Quote:
Originally Posted by JSWolf
That depends where you live.
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Again, even in those jurisdictions where ripping DRM and/or making a single copy is technically illegal, literally no person has ever been prosecuted or sued for making a single copy for their own personal use. Literally no one. Even if it is technically illegal, it's not enforced (like jaywalking). They only go after people who are facilitating mass distribution.
A lot of people in this thread are pointing out various distinctions. The distinction between ripping DRM versus making a copy. The distinction between criminal culpability and civil liability. The distinction between Jurisdiction A versus Jurisdiction B. Etc.
All of those distinctions are real, but for the purposes of my point they are irrelevant. It doesn't matter if the law is specific to DRM or only applies to copying media. It's doesn't matter if law is based on contractual agreements or the criminal code. It doesn't matter if the law is slightly different in Country A than Country B.
The bottom line is this:
Regardless of whether we're talking about ripping DRM or copying the file... regardless of whether you've violating a contractual obligation or a criminal offense... regardless of whether you're in the US or Europe... the truth is that NO ONE has ever gotten into the slightest bit of trouble for ripping DRM and/or making a single copy for their own personal use. The only people who are sued or prosecuted are those who produce and distribute mass copies of media.
As a kid in the '80s, every single person I knew would copy vinyl albums or CDs onto cassette tapes for personal use. Was that illegal? Possibly. Nevertheless, I can guaranty you that exactly zero people were arrested or sued. However, if someone made a bunch of copies and started selling them, they risked getting into trouble.