Gary Silverman

DVD Recording

I'm contemplating a DVD burner for my pc. I'd like some input from anyone who records movies. A few questions.
1. Is it legal to record DVD's that I've rented?
If it isn't, I guess this post will be removed.
2. What about formats?
3. What about software?
4. I'm seeing internal recorders in the $100-150 range. Are they adequate?
5. My 3(?)year old Sony DVP-S530D states in the manual that it plays DVD Video discs. Nothing about format. Will that play dvd's that I record, or will I be in the market for a new player?
Any other info would also be appreciated.
Thanks in advance

My Home Theater

Max Leung

I had an ancient Panasonic A310 that is able to read TDK brand DVD-R and DVD+Rs. In general DVD-Rs have a slightly higher compatibility rate than DVD+Rs on standalone DVD players.

I am not a lawyer, but I do not believe renting a movie to copy it is legal, at least in the US. Now, in Canada, it is a bit strange...the law explicitly states that you cannot DISTRIBUTE copies. Who knows how this is interpreted. I should check one day...

Personally, I would wait 6 months and see how the new dual-layer DVD burners work out.

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Gary Silverman

Okay, let me rephrase question #1.
Is it legal to copy movies that I've bought?

My Home Theater

KyleS

Gary,

Yes you are allowed to copy movies that you have bought for Backup/Archival purposes but they are not for use by someone besides you and cannot be sold. Renting DVD's and then copying them is Illegal plain and simple.

KyleS

Wayne Bundrick

According to the compatibility list at dvdrhelp.com, the DVP-S530D will play DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW. It also plays VCD, XVCD, and CD-RW, but not CD-R. That's the same as the capabilities I've found of my two year old DVP-NS300.

Your mileage may vary depending on different brands of media and your burner.

And currently, it isn't even legal to copy a DVD you've bought, because doing so requires breaking the CSS copy protection, and according to the DMCA, breaking copy protection is illegal regardless of whether you're doing it in pursuit of making a copy that you do have the right to make. Lawsuits to either enforce it or overturn it are ongoing.

Wayne Bundrick

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Patrick Sun

Folks, ya'll know why this thread is being closed. Move along...

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