Howdy group: Wow, didn't mean to open such a touchy can of worms here! Just for the record, I was only testing my DVD burner in trying to burn a back-up copy of a region 2 disk I had purchased in France this summer, as I plan to use it with my classes (such stuff often "walks away" if one is not ever-vigilant & is too hard to replace if purchased abroad; besides, even if one tries to buy a $10 used copy from whatever the country, there is still the issue of not being able to play such disks back home, short of having a machine from every region!!!).
Secondly, the main question was the issue of trying to get my laptop to play DVDs from any region, and not lock into one region after the fifth time the region was changed. I have a device that will enable me to project my computer screen to the TV in the room, but I wanted the versatility of being able to view disks from Canada, France & elsewhere on the laptop, enabling me to develop questions & activities for my students in a variety of settings away from my desktop. I only discovered it was an issue while trying to burn the back-up copy for my own purposes and not to hand out pirated copies to everyone & his little brother. Not that this back-up copying isn't an infringement of certain interpretations of copy laws, but I've just learned the hard way that it is better to take such measures if I want to ensure I haven't spent money on a hard-to-get item that has a chance of disappearing from the classroom.... It's a shame certain folks jumped to the wrong conclusions and got all heated about it. But for those who choose to bash Americans for copyright infringements, get over it--it's an international phenomenon, despite it being wrong/illegal. [I'm fairly sure you don't mean to imply Americans are the only ones who do this, but rather, that in our implying we shouldn't be hampered by such pesky laws, we are so arrogant as to invoke wrongly legal documents such as the Constitution to justify our infringements, as if to say we have a right to do whatever we choose & whenever, perhaps?] Anyway, thanks for all the interesting & lively commentary. I'm still holding out hope there might be an answer to my original question... Click on, gang! Ciao for now, Cathy Green > ---------- > From: Bill Holt > Reply To: macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu > Sent: Wednesday, August 4, 2004 9:31 AM > To: macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu > Subject: Re: MacGroup: Re: Copying [faked-from] > > I computed there is a 82% chance that Kay actually has an opinion on the > matter and a 67.6% chance that there is a core of rationality underlying > the > rather thick veneer that seems otherwise. > > However, one should consider that 52.2% of all statistics are made up on > the > spot, and I know how to use a slide rule. > > > Bill Holt > > > > From: Ward Oldham <woldham at insightbb.com> > > Reply-To: macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu > > Date: Wed, 04 Aug 2004 09:00:06 -0400 > > To: MUG <macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu> > > Subject: Re: MacGroup: Re: Copying > > > > Kay, > > > > Its one thing to politely correct the facts as stated. Use of phrases > such > > as "I believe you are mistaken" or "I can't totally agree with your > view" > > would be more appropriate in a public forum such as this. > > > > But to slap someone down, bloody their nose and tell them they're > uninformed > > and totally ignorant is uncalled for! > > > > I may be over-reacting and surely short on caffeine this morning but > your > > tone sure makes me appreciate to a lot lesser degree the information you > > bring to this group. > > > > Ward Oldham > > > > > > > > From: KR'sListMail <listmail at electrablue.com> > > Reply-To: <macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu> > > Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2004 02:35:12 -0400 > > To: <macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu> > > Subject: MacGroup: Re: Copying > > > > Hi, > > > > In response to what I wrote > > > >>> So, When you start talking about wanting to copy copyrighted DVD > >>> movies on your computer? This is not a simple question for any > >>> Developer to answer--especially since you are asking questions that > >>> are essentially are about "how to break the law". Copying DVD media, > >>> is not a "right" > > > > and Henri's response: > > > >> > >> Not true. Copying media is your right, upheld by the supreme court etc > >> etc doodah doodah. > >> > >> However, the creators of the media have the right to make copying as > >> painful as possible, and the DMCA says you are not allowed to get > >> around > >> things they have put in place. > >> > >> This basically creats a loophole: You have the right to copy. They have > >> the right to stop you. You don't have the right to counter their stop. > > > > Henri, > > > > You are very very wrong. > > I pay my GDM, IT attorneys $250 an hour to keep me in the legal clear > > on copyrights and licenses, and to also write my copyright contracts > > for my projects with the studios. Are you saying, what they taught me > > is wrong for the past decade is wrong, and that you know more than they > > do > > > > Hacking passkeys, and copying DVD content or any media disk for that > > matter, is not a sovereign "right", ethically or legally by ANY court > > of law here or anywhere. Copying DVDs, is considered reverse > > engineering and that it is considered stealing Intellectual