I have a few questions about ripping DVDs to my computer, and was hoping that some of you may know a thing or two about it.
Thanks!
-mike
Don’t really know about two and three, but I have a mac and I use DVDVX, it is free and it works wonderfully. Don’t know about PC’s though.
Not that I ever actually do this, but I know how…
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DVD Fab Decrypter came with a 27 page, illustrated instruction manual in .pdf format that was easy to use. That was through version 2.xx. I have not seen a manual for version 3.xx.
DVD Shrink is preset to burn using DVD Decrypter (no longer legally available) or Nero. Those are options you can select in DVD Shrink.
I think compressing to 700MB will make it barely viewable.
I don’t burn dvds. But in a hypothetical world where I did, I would have used DVD shrink 3.2.
It’s fairly simple to use.
Hope I helped.
Ed
would u steel a car
Unless it’s a Corvette, they’re made out of aluminum! 
Do you think it should be illegal for people to make their own personal backup copies of purchased DVD movies that they own?
No because when you purchase a DVD you are paying for the DVD manufacturing cost and one home use license.
As long as you legitimately are only making a back up copy for yourself I see no problem with it.
But when you’re making a “back-up” copy and then selling the original or giving it to a friend that’s a BIG difference.
Well if you lend a DVD to a friend and he rips a copy and gives it back to you he is stealing because he’s stealing the license.
The idea of intellectual property was something established by Jefferson over 200 years ago. It’s certainly nothing new. It’s just become easier to steal intellectual property than it was at his time.
DVD Shrink works great for someone who isn’t all that technically inclined.
You can’t store a DVD on a CD, because it’s not the same thing.
A CD is 700mb, a DVD is 4.37gb (DVD5 Single Layer) or 7.95gb (DVD9 Dual Layer)
1gb = 1024mb
I don’t see a 4) Comment on how piracy is illegal.
I copied my Universe 2 DVD, and for good reason. The hole around the middle actually cracked in multiple places, and now it is unplayable. Good thing I copied it in time.
And I didn’t get an ass kicking, even. 
Send me a copy.
I’ll trade you Saw II.
Just because I’m that good.
Actually, from a legal standpoint in the US, that’s copyright infringement, not theft. They are two different things, and treated differently. Further, copyright infringement must be performed with the clear purpose of financial gain to be considered a criminal act.
Wikipedia link (take grain of salt first):
Feel free to debate the moral standpoint though. I won’t get in your way.
That is what the MPAA would like you to think is stealing.
You + (VCR/DVD copying equipment) = Ass Kickin’. Dan will be looking for you…
So those pre-movie ads that show the people downloading movies are a bit of an exaggeration, right? But I guess telling people that illegally copying movies (no license) is “infringement” wouldn’t sound like much…
What’s funny is that I have never ripped a protected DVD (protected with CSS). I have never had a need to or a desire to. I may have to turn in my geek license.
I have, however, ripped and shrunk and edited unprotected DVDs. Primarily DVDs of TV shows recorded with my DVR DVD recorder.
I said steal because I meant steal.
From dictionary.com
steal
The definition of property includes intellectual property, and to make a copy of a DVD is taking it without permission or right.
It IS stealing. Just because the government charges it differently that doesn’t change the definition of the word.
All copyright infrigment creates a possible tort regardless of whether financial gain came about because of it.
If you want to steal media fine, do so, but don’t try to argue that you’re doing nothing wrong.
That’s a moral argument, and I respect your opinion. Now I will clarify my position:
United States Copyright Law:
Further, In Dowling v. United States (1985), the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that copyright infringement does not “easily equate” to theft and unauthorized copies are not stolen property. Copyright infringement is not a property crime; in fact, copyright infringement is only rarely handled as a criminal matter.
Perhaps copying a single CD or DVD from a friend for personal use is immoral (debateable), but it’s certainly not criminal. Equating it to stealing will not hold up in a court of law.
You’re trying to justify your opinion based on legalities, but to make unauthorized copies of a work IS still illegal regardless of quantity or whether or not profit is being made.
Yes, it’s not a criminal charge if it’s under a certain value, but it’s still something you can be held civilly liable for.
Taking something without permission IS stealing. That nothion is something that is almost universally agreed upon across cultures, countries, and legal systems.
In the U.S. we have intellectual property rights that establish things like films, songs, written words as property or “something”.
Copyright law establishes that you do not have the right to take copies of someone’s work without permission.
So to copy DVDs is taking something without permission which as defined by most cultures throughout the world IS stealing regardless of the enforced legalities of the issue.
I think it is a question of degree. If I make a backup copy of my copy of Superman Returns, for me, I’ve stolen nothing.
If I make a copy and loan it to my friend, I still think it’s fair use.
If my friend watches his while I watch mine at home, we’re over the line.
If I give it to my friend, we’re further over the line.
If I sell it to my friend, we’re definitely well over the line.
If I sell a stack of them, like all the movies and software we saw for sale in China around Unicon X, I’m definitely in danger of serious court proceedings.
But copying my own piece of intellectual property, for backup purposes, not stealing. Loaning it out, still not stealing.
Yes.
And I maintain that copying something ≠ taking something. You call it “stealing,” and I call bullshit.