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

[Craig Miller]

At 08:24 AM 12/12/06 -0600, Michael J. Lowrey wrote:
>On 12/11/06, Mary Towner <mtowner at prairienet.org> wrote:
>> 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.
>
>IF it is purely for your own use, it's going to fall under "fair use"
>guidelines. It gets iffier as you bring pals over to see the converted
>footage, especially if this is an organization or hobby group of some
>kind.

Court precedent regarding copyright and the showing of 
DVDs and video tapes is you and your family and your 
immediate circle of friends in your living room.  In other 
words, not the entire condo association or 4H club, not in 
the rec center of the condo, and certainly not for any sort of 
payment to view the work.  Having a bunch of pals come 
over to your house/apartment to watch something is fine, 
even if you're all friends by dint of belonging to the same 
club.  (Obviously, there's no Copyright Squad peering into 
condo association rec room windows, seeking out any stray 
infringers, but if activities get noticed -- like flyers posted at 
colleges for screenings -- arrests and/or fines and/ot 
confiscation sometimes happens.)

Craig.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Craig Miller         Wolfmill Entertainment        craig at wolfmill.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~