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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17426
Loc: Colchester
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I was very surprised to see WebUser promoting the use of this software. Back in 2005 the official DVDShrink website removed all links to the download page because they had been served with a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) take down notice because use of such software is illegal in the USA.
The reason it is so difficult to find downloads is because whenever someone hosts the file (it hasn't been updated since 2005) they too get served with a notice to take it down.
The reason it isn't liked is because it can by-pass most of the software copying protection that is built into commercial DVD's.
Should we be seen to be promoting it's use?
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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andys
Staff
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 171
Loc: London, England
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The point of including it in the article was not to encourage piracy but to enable readers to find and use a tool that would let them take their DVDs and turn them into a format they can watch on their other devices. This, in itself, may not be strictly legal but seems only fair to me.
What do other readers think? Are we're giving you the ability to use your copyrighted materials more flexibly, or are we just encouraging you to fall into a life of crime?
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Andy Shaw - Technical and Reviews Editor
Web User
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17426
Loc: Colchester
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Andy
Quote:
This, in itself, may not be strictly legal
You can't have degrees of legality. It either is or it isn't legal. In this case there can be no argument that it is illegal to copy a commercial DVD for any purpose whatsoever. That includes copying as a back up or to have another copy 'just in case'. The manufacturers would argue that if you want two copies of your DVD, go out a buy a second one. Every DVD you buy has got dire warnings all over it quoting the penalties than can be applied if you copy it.
You could argue that the law is an ass and should be changed so anybody could copy anything but that hasn't happened in the UK yet.
So I ask again, should WU be encouraging their readers to indulge in illegal activities?
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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andys
Staff
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 171
Loc: London, England
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We feel the law is wrong in this regard. There is a vast difference between making a copy of a DVD and giving it away, selling it to someone or otherwise using the copy to violate copyright, and transferring your DVD into another format so you can watch it on one of your many video-playing devices, whether that's your PC, your iPod or your phone.
This may yet come into law - see our article on the decriminalisation of format shifting at www.webuser.co.uk/news/172892.html. We're watching this very closely.
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Andy Shaw - Technical and Reviews Editor
Web User
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wildthing666
regular
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 3783
Loc: nearly out of HELL
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OK you buy a DVD and you have portable hardware with a 40 or 80 Gb HDD this has no DVD player (these products are advertised and sold as a way to watch a movie , or video, on the go ), the manufacturers know that there is software out there to put films on their hardware. If the record companies have their way you wouldn't be allowed to put your CD collection on a portable player, what is the difference with a film ? why can't we put our films on portable HDD so we can take a collection of our movies around with us like we can our music.
The hardware is there to carry your movie collection around with you, the software is available to make it possible for you to put the films on the hardware, the film studios would like the software to be classed illegal so we have to sit at home or carry a portable DVD player that will jump and eventually damage the disc meaning you have to purchase another copy if you want to watch it again making more profit for them
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Carers voices
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thebiggfella
regular
Reg'd: Mon
Posts: 1317
Loc: Scotland, UK
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I agree with Andy. The law is wrong. And as Wildthing says, what's the difference between putting a movie on a portable media player and putting music on one. I mean, most of us do the latter using WMP, Nero etc. DVD shrink, ireverter or whatever do the same thing with DVDs.
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17426
Loc: Colchester
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I think the law about me not being allowed to use my mobile while driving down the motorway at 90mph is a load of rubbish as well. I think I'll just ignore it and when I get pulled up I'm sure the nice policeman will understand that I'm exercising my rights to break the law as and when I feel like it.
Don't give me the rubbish about the law is wrong so I'll ignore it. We, that is you and I, appointed the law makers when we voted them in to power. If you didn't vote, you've got no grounds for complaint. If you did vote, write to your MP and tell him you want the law changed.
My original post was complaining about WU encouraging people to break the law and so far I haven't seen any justification for that stance.
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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