Copy a DVD?

[KT27]

My Dh is deployed so in his care packages I want to send him some DVD's. I don't want to send him originals in case they get lost or damaged in transit. How do I copy the DVD's I own and is this legal?

Thanks!
~Katie

 

[Tigger2252]

I work at a school media library. We duplicate our DVD's using a DVD recorder/writer. You transfer your DVD to the units internal hard drive then record it onto a new DVD. I think there are probably other ways, but that's how we do it.

To answer your question about copyright, when you say you "own" the DVD's you are copying, that only applies to videos you personally shot. If you mean commercial videos you purchased (movies, cartoons, etc.) you do not legally have the right to duplicate them unless you purchased the duplication rights from the producer.

 

[seashoreCM]

You are actually allowed to possess a "backup copy" of any material you purchased in case the original should become damaged. But the backup copy and the original must technically stay in the hands of the same person.

It is not "easy" to copy a DVD. The video is encoded in a fashion that jams the circuitry in VCR's and DVD recorders thus producing a bad copy.

Given the circumstances you describe notably the difficulty of ensuring safe transport of the material IMHO it is ethically OK to send DH a copy.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Tinkerbell_Tiffany]

I have a program called clone cd that works really well to copy them.

 

[disneysteve]

It is not "easy" to copy a DVD.

Actually, copying DVDs is quite simple.

For a PC, download DVD Shrink:
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/dvd_rippers/dvd_shrink.cfm

For a Mac, download DVD Backup:
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/10757

The only discs I've found that can't be backed up are Disney DVDs. They use a different protection method that the software can't override.

 

[KT27]

Thanks everybody...ok another question. What size discs do you buy for copying a DVD? I know movies vary in length but ideally what should you get?

~Katie

 

[Christypl]

Katie,
Did he ask for the dvds? When my dh was there bootleg movies were very easy to get and where cheap. My brother is there now and he just sent us a copy of a Disney movie that isnt released until Nov.
Prayers for you and your dh!

 

[KT27]

Yes he did ask for them, he is in a somewhat remote location.

~Katie

 

[rach2674]

Nothing to do with this post, but I have to say how awesome your wedding pics are! Wow, they did an awesome job there and I love the cake too! Looks like you all had a great time!

Rachel

 

[KT27]

Nothing to do with this post, but I have to say how awesome your wedding pics are! Wow, they did an awesome job there and I love the cake too! Looks like you all had a great time!

Rachel

Thank you!!! We had an AMAZING wedding! Our photographer Randy Chapman was awesome!

~Katie

 

[shades]

My Dh is deployed so in his care packages I want to send him some DVD's. I don't want to send him originals in case they get lost or damaged in transit. How do I copy the DVD's I own and is this legal?

Thanks!
~Katie

Do you have a dvd burner on your computer? You will need anywhere from 8 to about 15gb of free space on your hard drive to complete the copy, too. You can shrink a dual layer original down to a 4.7gb dvd - and - unless your burner writes dual layer, you definitely do not want to purchase the more expensive dual layer blank discs. You will also need to purchase a brand (and if it will burn + and/or -) of media that is compatible with your dvd burner. One brand that seems to be very compatible with lots of burners and dvd players is Taiyo Yuden and Mitsubishi.

Like Disneysteve said - dvdshrink works ok for most dvds. There lots of software out there that claim to copy retail dvds - but, a lot of them are difficult to navigate and will not actually break the encryption. So, be careful and double check before you buy anything. Dvdshrink is free - so, you should probably start with that one.

Here's a link with lots of info on copying dvds: http://www.cdfreaks.com/software/cat/3

 

[shades]

Actually, copying DVDs is quite simple.

For a PC, download DVD Shrink:
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/dvd_rippers/dvd_shrink.cfm

For a Mac, download DVD Backup:
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/10757

The only discs I've found that can't be backed up are Disney DVDs. They use a different protection method that the software can't override.

Freeware - called dvdecrytor can copy most Disney dvds. You will have to "shrink" it though, before you can burn it. I use dvdecryptor and then burn with Nero6 - but, it can be burned with dvdshrink, I believe.

 

[mamalle]

I think dh uses the dvdecryptor also. my kids scratch everything if I let them- so we always make a copy of them. its nice to have for the car rides also.. we buy DVD+R to burn onto and have our windows media center computer to burn them.. its quite simple- even I know how to do it now

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

It's is against US Copyright law to make copies of any DVD, even to make backups of the ones that you own. (Canada and other countries have more lenient laws) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMCA

Every commercially-produced DVD that I've seen has the following warning in the first couple of frames:

"The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000." ​

Please, let's not encourage an illegal activity here. While the technology exists, and the info is available for anyone who cares to do a Google search, I would not want the DIS to be a source for that info.

 

[nightowlky]

Freeware - called dvdecrytor can copy most Disney dvds. You will have to "shrink" it though, before you can burn it. I use dvdecryptor and then burn with Nero6 - but, it can be burned with dvdshrink, I believe.

If you have a DVD burner capable of writing to dual-layer media, no need for DVDShrink but the media is more $$$ and a bit more obstinate in working afterward, depending on the brand.

That said, I use DVDShrink for most of my copies and even with compression down to 60% the quality looks pretty good on an HDTV

 

[Disneyfun1]

there is also a decrypter out there that will break the copy code on almost any dvd made. i have it on my computer. i have never found a dvd code it wont break.

 

[mamalle]

we have copies of all of our disney dvds through that encryptor thing..

 

[weirdpaintballr]

What do you use to break the encryption?

 

[nightowlky]

What do you use to break the encryption?

DVDDecryptor takes care of that.