Friday, November 30, 2007

copyright questions

[Where I say "can I" below, I'm asking not just about the current law in your region, but also whether you think someone has the moral right to do those things, whether the law should allow them.]

I buy a movie on DVD.

Do I have the right to watch it in the DVD drive of my PC?

Can I copy the DVD data onto my hard drive and watch the DVD from there? Perhaps my DVD drive doesn't play back smoothly.

What if I have to use software that breaks copy protection in order to copy it to my hard drive?

Can I make a compressed file of the DVD to watch on my PC? This saves hard drive space.

Can I download the DVD data from a friend who also bought it? Maybe my DVD drive is broken.

Via anonymous download?

Can I keep the data on my hard drive after I'm done watching?

Can I make a physical DVD copy for backup?

If my DVD is destroyed in a fire, do I have the right to download it?

If it is stolen but presumably still exists and might be watched?

If I also claim the loss on my insurance?

If I ordered a DVD but it hasn't arrived, can I download it?

If I preorder a DVD but it isn't out yet, and the movie is available online, can I download it?

If I'm going to buy a DVD, but it isn't available for preorder, and the movie is available online, can I download it?

Can I use an audio clip from the movie and make a ringtone for my phone?

Can my spouse watch the DVD on the TV while I watch the data on my PC?

Can I load my DVD to a friend?

Can I loan it if I also have a backup?

Can I watch my backup while it is loaned?

What if I call my friend to make sure they're not watching it at the same time?

What if my friend watches the loaned DVD at the same time I'm watching the backup?

Can I watch the DVD at my house with guests?

Can I stream the movie over the internet in order to watch with friends in other places?

Can I download subtitles in another language and overlay them with software?

Can I make a customized DVD with the extra subtitles and watch that?

If I translate the subtitles myself can I give them to a friend who also bought the DVD?

Can I upload the translated subtitles to a website for others to download?

Can I make a customized DVD which skips the menu and auto-plays the movie?

Can I make a customized DVD which skips parts of the movie? I want a kid-safe version.

Can I make a creative re-edit of the movie with scenes out of order?

Can I make a DVD with a wild re-edit, a custom musical soundtrack, and humorous replacement dialogue?

If not, can I watch the original DVD while music plays in the room, skip chapters at will, and joke about it with my friends?

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