Is it legal to convert VHS movies to DVD

[frederick]

Is it legal to convert VHS movies to DVD as a business if you destroy the orginal VHS tape.

[SLK001]

No. (At least not in the United States.)

[frederick]

I heard you can if you have the person sign a copyright release form and only one copy. I am not a lawyer but if bought a tape and want to perserve it you can. Also what a person charges to convert it. It would cheaper to buy it on dvd with much better quality.

I don't the MPAA can go after somebody for doing this but they are trying to attack the people that edit out r movie content to pg content.

[freak_in_cage_10k]

i am not sure on whether backing it up onto dvd-r is legal- simply bexcause by buying the movie on vhs you have bought the right to view the movie, not convert it to other media. HOWEVER- it may fall under the "its ok for you to make 1 copy if you own the original"

im almost certain the changing the movies content in any way (eg removing violent scenes etc!) would be regards as ilegal. With regards to someone charging you so they convert it to dvd-r im not so sure- i doubt it!

[mysticgohan17]

im almost certain the changing the movies content in any way (eg removing violent scenes etc!) would be regards as ilegal.

If that is true half of my hometown (according to the MPAA) belongs in jail right now. When Titanic came out on VHS, my local news were basically advising every person w/ a copy of the film to make a sex scene free version for their kids to watch.

[housepig]

doing it for yourself would be okay (you're allowed to make a backup copy for your own use).

doing it for others as a business - good question. In practical terms, you probably wouldn't get in trouble for it, as I can't imagine most people using your service to duplicate anything but the rarest commercial VHS tapes - most of what you'd be doing would probably be home movies. So the amount of tapes you were processing is probably going to be low.

In legal terms - hard to say. You are providing a service to someone with a legal right to back up their property, and you are charging for that service. It would depend on how litigious someone wanted to get.