Legal requirement for holding on to VHS tapes after converting them to MP4 files (1 Viewer)

[movie_buff]

I have 150 to 200 VHS tapes which I have converted to MP4 files and then stored on my NAS. Can I donate those tapes now to some organization or am I required by piracy law to hold on to them as evidence of purchasing the movies?

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Generally speaking, you are legally allowed to make backup copies of media that you own. Once you no longer own the original media, you’re not entitled to have a backup copy of it.

 

[SD_Brian]

Practically speaking, unless you are distributing copies of those MP4 files (which would be illegal in any case), it's unlikely the Piracy Police will be breaking down your door to ensure you still have those VHS tapes in your possession. They certainly could, but it seems improbable.

 

[DaveF]

I mean….strictly speaking, copying material and then giving away or selling the originals is piracy (copyright infringement).

But The Piracy Law Police are not going to check in on your donation of VHS tapes and demand you show you don’t have digital duplicates on your NAS.

Also. VHS. No one cares about VHS.

 

[Museum Pieces]

I think the DMCA says you can no longer legally make a backup if you have to break an encryption to do so. In any case, it's no longer a backup if you give the originals away or sell them, so that's against the law.

 

[Kevin Hewell]

Can I donate those tapes now to some organization or am I required by piracy law to hold on to them as evidence of purchasing the movies?

I don't see where that would be a problem.

 

[David Norman]

This is one of those weird laws I suspect get enforced only as an add-on cascaded charge. they arrest you got something, then pile on as many superfluous charges as possible (even laws rarely enforced) just to add leverage in getting you to plead guilty. Guy gets pulled over for an expired tag, then suddenly has a Too Bright headlight, misaligned hibeams, rear tailight cracked, windows 1% too dark, driving in bare feet 9OK not a real law but I have heard people charged in the old Speed Trap days and more recently Brookside AL), having an empty and long dry beer can in teh back floorboard filled with cigarette butts, etc, etc