Hi everyone,

I’m starting my self hosting journey and have run into a snag. I just took a job where I need to get govt security clearance and take polygraphs etc, so I cannot engage in piracy.

What that means in practice is actually abiding the ToS for all my media, so I cannot rip DVDs, I cannot capture streams (I believe including YouTube channels because they’re copyrighted and YT ToS but please correct me if I’m wrong because that would be amazing).

What I’ve done so far:

There is legal precedent to rip CDs and digitize books for personal consumption, and I have also begun buying albums I want from Amazon Music (they let you download the mp3 files directly instead of a Spotify/YT Music system).

  • I am going to be hosting immich for my Google Photos replacement

  • I don’t know the best service for a YT Music/Spotify replacement, but maybe Jellyfin of nothing else.

  • I want to have a digital movie library.

So there’s the rub. How can I have a digital movie library without ripping DVDs? It is an unauthorized reproduction and although nobody is prosecuted, it is illegal and I’d have to disclose that.

Any advice is welcome, and I’d love to hear conversation about this.

  • @Quark__SoupOPBEnglish
    1•7 months ago

    It’s fair use to copy the files but it’s illegal separately to break the DRM, meaning you can’t digitize a DVD without breaking the law

    • @VinnipinniBEnglish
      1•7 months ago

      Couldn’t you record the DVD? I know Blurays have HDCP, but I’m unsure if DVDs have a similar protection during playback, since screen recording shouldn’t break the Copyright if there is none.