and I don't think the people doing it consider themselves in breach of the law.
The RIAA Web site (the trade group that represents the U.S. recording industry) says, "When you make illegal copies of someone's creative work, you are stealing and breaking the law....you need the permission of the copyright holder before you copy and/or distribute a copyrighted music recording." So the question is: Do we have permission to make a backup -- or convenience -- copy for our own personal use?
The RIAA offers a list ("Examples of easy ways you could violate the law") detailing how you can get into trouble copying CDs, and it does not include the common practice of ripping a CD as a backup or for personal listening convenience:
