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True. The CSS encryption has been cracked a while ago, and there are software packages which will allow you to re-author the DVD. Some are good enough to allow you to keep the movie itself but strip out all the extras and things that just take up space.

A lot of people are setting up large hard disks with all their movies on it. Basically, a large movie jukebox.

But it's true, the RIAA/MPAA/TV industry are rabidly fighting this trend and I don't have a lot of confidence in our representatives resisting them.

A lot of people are setting up large hard disks with all their movies on it. Basically, a large movie jukebox.

But it's true, the RIAA/MPAA/TV industry are rabidly fighting this trend and I don't have a lot of confidence in our representatives resisting them.

I don't have a use for that personally, but when I buy a CD or DVD now, I immediately burn a copy of it, and only use that. I learned my lesson when my car was broken into, and they stole a brand new copy of "The Lord of the Rings" unabridged audio book, and I hadn't even gotten a chance to listen to it. I still have the box and receipt at home, and thinking that I had licensed the content, I sent the company a letter, and photocopies of the box cover, the receipt, and the police report. While this might sound silly, IIRC, I paid around $150 for that audiobook, and my auto insurance doesn't kick in with coverage until the loss is $500 (plus I really didn't want to turn it in to my insurance). Basicly, I hoped that I could buy another copy at a discount. I never received a reply. And ever since then, I've burned copies of my media for myself. And I do the same thing with my DVDs... It also motivated me to get a car CD player that understands MP3s, so now I can cruise in my car for 7 or 8 hours at a time without having to change the CD... Of course, I have to fill the gas tank about every 5 hours or so...

Mark

A lot of people are setting up large hard disks with all their movies on it. Basically, a large movie jukebox.

I have one of those. When I got a new Mac, I demoted the old one to the entertainment center. I have some movies ripped from DVD, but use it mostly to record and save or share stuff I've recorded on the DVR.

But it's true, the RIAA/MPAA/TV industry are rabidly fighting this trend and I don't have a lot of confidence in our representatives resisting them.

I have more confidence in technology in this instance than I do in the law. The Internet interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. Eventually, the RIAA will wise up and treat movies the way the MPAA treats music -- you can buy a download and keep it forever, or you can "rent" a download that won't run after a limited time or after you drop your subscription to a service like the new Napster. Someone will crack the DRM protection, like iTunes has already been cracked, but most folks won't bother with it.

In the early days of VHS, when movies cost $100 per, a lot of folks went to the effort to copy tapes, even buying devices to disable Macrovision. When movies got cheaper, most folks stopped bothering. The industry should learn from its own example.