CD expiry date

[jackedup]

We have a CD with pictures from a studio and apparently there is an expiry date on the disk at whcih time the disk will no longer function.

Is there a way around this?

Thanks

[gll99]

I suspect the pictures are encrypted and you are using proprietary software to extract them from the cd. The cd will not expire but the software to extract them will. If this is the case it is legally tricky for someone to teach you to circumvent the software especially if you agreed to the time limit when you acquired the material. If I am correct, then helping you to break the software would not be an acceptable solution based on this site's AUP.

There is a solution which probably breaks no laws since it's built into windows. Every time you view an image a copy is stored in a temp file on your computer. It is possible that the images in the temp directory have been decrypted so that any image program can read them. Barring that there are screen capture programs that will store a screen image of anything on your display screen.
You will have to decide if you have legal authority to copy these images to a more permanent location.

If my assumptions about ownership are incorrect please provide more information.

[jackedup]

I suspect the pictures are encrypted and you are using proprietary software to extract them from the cd. The cd will not expire but the software to extract them will. If this is the case it is legally tricky for someone to teach you to circumvent the software especially if you agreed to the time limit when you acquired the material. If I am correct, then helping you to break the software would not be an acceptable solution based on this site's AUP.

There is a solution which probably breaks no laws since it's built into windows. Every time you view an image a copy is stored in a temp file on your computer. It is possible that the images in the temp directory have been decrypted so that any image program can read them. Barring that there are screen capture programs that will store a screen image of anything on your display screen.
You will have to decide if you have legal authority to copy these images to a more permanent location.

If my assumptions about ownership are incorrect please provide more information.

Thank you for the reply. THere is only one file on the CD and it is an exe file.

The pictures are wedding pictures for which a great deal of money was paid however I would suspect that even though we paid for a service to be performed the studio takes the position they own the pictures.

I guess it is sort of like taking your car to a mechanic and giving him $2000 to repair the engine in your car. Does he now own the car?

To top if off all of the pictcures have the name of the studio across them so it is not like we can do anything aside from viewing them anyway.

Anyway again I thank you for your response and will try your suggestions.

[Gillies]

u could try running the program and use the printscreen key to capture the images, then paste them using an image program. u'll need to do 1 at a time, but they probablt already thought of that.

[gll99]

It's what I thought your wedding pictures are imbedded in the exe file. Sometimes other library files will hold the pics. That's why it's so important to read your agreement with the company who took your pictures. I've never heard of time limits on someone elses wedding pics but maybe someone is just trying some other way to make a fast buck. He won't get a lot of repeat business when word gets around. You could complain to the better business bureau if such a thing exists where you live. Try small claims court. In Ontario Canada where I live it only costs about $50 bucks and proceedings are not overly formal and are simplified for the average person. If you signed a small print preprinted form in the office of the company you have an excellent chance of winning your case. Small claims court judges dislike one sided forms that they know people do not or are not given time to read. This does not take away any rights from the company but the judge may rule on a single case basis that you were mislead by the fine print.

If these were only samples designed to show you what else is available for purchase then I would side with the vendor and I'm sure most judges would also.

Who owns the wedding pics has been discussed here before and in this case it may be a red herring. I might morally empathize with you and even agree that you have a right to the pictures but the problem is that they own the software and directly cracking it is not a legal option.

A person could argue that in this case it is similar to fair use and someone is depriving you of the ablility to backup and use the material you purchased since you obviously would never rent your wedding pictures. Suggestions made so far were done with this thought in mind.

Read the contract and look at what is stated there about any limitations or other conditions.

[gll99]

I just noticed this point:

To top if off all of the pictcures have the name of the studio across them so it is not like we can do anything aside from viewing them anyway.

This is usually only done with samples. The company guarantees x number of pictures but may take twice that many. They then show you a sample book (or disc) of all the pics and let you choose the ones you want and any special order ones. That is why they are marked with a company logo.
read my comment on that:

If these were only samples designed to show you what else is available for purchase then I would side with the vendor and I'm sure most judges would also.

Call the vendor you may have misunderstood his intentions. He is probably waiting for you to choose your pictures.

[jackedup]

Thanks for the replies