Are VCDs illegal to sell/make?

[CTX1]

Are VCDs illegal to sell/make in the UK?

[marvel2020]

In the UK it is very illegal to make VCD's of movie's etc..., Not to say that it does'nt stop People from doing it .

If you own the orignal DVD/VHS and you make the VCD backup just for yourself, then there should be no problem.

Now if you go onto selling copy's of the VCD and your caught , well i think you'll know what will happen.

[CTX1]

cheers just making sure

[PigOnWing]

No media is illegal, period.
No format is illegal, period.

Saying 'VCDs are illegal' is similar to the hype saying 'MP3 is illegal' and pretty much to the hype saying 'Cessette recording is illegal' and 'VHS is illegal'. The fact you can use the media/format/technology in order to make illegal use with it, doesn't mean that the medai/format/technology is illegal - no more than the fact that people use money in order to buy drugs or pay a murderer renders all money illegal.

If you've made your own film, edited it, and then decided to encode it, burn it, duplicate and sell it as VCD, then there's no reason it will be illegal anywhere (well, apart from Pakistan, perhaps - but again due to content and not media).

If you're taking a DVD, rip it, encode it, then sell it to your only neighbour in the lonely island you're both stuck in - well, while may make up your own rules being the only citizens there, it would still be illegal from every aspect and point of view regarding anyone involved with the original DVD.

Every time someone asks 'Are VCD/MP3 illegal', he should ask instead 'Are VHS/Audio cassettes illegal'. If he sees the answer is dependant on what he do with the media and format, then the same answer applies for VCD/MP3/SVCD/DVDR/Flash cards/Opto-magnetic dwarves/Zrubilaser Rubycarpets.

-- Piggie

[Hex]

Pig,
That doesn't make sense. Sounds like you just took a freshman philosophy class or something. We all know what CTX1 meant, and yes, it is illegal to sell VCD copies of movies.

[PigOnWing]

Actually, no, I don't know what CTX1 meant. If he indeed meant 'is copying DVD's is illegal', then you're right, my answer was unecessery. Then again, that answer seems to me so obvious that I fail to see the purpose of even asking.

And I fail to see how you need to take a philosophy class in order to understand the basics: If you own the copyright, do as ye will.

I will be most surprised to see any UK (or other) authority telling me that the actual format I want to distribute my own material with is illegal.

Copyright infrigement is copyright infrigement. It has nothing to do with the media it's delivered on - and vice versa.

-- Piggie

[adam]

I don't know what CTX1 means either. As PigOnWing said, VCDs themselves are not any more illegal than a blank audio tape, its the content you put on them that is in violation of copyright laws. It is possible to make and distribute copyrighted VCDs, you just need a licence to do it, but good luck getting one in America.

[CTX1]

CTX is the make of my monitor - Commited to Xcellence

[Hex]

I think Adam was referring to your original post.

[RoMeRz]

lol i love em being illegal - means when I..ehem them nasty people sell they they dont have to pay anything like tax or that crap.

[CTX1]

cheers for your input - i now know

[afwasborstel]

/Opto-magnetic dwarves/Zrubilaser Rubycarpets.

Where can I buy them??? How much do they cost? And what can they do??

[kitty]

Boring home movies (with or without lens cap on) on VCD, 100% legal guaranteed, $50 ea

LMAO = laughing my ass off

[epo]

What about Philips's royalties?

[kitty]

Philips royalties paid when I bought by burner or you bought your player.

[Traveler1978]

First of all, Tandenborstel jij hebt echt een coole naam gekozen.
Sorry that's me talking double Dutch again
I just wanted to state that even if I copy a DVD (which I do not own) there is no problem legally (I study law) because the police are;

#1 Not interested in a civilian doing such small scale stuff
#2 Not educated enough to know what the difference is between burning an Audio CD or a VCD
#3 Many people have been brought to trial in The Netherlands who copied CD's (audio) and all off them stated they just downloaded music (in MP3 off course) and tested the audio for 24 hours (which is legal) after which they had to delete it.
#4 Making a back up off any medium is legal through the ICCPR and the ECHR treaties, and the ECtHR has even stated that it would let legislative power concerning the burning of Audio and/or Data up to the member countries.

So to conclude, in The Netherlands (S)VCD's are completely legal as long as you don't have any financial motivations.




