----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----
Shane,
I agree with everything you said. Every bit of it. You have a good point
about the buy vs rent - I didn't specifically address that. In James'
case, for him to make a copy and keep it would clearly be wrong. But if
he rents it, copies it, watches it once, then throws it away, I do see
that as more of a gray area. The product he mentioned, DIVX, was
supposed to do exactly what he wants - obtain a copy that can sit on the
shelf until it is watched, then it self destructs after a certain period
of time. Because this technology isn't available, he is proposing to
make a DIY version by creating his own copy and then self-destructing
it. In this scenario, the only entity harmed is the video store, who is
entitled to late fees - and that is assuming James would otherwise keep
the title past its due date.
If there are enough people who fit the same consumer profile as James,
there will eventually be a new DIVX-like option, and I know there are
currently beta tests of this in a download format from Netflix (although
not HD). But for now, he's on his own.
And you're right that my comment about the privacy of your own home is
an exaggeration. I was trying to point out that making copies for use on
multiple players within the same home and lots of other reasons is very
different from sharing the content with others, but did a bad job.
Jason
Shane Sturgeon wrote:
> ----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----
>
> Jason,
>
> Making a copy of something you bought seems fine morally, although
> unfortunately illegal (if encrypted). I make backups of my DVDs using
> similar software ... but those are backups of DVDs I OWN. However, if
> you download "content" (be it software, audio, video, etc.) that you
> did not pay for, or if you make a copy of something you do not own
> (i.e. rented media, borrowed from a friend, etc.), you are stealing
> from the producer of that content.
>
> Do not make the gross generalization of "What you do in the privacy of
> your own home is your own business". That simply does not hold water
> ... and I don't need to cite examples, I'm sure you can use your
> imagination.
>
> I am a software developer by trade, and I can tell you that if people
> could freely download and use work I created without paying for it ...
> I would stop writing programs. There's no point. If you can't get paid
> for what you do, you won't do it. THAT is why we need copyright laws
> in this country. It gives content producers the reasonable expectation
> of compensation for their work.
>
> I've heard all of your arguments before, and they are nothing more
> than self-rationalizations for doing what you want to do despite
> what's right.
>
> If you still think that copying or downloading content you have not
> purchased doesn't harm anyone, then you are too far down that path to
> be convinced otherwise.
>
> Shane Sturgeon
>
>
> Jason Burroughs wrote:
>> ----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----
>>
>> James - there is software called "AnyDVD HD" that will do just what
>> you're looking for.
>>
>> On a moral/ethical level, I totally agree with you. We can all say
>> how wrong "piracy" is, but the truth is that the laws were written
>> for obviously illegal acts, and the content providers have failed to
>> give reasonable alternatives, so the laws are extremely heavy handed.
>> So let your conscience be your guide, don't let the holier than thou
>> types faze you, and raise your children to do the same. Let's not
>> forget that laws were written by men, usually with an agenda, and
>> they aren't perfect. They were written to prevent the worst people
>> from doing the worst things. We all have our own moral compass and
>> how we interpret these laws to have meaning for us is always going to
>> be an individual's prerogative. It's like in high school when some
>> jerk took advantage of a privilege you used to have and gets it taken
>> away for everyone - everyone knows it's not fair. What you do in the
>> privacy of your own home is your own business, period - from the
>> bedroom to the home theater. Anything that leaves your home is
>> another story - so clearly, sharing over the internet or with a
>> friend violates the letter and the spirit of the fair use laws we
>> used to enjoy.
>>
>> All that being said, the tips list is clearly on the super
>> conservative side of all these issues. I'll respect the great folks
>> who allow us to share this fine forum and toe the line according to
>> their stated values, although they might not be the same as mine. I
>> do strongly feel that the whole subject of fair use and copyright is
>> completely up for discussion, and a great use of the internet - as
>> long as people are thoughtful and respectful.
