Copyright questions... the good, the bad, and the ugly...

[zidane1strife]

Ok, suppose I've got my LOTR trilogy, EVA series, Psx ff series, etc.

Now suppose I back them up for obvious reasons, the discs could become unreadable some day.

What happens if....

a.) P!ssed of friend/guest takes my originals without permission or notice and calls the police or fbi?

b.) My house is burned, flooded, raided, etc... and the originals are destroyed but the back-ups remain and the cops find the back-ups?

c.) The originals dissapear due to any other unforeseen events, but the back-ups remain?

d.) If assuming I went to trial, it turns out my friend borrowed them without permission, or they were hidden(buried in the backyard or somewhere else) and forgotten or in another one of my houses, and I present such evidence?

f.) What prevents me from abussing d.) assuming it can be presented as a valid defense. (aka ebay, used market, friends, etc)

Answers and comments appreciated,
thanks in advance.

 

[Heathen]

Do you have permission from the distributors to make the back-ups? If not, you're breaking the law like it or not.

The fact that your friend may or may not have 'borrowed' the originalsis neither here nor there. Sorry.

 

[zidane1strife]

Do you have permission from the distributors to make the back-ups? If not, you're breaking the law like it or not.

The fact that your friend may or may not have 'borrowed' the originalsis neither here nor there. Sorry.

I think this is a bit ridiculous I paid for the Ip it's mine and I should be able to use it for my own private use in anyway I please. If this goes to trial and a jury is involved they'd most likely rule in my favor provided I do have the originals. I already have it backed-up in my head anyway...

 

[Heathen]

I paid for the Ip

No you didn't you paid for one copy under agreement of the licence agreement, copywright abuse is copywright abuse. If you actually want to pay for the IP go ahead and try, just don't be surprised by the 8 figure sum they'll quote you.

rule in my favor provided I do have the originals

Highly doubtful, read the licecne agreement on the back of the DVD and btw ignorance is no excuse.

 

[Crisidelm]

In Italy it's your right to make ONE backup copy of whatever, even if the Copywright holder says the opposite.

 

[Basic]

g.) Where's "e"?


Crisidelm:
Same thing in Sweden, except that there's no explicit limit on the number of backup copies. (If you're found to have more copies than "reasonable" your in trouble though.)

And using different copies within a household is considered "fair use", nothing written on the CD/DVD changes that. An important detail is that there's no license signed when buying a CD/DVD, so whatever written on it is void. (You're normally under stricter rules when renting a video, since then they make you sign a license.)


However
If you lose the original in any way, and get investigated. I assume you've lost all rights. If you make backups, you're supposed to use them, and store the originals in a safe place.

 

[Crisidelm]

Not in Italy: if you lose the "original" you can use the backup copy, that's what a backup is meant to be useful for (and I think that in this case you can make yourself another backup copy): normally in Italy you always get something that proves you've actually purchased something ("scontrino fiscale") But you can make only ONE backup, and for strictly personal use (you can't lend it to anyone, of course). In theory, you can also use only one of the two (original and backup copy) at the same time. But that's pretty theoric

 

[zidane1strife]

Here's a post I made in another forum.

I've been thinking of encrypting the files on my pc, and only leaving one or two un-encrpt at a time, just in case. Anyway to do this with no hassle, and no harm to the data?

After giving it some thought, I think that if I can do this I'm pretty much safe even if they find me. Given that I'm not using most files at any one time, it'd make sense to keep them encrypted and have the ability to quickly encrypt the few I'm using. Now the idea would be to use a strong form of encryption, and to send the key to some offshore account set up for this purpose(secure with encrypted transmission), assuming they don't intercept, the data is secure.

Or have I got it wrong? IIRC, to break a sufficiently strong encryption it'd take 100s of years, if not more, even in the strongest supah computahs. That'd mean it'd be impossible for the law agencies to do anything about it, they wouldn't have ANY evidence!!! :woot: !!!

So are there programs available to do this? If not, and if my inference is right, I'd recommend someone makes one.(If not, I might try to do it myself later, but It'd take quite some time, I'd need to LEARN A LOT)

 

[Crisidelm]

Methink you're somehow vexed...

 

[zidane1strife]

Update, heheh...

Hi, I was googling and found out the apps I've been thinking about do EXIST!!!

Hdd encryption software is already available out there, now obviously this is enough to keep most people out of one's files but...

For those with more tech-knowledge, how good is this particular encryption program? It supposedly supports a 256 bit algorithm, IT seems quite strong, but I'm not sure if it'll be good enough for me. What I want is something that can't be hacked even by specialized h/w, and which can only be opened by use of key or supercomputer cracking for decades or centuries.

Why? To protect my files, just in case some ******* law agent comes in here, they'll be unable to do ANYTHING about it, that is provided the encryption is done in accordance with my requirements.



Example from bbc news:

Mr Scarfo used an encryption program to scramble his computer files so that when the F) B I gained access to his hard disk in January 1999, it was unable to unscramble them without the password.

It went back to his computer and installed a key logging system, which subsequently revealed his password and alleged records of a $5m-a-year mob-linked bookmaking and loan-sharking operation in New Jersey.

That's a mafia boss, but you get the idea, using a combo of password and double physical key(that is rigged-for destruction- usb device stored on one's body, and another reliable storing device kept at a secret location far away.). It would be far tougher, if the agents got you you'd simply destroy the key you keep with you, and presto they can't do a single thing to you.

Yes, I'm vexed with cheap laws like those brought by the Patrioct Act, the gov. has exceeded it's rightful powers, so I'm spreading the word, heheh... If I own several snes carts or some similar data, and I back'em up I've the right to keep those back-ups even after destruction or loss of originals... and without risk of ever going to jail.

PS
HEheh, so no matter the case nothing happens to me, just a gov. lawsuit if they mess to much with my privacy.