[killjoy]

I'm also purchasing that DVD from Wal-Mart with the full knowledge that if I copied it or altered it, I would be violating copyright agreements if I became a distributor of that film.

If you made additional copies, sure. If the original was destroyed and you are not making additional copies, then you are not depriving the rights of the copyright holder from making profit. The reason for copyright law is to ensure the copyright holder of being able to profit from their work. If no loss of money occurs, no laws are broken.

[BigSkyFreeper]

If you made additional copies, sure. If the original was destroyed and you are not making additional copies, then you are not depriving the rights of the copyright holder from making profit. The reason for copyright law is to ensure the copyright holder of being able to profit from their work. If no loss of money occurs, no laws are broken.

What your talking about is "personal use". If you have no intent on selling, then you're not breaking any laws.

[ReignOfError]

The reason for copyright law is to ensure the copyright holder of being able to profit from their work.

No. The purpose of copyright and patent law, as laid out in the US Constitution, is to reserve exclusive rights for a limited time so as to encourage the useful arts. Profit is one of the reasons for that protection, but not the only one. If an artist can retain control over his creation, more artists will have more incentive to create. That serves the public good.

If no loss of money occurs, no laws are broken.

Um, because you made that up? If I steal your car and leave a check for its market value, was there no crime? I'm flabbergasted that you can make this argument with (as far as ASCII can tell) a straight face.