PS ICCPR = International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
ECHR = European Convention on Human Rights
ECtHR = European Court of Human Rights

[vitualis]

Backing up a DVD per se is not illegal except that most countries now have laws that essentially say that the deliberate process of breaking a digital copyright protection device is.

That is, even though "backing up" a DVD for personal usage is probably not considered illegal, breaking the CSS encryption is. Since this is required for most DVDs, well, the conclusion is obvious.

BTW, if you are not doing for personal usage (e.g., selling copies), then you have nothing protecting you.

However, has several posters have already stated, VCD are themselves NOT illegal. If I make a VCD from personal content (e.g., home movie) I can doing anything with it (including selling it) with complete immunity. It would be no different from me putting that video content onto VHS or DVD and selling it.

Similarly, there are some Asian companies that publish a distribute official video content onto VCD (e.g., Asian TV shows).

The royalty for Philips will have been paid by the author of the program you are using to author the VCD if it was necessary. Similarly, the royalty on the playback device would have been part of the price of the player.

Regards.

[Traveler1978]

There are several law suits being filed at the moment based on that same fact.
If I have the right to make a safety back up (and nobody can forbid me or is allowed to prevent me from doing that!) how can I do that if there is a CSS encryption on it ?
Those encryptions themselves are illegal in the Netherlands ! (officially)
The same thing has happened when (I think it was) Prince released a CD with a copy protection, that was ruled by a Dutch Judge as being against the rights of the consumer, and therefore illegitimate.
The judge gave a "Carte Blanche" to all crackers to crack the system which happened in less than a day.
So a CSS encryption doens't really bother me...

Just remember

OMNIS FACINOS HABERE TRIGARIUM EFFECTUS ORIGINS


PS The one who can to translate that in less than 5 minutes (without help digital or in person) needs to get a social life.

[Mavrick]

… as long as you delete it within 24 hours….


HAHAHAHAHA!!! People say that with software too… Next they will be saying you can steal a car or rob a bank, and as long as you bring it back within 24hrs you won’t be arrested!!!

People like that is the reason they put "DO NOT EAT" and packing material. "Well the package did not say I couldn't eat it!" HAHAHA

The TRUTH is every movie will have copy right info at the beginning and/or end of the flick. It’s based on their copyright wither or not you can even make a backup copy.

i.e. no unauthorized duplicating public or private is permitted.

Some do not even allow “backups” to be made. This is put on so that if your original breaks or whatever, they can make more money when you buy a replacement copy.

Granted, they don’t go from door to door checking to see if you are doing it or not. Any it may not be worth their time to pursue you in court for your “backup” of Blackhawk Down.

However, if you are cranking out mass quantities of their stuff and selling it on ebay… They will get you if they can…


And of course your own recorded “home movies” are free game… go 4 it…

[Traveler1978]

Let me guess one of the descendants of all the trash we deported across the ocean..
Unless you have a double masters in international law and European law and study Eastern European criminal law like me, you need to shut that trap.
I was explaining about the specific situation in The Netherlands, and just because YOU all elected an idiot for president doesn't mean the rest of us are so ignorant and blind to see the facts.
Our judges are pragmatic and judge on a case by case scenario based on the facts presented to them.
Our judges can be totally impartial because they are appointed for life, not like the idiotic USA where a judge might make a ruling to stay on the public's good side.
And yes the law states that anybody may download anything form the internet to examine it's contents and judge for themselves what it is.
However in the case off a criminal content such as child pornography one is obligated to report this to the aproriate authorities.
So just to Recap

#1 You're a descendant of European Scum.
#2 You are not one of the brightest people, considering the fact you criticise a situation off which you know nothing.
#3 You are not able to read properly, as I never stated that you are allowed to make a copy on the pretense that you have to remove it in 24 hours. (use those glasses or get some)
#4 You REALLY don't read, these clauses that you may not make a backup are illegitimate in our judicial system, they have no meaning what so ever. (Glasses yet again)
#5 Who has the judicial system in which it is possible to sue McDonalds for spilling a hot coffee

Autore Deo, favente Regina Luctor et Emergo.

[Mavrick]

Traveler,

Set your European liberal panty waste down for a minute!

#1. I’m a descendent of Americans who saved your euro-trash butt from not 1, but 2 World Wars!