Property. > > Plus, With DVDs the media itself is considered a canvas, not just a > > media material, since the disk is painted with art, graphics, > > trademarks, etc. This means the DVD plastics, the disk is an intrinsic > > part of the work itself- like the oil paint applied to a canvas > > painting. And with DVDs every disk is in essence be considered a > > "Master Disk" or "Original". Ouch. > > > > So, Copying a DVD and distributing it to another- meaning, in real > > life: like giving one copy to a friend, or worse, posting it online > > for sharing to lots of people, IS considered "Distribution". That > > means=Stealing not just once, but twice. Doing either of these things, > > is a severe criminal act, is rated a felony- a criminal equivalent to > > stealing a car. > > > > Minumum jail time for felony? Is one year or more.... > > > > And , Just so you know, financially, I do know, the least damage for > > artist infringement for a CD hack theft, will be at least 50 grand + > > plus court costs. I am sure DVDs is 5 times of that, since the volume > > of property is multiple of what CDs are. Then on top of that, you also > > will get stuck paying the bill for the artists attorneys bringing your > > ass to court. On top comes the artists' reputation damages, which can > > be unlimited, since a jury determine that amounts. Once you are proven > > as an infringer? (which is not hard to prove, since copying leaves a > > code trail) You will pay it all. > > > > So Henri, If you can afford to risk your reputation, and have all this > > money to pay all these damages, and get the ink stain of a class A > > felony onto your LIFE record- a permanent mark on your life record > > that can never be erased, a record that can follow you where-ever you > > go in the world? When you apply for a job, apply for a home or car > > loan, go to school, travel, get a parking ticket, heeeey. "Mr > > Policeman, why you stopping me???" As they say, once a felon, always > > a felon. > > > > Does this Sound like FUN to exercise your so called rights, in this > > way? Is it worth it, to hack open and copy a stupid DVD, really WORTH > > the cost, this kind of risk to your life, or to encourage others to > > follow suit? If so, Go ahead! Buy your DVD hack recorder, Henri! And > > then, hey after that? Be an even bigger fool and let everyone know > > about it on a public mailing list. even better, get your friends and > > family involved in it all--they will thank you later! After all--as > > you say? It is one's free "right" to be a stupid fool, copy a > > company's artistic product, brag about it, bring everyone you know into > > the fold, yep, do something THAT dumb in America, is a free right isn't > > it? > > > > Yes, Those stupid Americans! How could anyone, ever consider copying > > those DVDs, and CDs as stealing someone else's work--as wrong! That is > > just sharing the love, isn't it!??? Yes, think of it. That is my RIGHT > > to share anything I touch, with whoever I want to give this stuff to. > > > > Thinking like you are? This is so ethically and spiritually- wrong. > > > > Remember the lady that asked this question, about copying DVDs in the > > first place? Cathy? Rather than tell her to buy some hack machine > > online from some offshore crook, maybe she should be advised to just > > buy a used DVD disk for $10 at the corner video store, where-ever she > > travels. That's what I do, and I am able to sleep at night, knowing I > > have supported a few of my fellow artists in the entertainment > > industry. That feels nice. > > > > Of course, that is MY choice to abide by the law, wherever I go, of > > course. > > > > You can do what you what-ever you do... Henri. But you should be very > > VERY careful about what you advise others to do.... especially when it > > involves breaking the law. Aiding and Abeting, who more criminality, > > more fun, Ya know? Oooooo boy! You sure can be shocking, Henri in the > > things you wrote. > > > > Was that your true intent. To shock? > > > > How fortunate it must be to move and live in a new country and do > > whatever you want and to make up your own laws.... I spent 6 months in > > England and when I was there? I was always aware I was a guest of > > another's country. I watched what I said and did there. > > > > To feel, it is OK for you to take whatever you want, from whomever you > > want? And then afterwards to brag about doing so, to all us, stupid > > American fools that were born here? And making double sure we are told > > and really really aware of about how wrong we Americans are about our > > ethics, values, and laws... > > > > Wow. That's Really, like > > ...Amazing. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will > > | be July 27. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. > > | List posting address: <mailto:macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu> > > | List Web page: <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup> > > > > > > > > | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will > | be July 27. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. > | List posting address: <mailto:macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu> > | List Web page: <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup> > > -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/ms-tnef Size: 7599 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.math.louisville.edu/pipermail/macgroup/attachments/20040804/f0a9eea7/attachment.bin
