Anti-DVD Piracy rant

[Sunset Girl]

Let me point out right now that all of the CD's I've created are mixes from CD's that I have already purchased, or from tracks that I've paid for to legally download online. That way I don't have to take upteen-million CD's in my car with me to have my favorite music at hand. I was not in any way condoning bootlegs, I was just offering suggestions of how people try to justify it. Of course, it's also considered illegal to share the music with my friends. So does that mean I should turn my CD player off when they get in my car? That I should never let them borrow any of my music or movies? So where do we draw the line? My pen-pal and I used to swap music with each other through mix tapes by snail-mail, which made me aware of some music I hadn't yet heard of and prompted me to buy some new CD's. Support the artists, right? [EDIT]: Oh, and just because a CD hasn't made it into the top ten in sales doesn't mean it isn't "good."

Please recognize the fact that I already pointed out that I fully support the entertainment I enjoy with my hard-earned cash, and that is where the heart of the matter lies. You want a copy of my Incredibles DVD when it arrives? No! Get your own! If you like the movie, go out and buy it yourself! Sales of a disc help determine what encompasses following releases.

Making a back-up copy constitutes as "fair-use," in my opinion. Where is the loss in money for the company? By the way, I happen to work in child-care, and I see nothing wrong with letting children accomplish tasks on their own. While children definitely need guidence and supervision, it is equally important to to let them learn and explore their enviournment as long as it doesn't involve any danger. Where is the danger of letting a child have and use their own DVD player with a selection of kid-friendly movies? You may argue that children shouldn't be watching so much TV, but these specific children I'm mentioning get plenty of outdoor activities, book reading, drawing and coloring, and more. Are you also suggesting that a three-year-old should not touch, say. . . a computer? Or a piano? That is the best age to start learning tasks and responsibilities. I see no harm in letting them pick out and play a movie toward the end of a day. At any rate, I don't know about other kids, but please don't suggest that these children I speak of are unwanted or unsupervised. The family is very active in their lives. In fact, the seven-year-old reads at a fourth-grade level and the three-year-old is beginning to read as we speak. Please don't jump to conclusions.

The main reason I joined in on the rant here is because of the copyright warnings you now see in theaters (along with other commercials). I already paid to get in to the theater. They already have an employee regularly do a walk-through to look out for anyone with a camera. So why do I have to be bombarded with an ad that practically accuses me of stealing movies? Is there anything wrong with my suggestion of making ads more positive? I mean, I'm cool with the standard FBI warnings, but after that, they're carrying things too far in my opinion.

[Wonderlicious]

People who let 3 and 7 year-olds handle DVDs are only asking for trouble. Why are they so lazy that they can't supervise the movies that their children watch. You are breaking the law making back-up copies, because they can't legally be done without having some kind of "zipper" machine to override the copyguard. Think about it. Some people are just to lazy to raise their children. If they didn't want them around why did they have them?? In our house my grandchildren know that grandma or grandpa will take care of their movie needs. They always let us know when the movie is over so we can change it, but for the most part we only allow one movie a day so they can do other creative things. That is why today's kids are lost, they had no parental supervision growing up and we would be a whole lot better off if those people never had kids.

Sorry for the rant, but it just irks me to no end to hear about people who let "little" kids handle the movie watching on their own. A child under the age of ten should not be allowed to touch any electronic equipment having to do with the television, VHS player, DVD player, etc. Adult supervision is required and if they can't do that, hire a nanny or babysitter to do "their" work for them.

Again, sorry for the rant guys and gals. I am a family man and letting a 3 or 7 year old handle DVD's is just out of the question.

I don't mean to be rude but I find that that post, as well as others of yours, dvdjunkie, seem obnoxious in tone. I was annoyed by you saying that "some people don't know how to raise their children." I think that that statement was just mean, making you sound as if you thought that there are few good parents and you're one of them, and that the children of "lesser" parents shouldn't exist.

Personally, I think that you should watch what you type as it is somewhat offensive. I am not one of the site moderators, so I'm not sure if I should be enforcing the law, but I dislike what you wrote and would like you to edit it at least slightly, as it upset me (and possibly others).

