My original question for a project is: "Should hdvd copies/copiers be regulated to protect copyright holders?"
But I was just wondering what laws are already in place in order to protect the copyright holders?
Assuming United States Law:
Copyright Law of 1976
and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (DMCA)
are the two laws in place to protect dvd copyright holders.
The 1976 Law protects copyrights in general, and the DMCA grants additional protection to copyrighted works in a digital format.
Although you can make a copy of your own legally acquired property for private personal use,the DMCA Section 1201 makes it a federal crime to do so if you had to bypass any tool, or encription to do so. So, changing a HDVD file to any other file format is illegal, with very limited exceptions.
Now, the same question came out with cd burners, and dvd burners. It can be assumed that the same restrictions will be placed of HDVD copiers as well.
To comment on a previous answer: "Copyright law only provides a remedy for illegal pirating" This is not true. There are several exclusive copyrights and copying is just one of them. Other rights include the right to display and perform, the right to distribute, and the right to create derivative works. The 1976 law also created parameters for legal copying without permission, (being a legal pirate) like Fair Use, Personal Use and First Sale. Additional copyright laws have created the public domain, and defined how materials become public domain.
There is a very fine line between copies because when you take title in the property you are allowed to make a backup copy of that property. But, if you do not own the copy then you are essentially stealing. Copyright law only provides a remedy for illegal pirating, therefor if caught you can be sued or placed in prison. This is the deterrent method the statute seeks to regulate, a criminal and civil legal issue. Copyright holders are protected to the extent that they have a cause of action against anyone who makes illegal copies and the possibility of jail time.
References :
Assuming United States Law:
Copyright Law of 1976
and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (DMCA)
are the two laws in place to protect dvd copyright holders.
The 1976 Law protects copyrights in general, and the DMCA grants additional protection to copyrighted works in a digital format.
Although you can make a copy of your own legally acquired property for private personal use,the DMCA Section 1201 makes it a federal crime to do so if you had to bypass any tool, or encription to do so. So, changing a HDVD file to any other file format is illegal, with very limited exceptions.
Now, the same question came out with cd burners, and dvd burners. It can be assumed that the same restrictions will be placed of HDVD copiers as well.
To comment on a previous answer: "Copyright law only provides a remedy for illegal pirating" This is not true. There are several exclusive copyrights and copying is just one of them. Other rights include the right to display and perform, the right to distribute, and the right to create derivative works. The 1976 law also created parameters for legal copying without permission, (being a legal pirate) like Fair Use, Personal Use and First Sale. Additional copyright laws have created the public domain, and defined how materials become public domain.
References :