Copying VHS to DVD

[laserblazer]

I've been given a couple of RE Videos on VHS to convert to DVD. They are produced by Channel 4 Schools and last week, I emailed them to ask if our ERA licence permitted such copying. They haven't had the decency to even acknowledge my email. Reading the terms of the ERA licence, it's a bit dubious if it is covered as it's not a recording from TV. Has anyone any ideas on this please?

[Earthling]

My reasoning, which is probably flawed or at least frowned upon when it comes to copying, is that if they can't be a***d to reply to you, then they can't be all that a***d about the content, so I'd go ahead and copy them. The copies can always be destroyed if they do eventually get back to you, I suppose.

[Dos_Box]

Moving to AV and Multimedia forum.

[crc-ict]

My understanding of the licence situation is that none of the licences schools generally have will allow you to legally copy a commercial video.

 

The ERA licence is strictly for the recording of broadcasts 'off-the-air' - it doesn't even cover you for use of recordings from iPlayer etc even if you could have recorded it from the broadcast.

 

Then again, IANAL.

[SimpleSi]

Don't ask - don't tell - sleep soundly

 

Si

PS make a donation to a Ch4 sponsored charity if having trouble sleeping

[steveg]

We normally take the video, copy it to dvd, return dvd to teacher and keep the video locked away. As I see it we purchased 1 copy of the video, they still have 1 copy of the video, and we have a backup should their copy be damaged.

 

Steve

[X-13]

I've been given a couple of RE Videos on VHS to convert to DVD.

 

Doesn't that fall under "format shifting" which, IIRC, isn't allowed by copyright laws?

 

 

Also, it took me a couple of seconds to realise RE didn't mean "Resident Evil".

 

PS make a donation to a Ch4 sponsored charity if having trouble sleeping

 

I am a Ch4 sponsored charity.

[Dos_Box]

Interestingly, there are some proposed changes in the UK copyright law coming which will allow the transfer and format shifting of digital media (not sure how this relates to converting DVD's though):

 

Changes to outdated copyright law set to legalise format shifting - Computeractive - News

BBC News - Government drops website blocking

Format shifting may finally be legalised | News | PC Pro

[andyturpie]

We always ask permission, we have'nt been refused permission yet. We had an old VHS tape for chemistry from Esso and when contacted they said no problems and duly sent a couple of interactive DVDs of how an oil refinery works. I did attend a copyright course from RTA and their stance is "never take a no response as a green light to copy". But I agree if you own the original tape then I see nothing wrong of making a copy and storing it side by side with the disk labelled "backup of". Before that I would try every effort to trace the copyright holder even companies house searches if necessary.

[Dos_Box]

As Andy said, I wonder if the fact that it would now be almost impossible to create a VHS backup prevents you from legally creating a DVD backup?