[RJKD23]

dvdjunkie, although I'm not a parent, I can say that people raise their children differently. and they also set different rules around the house. there's not a perfect, correct way.

i know that because i'm always around children and i interact with their parents (i guess that's what volunteering does to you! )

i'm not saying that you're absolutely right or that you're dead wrong, but people may read your post and take it to the heart... and I'm mostly concentrating on this part:

That is why today's kids are lost, they had no parental supervision growing up and we would be a whole lot better off if those people never had kids.

I dunno...i'm not taking sides but that is a bit rude...

[dvdjunkie]

I am sorry if I offended any one, but as I said, and you have the right to your opinions, I think a three year old and a seven year old are to young to operate Home Theater equipment. Learning to play the piano requires supervision and learning about computers also requires supervision so I am okay with that. But you can't just plop a DVD in player and 'rip' a copy of it without have some type of equipment that bypasses the copyguard which is illegal if you read the FBI warning and the Anti-Piracy warning.

As far as advertisements in a movie theater, what is with that. I have never seen that here in Kansas. I asked management at one of the theaters here and he told me that they, on no certain terms, would run any advertisements other than the trailers for upcoming features. So I don't know what you are talking about when it comes to adverts in theaters. If you have to put up with that, then I am on your side. That is a case of a little too much "big brother" watching you.

[RJKD23]

The main reason I joined in on the rant here is because of the copyright warnings you now see in theaters (along with other commercials). I already paid to get in to the theater. They already have an employee regularly do a walk-through to look out for anyone with a camera. So why do I have to be bombarded with an ad that practically accuses me of stealing movies? Is there anything wrong with my suggestion of making ads more positive? I mean, I'm cool with the standard FBI warnings, but after that, they're carrying things too far in my opinion.

don't get me started on those ads!
every now and then, they have "security guards" in front of the movie theatres before you enter the room where your movie is. you know, checking for Cell phones with cameras, or if you're carrying a recording device. that really RUINS the mood for me watching the movie.
and THEN the ad plays in the theatre! They should change it!

[Sunset Girl]

Technically speaking, exactly what part of copying a DVD is breaking the law? Buying equipment that bypasses the copyguard? Selling that equipment? Or actually using it? Regardless, I see no harm in making back-up copies for personal use. And doesn't putting the copyguard on the DVD's violate my right to "fair use?" Now, I'm not arguing that they shouldn't be there, since the whole reason they exist is to protect their investment. But I'm not trying to take any money away from the companies in any form, so why is it considered illegal to make myself a back-up?

Some theaters have played commercials right along with the previews for quite a while. I first experienced this way back when Jurassic Park hit theaters around 1993. Granted, I haven't always seen commercials since then, but they seem to be getting more and more common. I have seen them for things like Nike, Cheetos, and Coca-Cola, to name a few. And they aren't the regular commercials that you see on TV, no, they are big budget deals that last for 1-2 minutes each, maybe more!

Now, I don't mind the little slide-show type ads that play before the previews begin, and I always look forward to seeing the previews themselves. I don't even mind the "visit our concession stand" thing. But actual commercials? In the theater? If this keeps happening, I'm writing some letters explaining that they may just make me want to march right out of the theater and demand my money back. And then they throw the anti-piracy ads at me? Come on!

[dvdjunkie]

As far as selling the equipment for your use, or just making a 'back-up' for your use, isn't the question. If you read the FBI warning word for word you will see that you are violating the law, and why do you need to make a back up copy anyway. The copyguard is there to keep you from doing that and from making copies for your friends or other members of the family.

Why not wait for it to come on HBO, Showtime or one of the other premium channels and make a copy from that. I have a DVD Recorder/Player and that's what I do. Plus I don't make any copies for friends or family. I obey the laws that are printed there for me to read.

I guess I am lucky to live where I do, we don't have to suffer through the adverts you guys do. The worst thing we have to suffer through are the original "Fritz the Cat" black and white cartoons and short films made by local filmmakers. They call this the pre-show entertainment. It is usually pretty entertaining, and contains no advertisements whatever. When the lights go down and the curtains go up (yes we auditoriums with curtains and four-story tall screens and all theaters equipped with THX sound) all we see is the welcome to the Warren Theaters, and then the previews and then the THX opener and then the movie. I would never go to a theater that has adverts before the movie. That might be the solution, boycott those theaters that have adverts before the feature. See what happens when no one go to the movies any more.