>>
>> Also, the argument that you wouldn't steal a car, so you shouldn't
>> copy a CD is a fallacy. There is no magical 'create a car from thin
>> air' machine, so it's a moot point. Just ask Bill Gates, who recently
>> acknowledged that software piracy has been important to Microsoft. An
>> entire country officially thanked him for a generation of young IT
>> folks learning to use his products when they could not afford to buy
>> them. If you want to argue about why it is "wrong" to copy a disc as
>> a backup in case of loss or theft - aside from pointing to the law -
>> please do so. I am very interested in hearing how this act harms anyone.
>>
>> Jason
>>
>> James Healy wrote:
>>> ----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----
>>>
>>> I realize that I am in the minority when it comes to viewing movies.
>>> Both my
>>> wife and I rarely if ever watch a movie more than once. Sure if it
>>> is on TV
>>> we may keep the channel on for a longer period of time and watch it
>>> but will
>>> not go out of our way to find a certain tape or DVD to watch for a
>>> second
>>> time. My intention is and was not to circumvent any duplication laws
>>> which
>>> are constantly being debated. I know in my heart and head that what
>>> I was
>>> asking was not to circumvent any duplication laws. Sure next I will
>>> request
>>> information on this PUBLIC FORUM on how to crack my Banks safe, give
>>> me a
>>> break! This subject was discussed briefly months ago regarding Play
>>> Station
>>> discs that were damaged by careless children and their friends. If Sony
>>> would have protocols in place that would allow owners of these discs to
>>> replace damaged ones at a reasonable and fair price, consumers would
>>> not
>>> even give duplication a second thought. However they choose not to.
>>> I am NOT
>>> INTERESTED in building a library. I have way too many things to do
>>> and not
>>> enough time to watch a movie once let alone over and over. I also
>>> asked the
>>> question if it was considered piracy to save the movie to watch at
>>> another
>>> time. Wasn't this the intent of DVDX(or some acronym like that they
>>> gave the
>>> consumer a certain amount of time to watch a movie that they paid
>>> for????)
>>>
>>> I do not have the time or inclination in getting involved in copying
>>> discs
>>> for financial gain. I read online somewhere of an individual doing
>>> this. I
>>> thought I had read it on this list which is why I asked. I also now
>>> know
>>> that I am not in the minority since I have received many personal
>>> emails
>>> from other tipsters telling me they currently do this for their
>>> personal
>>> viewing and provided links of the software required to do so.
>>>
>>> This is where intent comes in to play. I am getting a bit off the
>>> subject
>>> but it also comes down to how people view religion. It is for the
>>> people
>>> that believe they are "HOLYIER THEN THOU"
>>>
>>> There are people who say they are so religious and they go to
>>> church every
>>> Sunday and act like they are such good people and good Christians.
>>> These
>>> people are the biggest hypocrites that I have ever seen in my life.
>>> They sit
>>> in the front row but then when out of church they will commit
>>> adultry,leave
>>> their family to be with a new lover, steal, pillage, and be the meanest
>>> SOB's you will ever come across. The scary part is that they really
>>> believe
>>> they are good Christians because they show up each and every Sunday.
>>> This is
>>> one reason why I could no longer sit next to individuals like this each
>>> Sunday. I tell my kids it is how you treat people and the spirit and
>>> faith
>>> you have inside that is most important. Not the act of going to
>>> church each
>>> Sunday.
>>> Thanks to everyone attempting to be my moral barometer. However I
>>> assure you
>>> that I have this subject more than covered. BTW to all the people
>>> concerned.
>>> What percentage of your income did you give to charitable causes?
>>> What about
>>> time? I have a strong suspicion that it did not even come close to
>>> mine.
>>>
>>>
>>> To unsubscribe please click:
[email protected]
>>>
>>> To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted
>>> that same day) send an email to:
>>>
[email protected]
>>>
>>>
>>
>> To unsubscribe please click:
[email protected]
>>
>> To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted that
>> same day) send an email to:
>>
[email protected]
>>
>
> To unsubscribe please click:
[email protected]
>
> To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted that
> same day) send an email to:
>
[email protected]
>
To unsubscribe please click:
[email protected]
To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted that same day) send an email to:
[email protected] 