DVD Copying Not As Ordinary As Once Upon Time Thought

A comprehensive study (conducted by the NPD Group) reveals what many have known all along. DVD ripping does not pose a major threat to the movie industry. While movie execs feared they�d lose billions of dollars, like music industry counterparts, they failed to take a very important factor into consideration. Music is not being �ripped� and sold; no, it is being shared amongst users worldwide via legal peer-to-peer sharing sites like Limewire and Kaza, as well as many others. The movie industry could, in fact, lose billions if movie sharing sites begin to pop up on the web; as of this time, there are no such sites and no evidence that they are in the �works�.

Mr. R. Crupnick of the NPD Group says the report reveals there are several reasons DVD ripping is not being seen on a wide scale. Computer users don�t know that DVD ripping is not an illegal process; it is only illegal when DVDs are ripped with the intent of being resold. That is how the movie industry stands to lose money. If DVDs are ripped solely for an individual�s viewing pleasure it not an illegal practice. Many people reported they don�t rip DVDs because they �think� the process takes a lot of time.

It is understandable that the movie industry does not want to suffer the same fate the music industry has. What it seems they fail to realize is it is not the practice of music being ripped and sold that has cost music companies Billions of dollars. It is music file sharing (also know as peer-to-peer sharing) that is responsible for their failure to realize maximum profits. While sites like Limewire and Kaza continue to share music for free, it is likely the music industry will continue losing revenue. There are no movie peer-to-peer sharing sites available currently and no indication that any will show up in the near future.

The role of the DRM (Management of Digital Rights) is often misunderstood by many people who might otherwise rip a DVD for personal use. People think that protecting copyright laws is the main focus of the DRM; that is simply not true. The measures that DRM has put in place are aimed at helping movie content owners to protect how digital data and/or hardware is obtained and distributed. Some measures are in place to protect these same owners with regard to a single or precise digital work or machine. They are not largely focused on the illegal use of DVD ripping because it is being done minimally. Even though the software and necessary equipment have been widely available for purchase for some time now, the masses have not swarmed computer stores to buy it. Since it has not happened thus far, there is nothing to lead us to believe that it ever will.

It seems that the movie industry should be far more concerned about peer-to-peer sharing sites becoming available for film sharing. After all, that is how their counterparts in the music industry have failed to realize vast profits.