#2. I’m proud that we have a President with morals and a backbone, to do what needs to be done. It’s weak minded people like you, which let Hitler get out of hand in the first place!

#3. With the exception of the US Supreme Court, we do elect our judges to terms. This way if we get too many crack pots, we can replace them.

#4. I stated the copyright laws were listed on the movies in question. It’s THAT copy right which takes precedent on what you can do… not some life long pot smoking judge who thinks they can make laws and change them on the bench. They are only supposed to uphold the laws not make them!

#5. I don’t have to even take a shot at your intelligence… you have already proved that point! Thank you! (the question was on UK laws)

#6. If the US is so Idiotic… Why do we have the highest GNP in the world? How did such idiots become the ONLY superpower in the world? The USA is not perfect by far, but I would take it over any other country in the world!

#7. The only reason you have such anti-American views is jealousy.


Now… go away…

[Traveler1978]

#1. I’m a descendent of Americans you saved your euro-trash butt from not 1, but 2 World Wars!

IDIOT THE NETHERLANDS NEVER TOOK PART IN WW1 AND IN WW2 I MUST ADMIT BACK THEN THE AMERICANS WERE OK

#2. I’m proud that we have a President with morals and a backbone, to do what needs to be done. It’s weak minded people like you, which let Hitler get out of hand in the first place!

YOUR PRESIDENT TOGETHER WITH THE ENGLSIH PRIME MINISTER ALLOWED HITLER TO INVADE POLAND.
OUR COUNTRY IS ONE FOURTH OF GERMANY, AND WE WERE NEUTRAL
AS IN NOT ON ANYBODY'S SIDE

#3. With the exception of the US Supreme Court, we do elect our judges to terms. This way if we get too many crack pots, we can replace them.

BUT WHO DECIDES WHO IS A CRACK POT JUST ANY TOM DICK OR HARRY ? TSSS AT LEAST WE APPOINT SOMEONE BASED ON THE ADVICE OFF HIS PEERS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST 12 PEERS WHO VOTE FOR YOU AND THEN OUR MINISTER OF JUSTICE CAN NOMINATE YOU FOR AN AUDIENCE WITH THE QUEEN.

#4. I stated the copyright laws were listed on the movies in question. It’s THAT copy right which takes precedent on what you can do… not some life long pot smoking judge who thinks they can make law and change them on the bench. They are only supposed to uphold the laws not make them!

IF EUROPEAN LAW PROHIBITS THESE CLAUSES IN THE LAWS THEY ARE NOT VALID.

#5. I don’t have to even take a shot at you intelligence… you have already proved that point! Thank you!

SHOW ME YOUR MASTERS DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL AND EUROPEAN LAW I"LL SHOW YOU MINE....

#6. If the US is so Idiotic… Why do we have the highest GNP in the world? How did such idiots become the ONLY superpower in the world? The USA is not perfect by far, but I would take it over any other country in the world!

MAYBE BECAUSE IN THE PAST WE DIDN'T GIVE A **** ?

#7. The only reason you have such anti-American views is jealousy.

JEALOUSY OF WHAT ? RUDE IGNORANT PEOPLE NO THX


DISCUSSION CLOSED FOR NOW GOIN' TO SLEEP

Now… go away…

[Mavrick]

#2. I’m proud that we have a President with morals and a backbone, to do what needs to be done. It’s weak minded people like you, which let Hitler get out of hand in the first place!

YOUR PRESIDENT TOGETHER WITH THE ENGLSIH PRIME MINISTER ALLOWED HITLER TO INVADE POLAND. OUR COUNTRY IS ONE FOURTH OF GERMANY, AND WE WERE NEUTRAL AS IN NOT ON ANYBODY'S SIDE

I’m not going to reply after this, since you are not worth the time. But this one was too good to pass up.

So according to YOU… It was George W. Bush and Tony Blair that let Hitler invade Poland….. WOW… I DIDN’T KNOW THAT!!!


Say what you will… You’ll not goat me in to a rant with you…

[Nolonemo]

All federal (U.S.A.) judges are appointed for life.

[fravel]

The only way you can make a copy and sell a movie legally is if that movie is in the public domain. And there are a lot.

[vitualis]

This thread is definitely closed...

BTW, I am pretty sure that the US does not have the highest GDP or GNP in the world. I believe that honour belongs to one of the Scandinavian countries.

Regards.