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

[Michael Hart]

Sorry, rereading this and trying to take the grammar into account,
or out, it is possible that Craig IS taking both sides. . . .

Michael

On Tue, 12 Dec 2006, Craig Miller wrote:

> 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
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
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