Travel with DVD backups

[illgamma]

I am moving to Japan in a month and I want to take all my DVD backups in a few cake-boxes. I'm planning on leaving the originals in storage here in the US. I have about 250 discs in several cake boxes and I'd like to take them all with me. My concern is that some guy inspecting my luggage will think they are pirated and take them and I'll have to deal with some trouble. So, I'm wondering if anyone here has ever traveled overseas (or domestically) with a number of back-ups, and if they had any problems. Otherwise, does anyone know any laws on this subject?

[illgamma]

BTW, These are all labeled with an epson R200 and look real besides the purple foil on the bottom

[ZAPPER]

Fed-Ex, UPS, USPS ect, ect.

Pack them well, buy insurance and a little prayer.

[illgamma]

if i use usps, should i try to sorta hide them within a box of other stuff?

also, dont they ask if theres any media inside, will they check?

[ZAPPER]

Actually I don't know if or how well they check packages for domestic or international shipping. Maybe just ask them? I don't know what the laws are overseas about backup copies either. You may want to contact the counselate (SP) of your destination country yourself. I am willing to bet that most officials won't know the laws either. Copies of the receipts should show that you own the originals (or maybe some photos of the originals in their cases for those of us that don't keep every receipt of every item that we own to prove ownership)

Tough call. Mabe a huge external drive or ten.

It is a shame that an honest man would even have to worry about something like this, but it could be a good concern to get straightened out before you travel. Ending up in some foreign prison (or any prison for that matter) would really be the low point of a bad day.

Maybe a travel agent or the airlines could give you some information?

[Doramius]

I traveled with them in a carry-on. They don't care (at least in the US airports). It's not their responsibility to watch for pirated discs. They cannot tell the difference if you own the originals at home or not. It's not their place. Now if you had intent to sell like at a swap meet, then you'd have an issue. Keep them in a carry-on though. If they search your check in luggage, it may find a home in someone elses video library. :/

[ZAPPER]

250 disks? I would think that should raise a flag. If I were to try to be a little sneeky I would package them up like new and shrinkwrap them maybe.


Ah hell who am I fooling? First off, I don't have that kind of nerve to try and be sneeky with the feds or some foreign gov't. And second off, I wouldn't put that much at risk on 250 DVDs, backups or not.

Check with the airline and then declare/claim them and insure the hell out of them to make sure that they get the treatment that they deserve. Or like I said before, ship them, and with lots of insurance.

[yoda313]

Or you could rip them to a couple of 500gb harddrives and you can reburn them later. They can't inspect every gigabyte thats on a harddrive.

[ZAPPER]

Or you could rip them to a couple of 500gb harddrives and you can reburn them later. They can't inspect every gigabyte thats on a harddrive.

I was also thinking along those line myself, but hadn't done the math.

Personally, I wouldn't be as worried about the US side of the issue, but as far as overseas, I keep having visions of "Midnight Express" flash in my head. Maybe my guilty heart or maybe my lack of knowledge about foreign laws. Either way, it still seems like a risk.

[Doramius]

250 discs? I still don't think you'd have a problem on the US side, but you may not want to travel with them as a carryon. that's a lot of discs. I was thinking maybe a 100ct disc porfolio. They don't care in the US. In other countries, I don't think you'll have a problem. I've only taken DVDs to Canada and Mexico, but not on the plane. Inside the US, I've had no problem. It's if you try to sell.

[doppletwo]

These are backups right?



Carry them in a clear platic bag, or use your fingers as spindles.



What's the big deal?



This is the exact sort of situation that backups are for.

[TooLFooL]

if you are moving to japan, why are you leaving your dvd's in the US?

[träskmannen]

Why not contact the Japanese embassy and ask them? And the same for the US customs? That must be the easiest way to find out.

[Supreme2k]

I've gone to Tokyo with 2 cake boxes (200), and didn't have a problem. Not all were backups and the home made were on the top of the cakes.

Now, when I tried to sell them in the Tokyo airport, I ran into a bit of a hassle

[mattypj]

If you converted all the movies to avi and got rid of all the menus then you could fit them on a 250 gig hard drive.