Q: My Mom's Apple MacBook Pro

Hi Byron,

you know that I don't use iTunes much, but, as far as I know, music you buy from iTunes you can have on another computer (up to 5)  and I think you'd be able to download it to the MBP; I looked at the store terms and found this:

When you first acquire music iTunes Products and music video iTunes Products (collectively, “iTunes Auto-Delivery Content”), you may elect to automatically receive (“auto-download”) copies of such iTunes Auto-Delivery Content on additional compatible iOS Devices and iTunes-authorized computers with compatible software by associating such iOS Devices and computers subject to the association rules below (each, an “Associated Device”). For each Associated Device, you may specify which type of iTunes Auto-Delivery Content, if any, may be auto-downloaded to it. On an Associated Device that is capable of receiving push notifications (“Push-Enabled”), including iOS Devices, the iTunes Auto-Delivery Content will auto-download to that Associated Device when it has an Internet connection; on an Associated Device that is not Push-Enabled, including those running on the Windows operating system, iTunes Auto-Delivery Content will automatically appear in the download queue and you may manually initiate the download within iTunes.

As an accommodation to you, subsequent to acquiring iTunes Auto-Delivery Content and TV show iTunes Products (each, “iTunes Eligible Content”), you may download certain of such previously-purchased iTunes Eligible Content onto any Associated Device. Some iTunes Eligible Content that you previously purchased may not be available for subsequent download at any given time, and Apple shall have no liability to you in such event. As you may not be able to subsequently download certain previously-purchased iTunes Eligible Content, once you download an item of iTunes Eligible Content, it is your responsibility not to lose, destroy, or damage it, and you may want to back it up.

And I also found this (it's a paid service, but sounds like you might want to take a look at it):

ITUNES MATCH

iTunes Match permits you to remotely access your matched or uploaded songs, and music videos you have purchased with your Account, along with related metadata, playlists, and other information about your iTunes Library (“iTunes Match Content”).

You may subscribe to iTunes Match for an annual fee.  You must have a valid credit card on file with iTunes to subscribe.  The subscription is non-refundable (except as required by applicable law), and will automatically renew for one-year periods until you cancel.  Your account will be charged no more than 24 hours prior to the expiration of the current subscription period.  You may cancel automatic renewal by adjusting the iTunes Store account settings on your computer.  You will no longer be able to access your iTunes Match Content from iTunes Match after the end of your subscription period.

iTunes Match works with libraries that contain up to 25,000 songs which are either not currently available on the iTunes Service, or (ii) not purchased from the iTunes Service with your Account.  Songs with quality less than 96 kbps or that are not authorized for your computer are not eligible for iTunes Match.

iTunes Match will automatically scan the song files and collect other information that may be used to identify media in your iTunes library, such as the names of songs, song artists or song durations. iTunes Match will use this information to match songs to those currently available on the iTunes Store, and will make matched songs available to you in the format then available on the iTunes Store. If the song is not successfully matched, your copy of the song will be uploaded to Apple in the same format or a format determined by Apple. Apple reserves the right to limit types of content uploaded (for example, excessively large files).  Matched or uploaded songs and related metadata will be available for access from an Associated Device that has been enabled for iTunes Match. Association of Associated Devices for iTunes Match is subject to the same terms as Automatic Delivery and Downloading Previous Purchases, and uploaded or matched songs and related information are deemed to be “iTunes Eligible Content.”  You may also access iTunes Match Content from compatible Apple TVs, provided that you may only do so on a limited number of Apple TVs at the same time.

When you use iTunes Match, Genius will begin associating information about the media in your iTunes library with your Account; the association with your Account will continue for a period of time after your subscription ends.  Apple will otherwise use this information as described in the Privacy Section of this Agreement. You will not be able to disable Genius while using iTunes Match, so if you prefer that we do not collect and use information from your iTunes library in this manner, you should not use iTunes Match.

You hereby agree to use iTunes Match only for lawfully acquired content. Any use for illegitimate content infringes the rights of others and may subject you to civil and criminal penalties, including possible monetary damages, for copyright infringement.

Read all of this very carefully, okay. As far as I know, that is how you're supposed to do it; an easy way to check is to make an appointment at the Genius Bar or call Applecare - they'll be able to tell you for sure.

Sorry, didn't realize it was only movies you'd be interested in moving (missed that part). So I read the thing again and it gets a little too complicated for me: I think it said that you can sync one movie, so I don't know if it's legal to have all your movies on more than one computer. And I don't want to tell you something that isn't right to do and I couldn't find anything definitive. But I know there are different rules for movies. Maybe someone else knows for sure or you can call Apple to find out.

I started to read through the iTunes legal info and a vein in my head started to throb.  Perhaps a relocation to the iTunes forum by the moderators is in order.

Would you please repost using common English, and proper sentence structure, including punctuation?  If not, you should make an appointment with a Apple Genius, and let him/her sort it out.

You will need to excuse the OP who is dealing with several disabilities - he is doing the best he can; I've been accustomed to reading his posts for quite a long time and usually try to help him before someone else comes in. In this case however, I simply do not know the answer - although I am used to deciphering legal contracts, I cannot find what I was looking for:

the terms on how many computers one can have a purchased movie on and how to get it to another computer (another download, sync, or simply copy it over?). The language is quite clear regarding music, but not for movies.

If you know the answer to that, then I'm sure he'd appreciate it.

@ Byron:

You didn't do anything wrong, so don't get upset - it's okay.    But since nobody knows the answer, you might want to stop by the Genius Bar and ask them (unless someone answers here).

At first I thought of that myself, but I think the Genius Bar is the best place since none of us are legal experts here and he has his favorite store in New York anyway, so that might be the best solution.

babowa --

Wouldn't he need a 600-600 firewire cable?  Or would it be 600-800? I think that's what he's asking.  Which cable would he need? 

All the best, Apple4Ever.

No, it would be a 400 > 800 firewire cable for target disk mode; but: I don't know if it's allowed to just copy them to another computer - unless one would consider that as a backup (which is allowed)???

He's transferring from his old computer to his new one.

but he Died & let Me & My Mom have This Apple MacBook Pro

Right?

Thanks for the 400-800 firewire correction.  I do think that's what Apple4Ever has asked.

First: thanks, Bee....

Byron, I think we can assume that it's okay to do this, so what you would need is a Firewire 800 > 800 cable (also called a 9 pin to 9 pin cable). I looked at the specs for both computers and it looks as though they both have Firewire 800 ports (I thought one of them would have a firewire 400 port, but apparently was wrong). The cable would look like this:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=firewire+800+cable+9+pin+to+9+pin &bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1413&bih=603&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=73978 34484301330416&sa=X&ei=Wb82T_n0IabniAK4m8SJCg&ved=0CMQBEPMCMAk#ps-sellers

You don't have to buy it there; I picked this link because it gives you a good picture of the cable end. Make sure your port is sort of square, not a rectangle (that would be firewire 400). Anyway, once you get the cable, you can follow the directions here - it's quite easy:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.7/en/mchlp1443.html