| U.S. copyright laws forbid the sale of | | | | |
| software that bypasses DVD copy protection. | | | | John Malcolm, antipiracy chief of the Motion |
| Despite this there are hundreds of the | | | | Picture Association of America disputes the |
| software packages available online that have | | | | freedom of use claims made in the case of |
| that capability. | | | | DVD's being copied by someone who has bought |
| | | | the DVD for their personal use as backup etc. |
| In recent cases brought under the existing | | | | The MPAA plans to stop the piracy of movies |
| law the claim was made that the vendors were | | | | before movies go the way of the music |
| unaware of the capability of the software | | | | industry where piracy is so widespread as to |
| they offered for sale. Specifically, the US | | | | have completely negated the laws of copyright |
| Digital Millennium Copyright Act bans | | | | in the US. MPAA was successful in getting a |
| providing information or tools to negate | | | | court order to ban 321 Studio's flagship |
| copy-control features. This includes the | | | | product DVD-X Copy. After a number of |
| Contents Scramble System currently employed | | | | unsuccessful court battles, the company went |
| by DVD's. Individuals and companies are | | | | out of business despite the fact that the |
| forbidden to sell DVD-ripping programs and | | | | product was a highly popular and successful |
| copyright attorneys maintain that people who | | | | program. |
| use the software in the US to break the | | | | |
| protection are breaking the law. | | | | Many of the companies distributing DVD |
| | | | ripping software sold at major outlets warn |
| While the US Movie industry fights to protect | | | | US customers of the illegality of copying |
| it's rights under copyright law, the vast | | | | DVD's with copyright protection. At the same |
| array of DVD ripping software now offered for | | | | time, consumers are directed to other sites |
| sale online and the ease with which consumers | | | | (many of them offshore) where the necessary |
| can use it, make it a foregone conclusion | | | | software elements to complete ripping |
| that Hollywood is fighting a losing battle. | | | | copyright protected DVD's. While MPAA |
| Today the copying and conversion of DVD and | | | | continues to promise direct action to stop |
| audio files is totally simple and, in fact, | | | | piracy, the actual ability of the Association |
| much of the software now offered free online | | | | to effect this intent in such situations has |
| automate the technique. Even the non-geeks | | | | to be questioned. |
| can do it! | | | | |