How do I get DVD's onto the ipad

While it is illegal to break an encryption it is not illegal to bypass said encryption. handbrake breaks no laws or ther would have been shut down years ago the encryption is there to make it impossible at least almost impossible to create mass amounts of dvds with a coppier

I think it's ok to get a digital copy off fragile DVD disc for personal fair use. There're many DVD rippers in the market helping convert homemade and also commercial DVDs to digital formats compatible with iPad and also other devices. Some free, some paid. Just google it with keywords like "DVD ripper", "DVD to iPad ripper".

You have to copy them into iTunes first, which requires software capable of copying a DVD. If you're using a Mac, Handbrake is a free option that does an excellent job.

It is illegal to give copies to other people. Whether or not it is illegal to copy it for your own personal use is a matter for debate. The movie companies would like to see you forced to buy a separate digital copy, but the music companies wanted to prevent ripping CDs as well, and now you can do that straight from iTunes. As long as you're not giving copies to anyone, don't worry about it.

If you read some of the copyright rules, you're allowed to make a 'backup copy' of discs that you own. they just don't have to make it easy to do.

I second the recommendation for Handbrake. I use it and it works very well. what I like about it is that you can queue tasks....say I want to take 3-4 episodes of a box set I've bought with me on a trip. I can queue them and walk away and it just takes care of things while I'm gone.

The biggest key, don't share them, don't ever put them up on the internet anywhere. That's when it ceases to become a backup copy and can be defined as sharing.

Skydiver119 wrote:

If you read some of the copyright rules, you're allowed to make a 'backup copy' of discs that you own. they just don't have to make it easy to do.

Actually, in the U.S., it's not that simple. Commercial DVDs are encrypted. While the Doctrine of Fair Use (which does not hold the same force as law, by the way), may still apple, it IS illegal to break the encryption. In order to copy an encrypted DVD, you need to break that encryption. Therefore, whether it is legal to make a copy becomes moot.

Meg is correct. It is legal to make a personal copy, but it is illegal to break the encryption, and you need to break the encryption to make a copy.

I was curious about getting my DVDs onto my new iPad as well; I want to make sure I do everything on the up and up. Why, then, is Wal-mart now advertising that THEY can put your store bought DVDs onto your electronic devices if it is illegal? Just curious...

Because it's not the same. The prohibition against unlocking the encryption is only if you don't have a license from the content owner; if it was a complete prohibition, you couldn't even play the disk. The movie studios have not granted a license to any third-party software developer for conversion utilities, but Walmart has set up licenses with several of the movies studios whereby when you bring in a DVD, Walmart then basicially gives you access to a digital copy. If the movie isn't available in the service already - it' s Vudu - then they can't help you.

For a more complete description of the service, see this site among others;

http://screenrant.com/walmart-dvd-to-digital-conversion-service-pauly-159298/

Regards.

And, I believe, it's less them giving you a digital file and more you bringing your DVDs in, them giving you online streaming access to the movies you already own.

ANd yes, it is provisional as to which studios have allowed the service.

It's the same basic premise as a movie being available in iTunes, or on Netflix or other service.

It's legal because the copyright owners have signed off on it.

Breaking the encryption on a DVD is no longer illegal, since the law clearly states that only effective methods of encryptions are protected and the courts have found that DVD encryption does not meet that standard. Breaking a Blu-Ray is still questionable...but DVD's are fair game with no legal issues over the copy protection.

Can you give us a cite for this since the DMCA still contains a clause making it illegal to use software to break the encryption.