I own a VHS version is it fair use to back up a rented DVD?

[K(c)offee]

I own the VHS copy of The Crow. Is it legal to go to the store and rent the DVD version and make a DVD copy of it? How about a Xvid/DivX copy of it? The copy I have is full screen. For it to be legal would I have to make a copy of a full screen DVD? Sort of an odd question just sort of wonder.

[MOVIEGEEK]

This is a grey area but generally speaking it is not legal to copy a rented or d/l copyrighted video.

[tompika]

DVD provides better quality,etc.... and you paid for the cheaper VHS

[Tommyknocker]

This has been discussed before, and the prevailing thought is that this "gray area" it is a little more darker than lighter. You can, however, make your archival copy of your VHS a DVD, rather than a tape, since it is still a copy of your VHS. The bootleg DVD you want is a copy of the rental store's DVD. Come back to the light side of the Force.

[spiderman2k1]

"MOVIEGEEK" is right it's in the grey area. The one thing about movies and music do we buy the same movie over and over just trying to get the best version. First bought movie's on VHS bought them again on Laser Disc and now DVD and now to come out HD-DVD's. It might just be worth it to buy the movie on DVD it's cheep now about $15.00 dollars at best buy

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/002-6842626-4993621

[K(c)offee]

LOL not a big issue it seems. I cant even get it to play on my computer let alone copy it. And my computer being the only working DVD player I have at the moment a bit depressing. I guess I could go watch my VHS.

[mujahid7ia]

If you own the DVD, do you think you can download a DVDrip (which would consequently be lower quality)? i dont have a DVD ROM drive to back up DVDs.

[vhelp]

Wasn't that a crummy movie anyways

Why not get it on DVD for $6.99 (or is it undre $12) anyways, if you shop
around at Wal-Mart or K-Mart or BJ's etc.

It's not worth approaching the gray area on this issue

-vhelp 2024

[Styro]

Is the question here whether it is fair-use to archive a movie you already own, or is it whether it is fair-use to archive a movie you already own and change the media that the archive will be on? Does it matter at all that his copy of The Crow is on tape, LD or DVD? If the fair-use clause does not explicitly reference a media change for archival backups, then this should be legal. You own an authorized copy of copyrighted content and are allowed one archival backup. Does media matter...?

Personally, I think that as long as you own an authorized copy of the content, the media you put the archive on should not matter.

-- Styro

[freestyler]

The Crow is a great movie. A fair way to have a Crow back-up would be to rip the dvd - encoding the audio as mono and the video as vhs-quality.

VCD anyone?

Just remember that the DVD comes with a separate disc packed with extras.