I have a dell dimension 8100 desktop PC.  I also have an internal cd
burner with
roxio 5 software.  I would like to copy my DVD collection.  If I buy a
sony DRU 500A dvd writter/player, will it be able to copy and burn my
DVD collection?  Will those burned dvd's then play in my DVD player as
long as I burn in the proper format?  The sony burns in all 4 formats,
that shouldn't be a problem, but would also like to know if there is
some sort of copyright protection that won't allow the sony to copy
and burn all DVD's.  Thank you for your time and consideration to my
questions.

Hi -
   
Thank you for your question.  
  
Most commercially available DVD's are encrypted by CSS, or "Content
Scramble System," which prevents one from functionally and legally
copying them with the Sony DRU-500A or any other DVD writer.  Your
home DVD collection should not be a problem, however.
   
If you need additional information and/or clarification, please ask
before rating this answer.
  
Source:
Litigation Practice, Winter 2002
http://www.weil.com/wgm/cWGMPubs.nsf/d1fd23ad94117119852566d3005d50e0/4992c5d8749d718085256b13007ad18b?OpenDocument
  
Additional link:
An exhaustive amount of information on DVD can be found on this FAQ:
http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html
 
Search Terms:
DVD encryption

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Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 27 Dec 2002 09:48 PST

By "home DVD collectIon," I mean "homemade."

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Request for Answer Clarification by ty1322-ga on 27 Dec 2002 11:20 PST

So, basically, I am not going to be able to copy say "spider-man or
saving private ryan" dvd's I buy at the store for example?  Thanks.

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Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 27 Dec 2002 11:22 PST

Yes, that is correct; not only functionally speaking, but it is a
direct violation of the law.
 
jbf777-ga

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Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 27 Dec 2002 11:29 PST

See the following link for an article on 321 Studios, the maker of
DVDXCOPY, who are currently being sued by 7 major motion picture
studios:
 
http://news.findlaw.com/ap_stories/high_tech/1700/12-20-2002/20021220114502_058.html

There is a software program available called DVDXCOPY (website =
www.dvdxcopy.com) made by 321Studios.  It allows you to copy your
DVD's onto 1 or 2 DVD-R or DVD-RW discs.  Visit their website and read
the forum pages.  Some people have a lot of problems with the program
while others don't.

I bought the program a few weeks ago and it has worked flawlessly for
me.  I have an older Dell Dimension 4100 with a Pioneer A04 dvd
burner.

The studios only sued after DVDXCOPY was made available...321 Studios
filed a lawsuit against the movie studios 8 months ago...the studios
shrugged it off but now that DVDXCOPY is available and works, they
don't want consumers to have it.

http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/ptech/04/25/dvd.copy.controls.idg/index.html

The purpose of DVDXCOPY is to provide a backup copy of a DVD that you
OWN...

What percentage of people do you think are using the software for
"backup" of their own DVD's?  I have no statistics, but I would
venture to guess the unsaid copying is more about piracy than anything
else.  If you're buying the software to make just "one copy" to "give
to a friend."  That's illegal.  There's typically no need to backup
legally protected DVD's, unless you're using them as a table-saw
blade, or your player has a sand paper insert.

The San Francisco Chronicle reviewed the DVD X Copy software a few
weeks ago:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/12/09/BU86087.DTL

If you have kids, then making a copy of the DVD is a good idea...

I'm sure there are those that will abuse it, but that's the way it is
in just about everything.

here's a good link about the lawsuit in question:

http://www.sunspot.net/technology/custom/pluggedin/bal-pl.himowitz26adec26,0,6576971.column?coll=bal-business-indepth