Is DVD copying legal?

Is it legal to copy DVDs for private use? To be honest, I don't know. There is not much case law to be shown yet, we have put together a few of the examples we have found. Copying CDs or DVDs for Sale or Distribution is illegal. However, for your own private use It appears that under the fair use doctrine it is legal to own copies of titles you have purchased, but the sale of software that allows the copy protection to be circumvented may be illegal.

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Court clears programmer

In December 2003 a court in Norway cleared a man of DVD piracy charges. The court upheld an earlier verdict that Jon Johansen, 20, had not broken the law by creating a system that could get around copy protection on DVDs. You can read more about this case on the BBC website.

Legal victory for 'DVD hacker'

DVD Copy Software withdrawn from market

In February 2004, 321 Studios were forced to withdraw their popular range of DVD copying software applications from the market. A federal judge had ruled that these products were illegal because they circumvented the copy protection mechanisms found on many commercial dvds. 321 studios has now released versions of their programs which no longer bypass the protection mechanisms. Have a look at the following links for more information:

Can you legally copy DVDs? - CNET review
Electronic Frontier Foundation: Court Endorses Ban on DVD Copy Technology

DVD copying to be allowed

In July 2004 an article on the BBC website reported that film fans would soon be allowed to make legal copies of DVDs for use on portable players, under a plan agreed by US media and technology giants. Among the backers of the plan were companies like Disney and Warner Bros. :

Move agreed on legal DVD copying

French Court rules against copy protection

In April 2005, UFC-Que Choisir (a French consumer protection organization) has been granted a prohibition on DVD copy protection devices by the Paris Court of Appeal, these devices having been judged to be incompatible with private copying rights.

Court Prohibits DVD Copy Protection

Movie industry mellows on DVD copying

In August 2006 an article published by 'The Enquirer' states that the DVD Copy Control Association is to remove some of the obstacles that block the copying of DVDs. This apparent 'mellowing' is soon explained further on in the article where it is made clear that retailers will be able to make copies for sale, so this copying process is for the benefit of the industry and not designed to clear the grey areas surrounding copying for private use.

Movie industry mellows on DVD copying
What? We can copy DVDs? Sort of?

100 hours unpaid work for copying DVD's

July 2007 - A Carmarthen (Wales, UK) man has been ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work in the community for counterfeiting CDs and DVDs.

100 hours unpaid work for copying DVD's

Copying DVDs for sale and/or distribution is illegal. Copying rented DVDs is illegal. Copying DVDs to give away to friends and family is illegal. However, it appears to be legal to have a copy of a DVD you have bought for yourself, although there is some grey area about circumventing the copy protection. We are not aware of a private individual being prosecuted for copying DVDs they own for their own private use. It also appears unreasonable, if you already own a title, to have to buy a second because you want to watch it on a different type if player (eg iPod or PSP). However, a definite anwser we cannot give - if anybody has one (which either is in black and white or has been tested in the courtroom) please let us know!