Backup copies are illegal in Canada
October 21, 2009
According to Michael Geist, who teaches Internet and technology law at the University of Ottawa. “In Canada even today, taping a television program is an act of infringement, making a backup copy of a DVD … that’s an act of infringement…”
It's illegal to backup your purchased DVD movie in Canada
Does this mean that, protecting my investment is stealing just like snatching the purse of a poor old woman on a broad daylight ? You must be kidding me! How about music CDs, software programs, video games or music purchased online? Does the same rule apply? After running a lot of searches on Google, I found out that in Canada, we can make backup copies of CDs only once. Making a second copy would be illegal. To paint a real world scenario, making a backup on your rare favourite music CD collection is okay. If you decided to make another one for outdoor use, that’s considered illegal even it’s for personal use. Another scenario is, if you have seven mp3 players in the family and you want to install the same music on all, five copies would be considered illegal . This only applies to medium that doesn’t have a TPM ( Technological Protection Measure). For example, music purchased online and most of the CDs. For movies, video games or software on DVD or Blu-Ray, making a single backup copy is not allowed. The reason for this is, in order for you to make a copy, you have to defeat the copy protection that is set in place. In other words, you have to hack it. This technique is commonly known as ripping or DVD rip. And the beauty is, you can download a software that has the capability to decode the encryption algorithm of DVDs for free. The bad news is, you are not allowed to use this in Canada to backup your treasured DVD collection. If you’re favourite DVD movie is damaged because it’s prone to scratch and oxidation, you have to buy a new one which will make the record companies very happy.
DVDShrink decrypts the encoded security in a DVD
And how about the blank CD levy. For every blank CD sold in Canada, 29¢ is collected to help offset the alleged losses due to music copying. If you puchased a 100 blanck CDs in a spindle, you’ll be paying $29 dollars more because of the levy. The question, what if you used these CDs for other purposes like backing up your own files. The beneficiary of the levy is the Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC) and they had collected almost $242M between 1999 and 2007. There’s no levy on DVD blanks. That’s why you’ll find DVD blanks a bit cheaper than blank CDs.
In contrast with audio blank CDs, blank DVDs are not levied
It’s apparent here that when it comes to consumer interest, the Canadian copyright law is not that reliable. We hope that someday there will be a change particularly on making backups of purchased digital media. But when ? Should I backup my CD/DVD collection by breaking the law while waiting for an amendment ? Who will protect my investment ? Tell me.
Reference:
http://www.digital-copyright.ca/
It’s very true. The hundres of dollars I have spent on my movie collect. To be able to back it up legally.
At the moment you cannot backup your DVD collection because it’s illegal to do so. If your DVD movie is damaged due to scratch or oxidation, you have to buy a new one.
That is a very interesting point. You really did lots of research.
It’s our right to assert our interest as consumers. Let’s write to our MPs to make amendments on the existing copyright law in Canada.
This is a really challenging issue. I would like to be able to copy something I have purchased without feeling like a criminal. However, if I create something, I would like to be paid for my work. I believe the copyright laws need to be changed, but I am uncertain how to attain a happy medium.
The recording industry should at least provide a robust medium for music and movies. DVDs are frail and it get easily damaged. At least they should give out some warranty on the product.
yes but if you don’t make copies of your stuff your friends will just steal the original copy from you. I’d rather give them a burnt copy even if it is illegal, then i at least get to keep the box
Servo Servo Servo… Yet Again, you pull off a brilliant professional video. I think when Obi Wan Canobi said “The force is strong with this one” he was referring to you and not Luke Skywalker.
Great job, and you know what? I learned something today!