Is It Legal to Copy a DVD?

Will stores ever sell tools to copy DVDs? Congress could change the law. Judges concede that, in the eternal tension between copyright holders and users, Congress has tipped the balance toward the studios. But there does not appear to be a rush to make changes.

If not Congress, then what? Some moviemakers are experimenting with DVDs that include an extra digital copy, either on the original disk or a second disk. Some will allow the second copy to be transferred to portable devices. It's unclear if any particular approach will catch on, or how much consumers will have to pay. Most studios are also experimenting with digital downloads, and some are looking into other media, including memory cards. Besides fighting piracy, Hollywood seems to be awakening to the changed expectations of consumers in an age of digital files and portable players.

[Toshiba is one company that thinks memory chips could replace movie disks.]

Corrected on 10/01/09: An earlier version of this article [0930tech] misstated Hollywood's claim against Kaleidescape. That suit was about a licensing agreement and did not allege that Kaleidescape violated federal law.

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