Note: This column represents the opinions
of the writer and as such, is not purported as fact
Sponsor's Message
|
The unauthorised duplication and sale of copyrighted works is illegal -- we
all know that.
But what if you get a friend to make a "backup" copy of a disk you already own?
Maybe you'd like your Lord of The Rings DVD backed-up onto VCD format so your
kids could watch it on their cheap PC (without a DVD drive) -- or maybe
you're just worried that your favourite game disk may one day get scratched.
Well one enterprising guy has decided to offer such a service to Kiwi computer
users and is/was promoting it through his website at
DVDStation.co.nz.
Note: -- the website concerned has now been removed and access
is redirected to the hosting company -- read on to find out why. Fortunately
I grabbed some screen-dumps before this happened.
Check Out The Aardvark PC-Based Digital
Entertainment Centre Project
Yes, that's right -- the operator of this site (who is listed in the Domainz
database as one Timothy Kramer
but responded to my emails using the name "deathr0w"), will sell you a backup of your favourite DVD, (S)VCD, PC
or PS2 software
(screen dump)
for just a fraction the cost of an original.
"But wait" I hear you say, "isn't that just piracy?"
Well I contacted deathr0w and he told me that it wasn't -- because "People
are allowed to backup there [sic] products but we provide the service so it's
hassle free for them".
When asked what proof is required to prove that the purchaser does actually
own a legal copy in the first place I was told "they agree once they sign
onto the site and it is fraud to falsely agree to our conditions"
That all seems simple enough doesn't it?
"deathr0w" will simply provide you with a backup copy of movies or software
you already own and if you tell lies then on your own head be it. What could
go wrong with such a cunning scheme?
I mean, he even has this excellent
disclaimer which
used to look like this screendump
but I suspect the National Bank wasn't best pleased by the unauthorised
use of their logo.
Note the reference to US copyright law -- which is odd since that law simply
doesn't apply here in NZ where, in the case of movies, *all* copying is
deemed illegal. That's right, you're not allowed to make backup copies of
your own legally purchased disks (as discussed in the
July 24 edition of this column).
Another problem with deathr0w's claims is that many of the titles he's
offering haven't actually been released on DVD yet -- so how can the buyer
already own a "legal" copy in order to buy a backup from DVDStation?
An example of this are the "Chrochunter" (should that be "Croc Hunter"?),
Austin Powers 3, Lilo and Stitch, amongst others.
screendump.
It also appears as if my skepticism as to the legality of DVDStation's offerings
are shared by the MPAA who, it would seem, have complained about the site.
Hearing this, I contacted Snap Internet,
the Kiwi company that hosts DVDStation, and asked them a few questions.
Although they weren't able to say much due to the need to preserve
their client's confidentiality, I was told that the site is definitely
in breach of the company's terms and conditions and if those breaches weren't
remedied then it would be taken down. That's one of the reasons I've provided
screendumps of the relevant pages.
Something else to ring a few alarm bells is the method of payment being
requested. On this page (screen dump)
it states that payment can only be made by bank deposit or Western Union wire
transfer.
Unfortunately, Western Union wire transfers are so damned expensive that it would
actually be cheaper in most cases to simply buy another original of your favourite
DVD than use this service. Depositing the money into a bank account means that
you'd have none of the fraud protection that credit-card payment offers.
When I asked about the lack of credit-card payment facilities, deathr0w told
me "Well CC is too much hassle places like paypal are scum just
read www.paypalsucks.com and when selling to internationl [sic] customers
$8.50us is not over priced and $17nz for nz customers"
Although the site has a .nz domain name, is hosted in NZ and targets Kiwi
customers, it is operated from offshore, seemingly from somewhere in Thailand,
Indonesia or the Philippines through an account at
Pacific.net.th.
So, should you fork out $17 to buy a backup of your favourite disk?
Well I'm not sure but I think there are laws against importing illegally
duplicated software and I suspect that CD-sized packages originating from South
East Asia are likely to attract more than the usual amount of interest as they
pass through Customs.
The choice is yours -- but remember -- the word
"gullible" isn't in the dictionary :-)
Yes, I'm still sick as a dog right now so excuse any spellink miztakes
and lapses into real bad grammar today
If you want to have your say on the contents
of today's column then please do so.
Only comments marked "For Publication" will (if I have time) be published in the
reader's comments section.
Add Aardvark To Your Own Website!
Got a moment? Want a little extra fresh content for your own website or
page?
Just add a
couple of lines of JavaScript
to your pages and you can get
a free summary of Aardvark's daily commentary -- automatically updated
each and every week-day.
Aardvark also makes a summary of this daily column available via XML using
the RSS format. More details can be found
here.
Contact me if you decide to use either of these feeds and
have any problems.
Linking Policy
Want to link to this site? Check out Aardvark's
Linking Policy.
Did you tell someone else about Aardvark today? If not then do it
now!
|
|
|