How to best use this site?

[I Suck At This S#!t]

Hi everyone,

I've just joined the forum as, probably like most of everyone else here, I have a stockpile of old DVDs and VHS tapes to save on my computer and free up some space.

Before I go around posting anything else, what are the main things I ought to know about this site and the community so I don't make myself look like even more of a noob than I am already?
What do you wish people said to you when you first signed up to this forum?

Thanks to anyone who decides to read this. *shoots self in the foot*

[DB83]

The best thing about this place (cheque to be sent to the usual place ) is that no one will kick you in the goolies if you ask the questions that have been asked a 100 times before.

I guess you already found the forum index since you posted this in the right section and the index is helpful since it tells you the appropriate section to post in.

Another plus here is the software section which lists the various tools available to do what you want. Personally, I found this place somewhat late as I had already used commercial software to do what can be done for free (and often better).

[dannyboy48888]

Its pretty friendly here most times. Just check the forums first if its a question, be friendly, and dont ask glaringly illegal questions. Welcome to the site

[redwudz]

Welcome to our forums.

[lingyi]

Its pretty friendly here most times. Just check the forums first if its a question, be friendly, and dont ask glaringly illegal questions. Welcome to the site

Welcome!

+1 to the post quoted.

Read and abide by the forum rules: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/72386-Forum-rules-Acceptable-Use-Policy-(AUP)

Spend some time browsing before jumping into questions and you'll get much friendlier and helpful answers. There are hundreds of posts about ripping and converting DVDs and videotape capture (required/best equipment, restoration, etc.) covering just about anything you have to ask or need help with.

[lingyi]

Highly suggest for videotape capturing/digitizing, highly recommend visiting digitalfaq.com. Many of the regulars here, particularly Lordsmurf (who runs digitalfaq.com) are there. Check out Lordsmurf's videotape equipment and capture threads (which consolidates much of the info you would get here).

[I Suck At This S#!t]

First of all, wow I never expected to get so many replies so quickly, so thanks for noticing me everyone!
Thanks a lot for the warm welcome too, I half expected myself to have set myself up for an 4$$load of lulz for my username and general duh-ness of my first post, so thanks for helping me settle in well and for the helpful tips, much appreciated!

Read and abide by the forum rules: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/72386-Forum-rules-Acceptable-Use-Policy-(AUP)

Hi lingyi, after reading through the warez rules and what exactly "warez" means has me a little puzzled.

The definition of warez, at least what I've made of it on here, is illegally downloaded, streamed or torrented software, movies and other intellectual property that hasn't been released on CD or DVD yet, and rental movies, music etc. (which I'm guessing would have to have been released on DVD et al for it to be rentable at all - besides Netflix and the like, obviously).

The emphasis on warez seems to be on intellectual property which has been copyrighted from theft and piracy, and that's fine. But it also seems to be based around soft copies of media before they've been released on some kind of hard medium like DVD or CD, but also on rental media which has been released on a hard disc (or whatever the correct term is).

So if breaking through the copy protection for both software and computer-based media releases and and rented hard media copies is considered "warez", why isn't the same viewpoint applied to decrypting and breaking through the copy protection on purchased DVDs and CDs etc?

Not that I'm trying to disapprove of DVD decryption (otherwise I wouldn't be here), but why are streamed/torrented media, software and rentals considered "warez" and purchased CDs and DVDs "not-warez"? How do fair use laws come into this?

*necessary disclaimer to try to save face* This is all my own perspective after having just read the warez rules, glossary definitions and a thread post where someone restated the rules and slapped the OP with a warning.

Many thanks

[DB83]

My two cents on the above.

The question to be asked is "Do you own the media ?". If you rent something you do not own it. If you obtain software that has been shared you do not own it.

If you purchase a dvd or a vhs cassette etc., you do own the physical media. The argument might be that you still do not own the contents of that media but the site does actively support your desire to extract those contents for your own use onto another media. Hence the term 'Fair Use'. Share that extraction outside of your own family then it no longer is 'fair use' and becomes copyright infringement.

[I Suck At This S#!t]

Thanks DB, that makes the most sense. I guess my only other questions in that case would be:

1. I know that one of the main reasons people rip DVDs and CDs is to utilise the raw files in their own projects (splicing different files together to create a new video), and that means handling (through a user interface which highly simplifies everything) the raw data encoded on the disc. As far as ownership and fair use are concerned, would the same rules apply to a digital media copy (that is, unless the raw files were already made available from the outset - I have no knowledge whatsoever on how digital media downloads work), as long as it had been purchased in a much similar way to hard discs, and by extension:
2. Would said rules also apply to a digital or hard copy of a piece of software, as long as it had been purchased from the provider (this does not include paying for a 2-year use contract or anything along those lines), in that as long as the user does not attempt to share the software with anyone else, they can "adapt" or make changes to the software to suit their needs, or would this or both instances be a massive red warez flag?

I dunno if it's illegal to ask this...

Again, I do not advocate the illegal copying or distribution of any pirated items outside of the fair use under Section 107 of the 1976 Copyright Act; but I do believe I am well within my rights to inquire about the exact definitions of such laws and what they entail for different types of media and computer applications, in order to reduce the likelihood of me inadvertently breaking those laws (unless it is impossible to do so without prior knowledge of said law).
I also already know about open-source software whose users are encouraged to modify and improve the software <-- probably answered my second question there, but I'd still like to hear your thoughts. :/

[DB83]

A line must be drawn on this discussion as far as I am concerned.

I am not a lawyer. Neither, as far as I am aware, is any active member or admin/moderator. And the majority of lawyers would not go near the Copyright Act since it rather specialised and, like any other law, is subject to interpretation.

The rules, as far as I am concerned, have been drawn up to allow the members their basic rights.

It is for the moderators to determine if the rules have been violated and many topics are closed for that very reason.

Yes, members do create compilations but the same rules apply. Even so, I think you are wrong in your estimation that this is a 'main' reason. The main purpose is media shifting much to preserve the original media from damage as well as playback by other means.

I respectfully suggest that you also put this topic to bed else you might well find your self having a kick in the goolies

[I Suck At This S#!t]

Fair enough, fair enough.

I know when I've crossed a line. I just wanted to see where that line was so I knew how things stacked up. We were all complete and utter noobs at one point, after all.

With all due respect, I do still believe discussion in general is important. Many thanks for the discourse!