i've got a collection of DVD's of which i'd like to make backups. is it possible to make an exact copy of a copyrighted DVD for personal backup purposes? does this require special software? does any of this sort of software run on linux?

why do you post the same question twice: in linux-general and here?

"backups"...right

Of course it depends on where you do this. IANAL but I think the the US you can make backups, but if you have to break copyright protection devices then it's probably illegal. Don't know if there is a common EU position on personal backups.

One easy and simple way to make a copy of a DVD is to use dd. Read the man page of dd. You need to read form the dvd drive, so you'd need the /dev/xxx file. It's probably something like /dev/cdrom, /dev/dvd etc. You can use dd to make a raw copy, like a photocopy.

If they're commercial double layer DVDs, then you won't be able to burn all the data onto a single layer DVD-/+R/RW. There's just not enough room.

If they're single layer DVDs, and they're CSS encrypted films, then you'll have to decode them with DeCSS, then burn them onto blanks. The reason for this is that (most) blank DVDs aren't writable on the part of the disc where the keys go, so the contents of the DVD have to be descrambled before burning.

If you haven't got the copyright holders permission, then this is most probably a copyright infringement. I don't know the rules on creating backups though.

Dave

I know I'm gonna get burned on this one. But if you have a windows machine handy, go to google download DVD SHRINK then download NERO free version and u are in business. If you have a single layer burner, you can edit out all but the movie. If you have one of the new dual layer burners you should be able to get it all. This is just one of the things that this part of my machine does well. I have XP-home on one H-D, SuSe 9.1 pro on the other H-D. Don't really care as long as I can GET HER DONE

no need for windows. you can use dvd::rip with transcode, or mencoder, which afaik is part of mplayer.


> gui frontend for mencoder: http://freshmeat.net/projects/acidrip/