[PW] Re: copyright issues--PAL to NTSC

[Jeff Imparato]

Hi Mary,

Another solution is using the laptop as your DVD player and buying a
converter which plugs in from your laptop to your television.  There may
even be a wireless version.

Jeff 



Jeffrey W. Imparato, Reference Librarian 
Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library 
1515 W. 10th 
Topeka, KS  66604-1374 
Phone: 785-580-4552
VoiceMail: 785-580-4683 
Fax: 785-580-4559 


-----Original Message-----
From: project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org
[mailto:project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org] On Behalf Of
Mary Towner
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 11:59 PM
To: list at project-wombat.org
Subject: [PW] copyright issues--PAL to NTSC

Hi everyone!  This one's for me, so no roaring hurry.

I purchased a 2 DVD set from Amazon.co.uk as a Christmas present for my 
husband, Bob. The set is only available in PAL, region 2 format, which 
means our regular DVD player/TV combo can't play those discs. However, I

knew the software on Bob's itty bitty laptop could handle the
translation of 
PAL to NTSC, so I bought the set anyway. And the DVDs played just fine
on the 
laptop when I tested them.

The DVDs contain hours of footage featuring Bob's hobby. I know 
he'd prefer to watch on a larger screen or perhaps invite friends over
to 
enjoy the show with him.

I considered obtaining software that would allow me to convert and 
burn the set as NTSC region 1 discs, or perhaps go to one of the local 
stores that offers PAL to NTSC conversion services. Then we could play
the 
DVDs on our regular DVD player. But I have no idea if this is a
violation 
of copyright, so I held off.

I'm assuming that the software in Bob's laptop that converts the digital

code on the fly for viewing isn't a problem, since that's temporary.
But 
I'm guessing that converting and burning a permanent disk in a different

format might violate subsidiary rights. I don't know if "translating" a
disc 
could be considered fair use.

I'm away from work this week but did some preliminary 'net searches. 
Legal reference isn't my specialty. Has anyone else run into this issue
before?
Is it a copyright violation to convert PAL to NTSC?

aTdHvAaNnKcSe,
Mary


-- 
Mary Wilkes Towner             mailto:mtowner at prairienet.org  
Adult Services Librarian              phone (217)367-4405     
The Urbana Free Library               fax   (217)367-4061     
210 W. Green St., Urbana IL 61801



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