Your Friend, The Government

A French court does something right?

On April 22nd, the Paris Court of Appeal prohibited the use of DVD-based copy protection systems. The reason? The incompatibility of this practice with private copying rights.

Yes, that's right. A French court just ruled that applying copy - protection to DVDs is a violation of your right to make backup copies of legitimately purchased media, because it requires you to break the law to circumvent the protection. Killer.


Now what this means, hopefully, is that some organization in the US, maybe the EFF will try and win a similar lawsuit in the US, thus removing the ability of the media companies to either criminalize, or require multiple purchases by, their customers.

The thing about "fair use" is that it is just that - a FAIR use. If you purchase a DVD from a store, you have not only purchased the physical DVD storage media, you have purchased a single copy of the media content stored on it. This means that it is your right to use that content as you see fit - whether to edit it to keep your kids from seeing objectionable bits (if ClearPlay can do it, so can I,) or to move that content onto another storage medium for YOUR viewing convenience. Even if that means, for example, putting it onto your computer's hard drive, or onto a VHS tape.

Where you cross the line outside "fair use" into criminal territory is when you start making copies for your friends, selling copies, or distributing it to hundreds of downloaders on the Internet. That's NOT the right thing.

The trouble is, the media companies have your right of fair use under attack right now, and sharing files online seems to be the most effective way to fight back. Not the BEST way, mind you, but seeing as young people can't be bothered to go to the voting booths during elections, and more importantly, repeatedly vote for the same idiots who pass this legislation, the only effective way.