DVDs

i saw this funny advert the other day:



i hate renting movies and having to watch previews or anti-piracy crap. i will never buy a DVD that has that crap on it. i don't understand why people accept this on the DVDs that they buy.

so anyway. if you make a "back-up" of one of your DVDs, you can remove all of this stuff. all you need is a computer with a DVD burner, and some blank DVD-R discs. you can buy software, download pirated copies of commercial pirating software (i love the irony), or just use free software.

there's a short guide here at the RipIt4Me site of how to do this for free.

i really don't understand the way the RIAA, MPAA, and USA thinks that things work. in an effort to protect their business models, they CREATE scofflaws. people don't want to be restricted in how they use the MP3s that they purchase online, so rather than buy from iTunes, they download illegally. people don't want stupid adverts on their DVDs, and so they learn how to remove them, and then realize how easy it would be to copy and pirate rented movies. people want to smoke pot, gamble online, etc., but because of the USA, they are driven to do so through unregulated channels, and in the process lose respect for the regulations of the US.