3 ms·

Do libraries in Canada loan DVDs and/or Blu-rays (and I suppose do you have something to play those, a PS5 for example)? Just checked my local library system a

Do libraries in Canada loan DVDs and/or Blu-rays (and I suppose do you have something to play those, a PS5 for example)? Just checked my local library system and there are 7 available copies of Heavenly Creatures, I could get it and watch it in a few days via inter library loan. But I'm in the States. 95% of the films I watch via the library I would venture. But it depends on your system.

ornornor 3y ago
What’s the difference, monetarily? The library bought one copy of the dvd/BR and shares it with as many users as they can. How is that fundamentally different than downloading an “illegal” copy on file sharing? In either case, someone acquired the source material (afaik, “pirated” content is bought with actual money most of the time) and then shared without further revenue for the publishers. Isn’t that fundamentally the same except for saying that libraries can do it but not scene groups? Libraries are just a more convoluted and restrictive way of doing the same thing imho. While not everyone everywhere has access to a library system (let alone a well funded one), virtually anyone can download off the internet.
- GoblinSlayer 3y ago
  By downloading you create an additional copy of the work. Renting a dvd doesn't create a copy, the library doesn't retain access to a dvd it rented to you.
  - ornornor 3y ago
    Isn't that a technicality though? 99% of the content I watch, I only watch once and never again personally. It's deleted/returned as soon as I'm done with it but I do keep a permanent copy in my memory as having read the book/watched the movie/tv show.
    - xp84 3y ago
      It’s not a technicality, in fact the spirit of the law is what matters. When you stream a movie on Netflix or hell even on actual over the air digital TV, by any definition bytes are being copied there too. However, you aren’t intending to copy it, just to consume the media and the “copy” is a technical implementation detail. When you rip the library‘a disk or BitTorrent the movie, you are making a copy on purpose, a copy you could keep (and I bet you or anyone would keep it if you enjoyed it so much you wanted to rewatch it many times). When you choose to erase it afterward, it doesn’t erase your infringing act you did in the first place. Note: None of this is a commentary on what’s “right” just discussing the legal ramifications. I don’t personally care what anybody does or have energy to convince anyone of anything.
zoogeny 3y ago
I do not own a DVD or Blu-ray player! I'm sure I could buy the DVD/Blu-ray on ebay (I saw it on Amazon for over $40!) and then buy a DVD/Blu-ray player. Or maybe it's on VHS or Laserdisc and I could obtain a physical copy of one of those and the necessary machines. That seems like a lot of work for a 2 hour movie. Probably faster to pay for a VPN and then stream from a region where it is available. Of course, none of that has anything to do whatsoever with the point. As we transition as a society away from physical goods and towards digital goods, we are placing ourselves at risk of companies erasing those digital goods. For now we have backups (like DVDs) and workarounds (like VPNs). Reasonably soon that won't be the case. It is possible that the favorite content of toddlers today (e.g. on Disney+) might just be totally inaccessible to them one day.
- michaelleslie 3y ago
  Goodwill (or similar) is your friend here. Physical media players are likely to get purged when someone's de-cluttering their home.
  - Kye 3y ago
    If I understand correctly, the point is this won't be possible in the future with where things are headed. There won't be any physical media to play on it. It's not about what you can find at Goodwill or the library today. This is forward looking.
  - beej71 3y ago
    Secondhand stores are also great for picking up CDs and DVDs for cheap.
- beej71 3y ago
  You can also buy USB DVD-ROM drives for $15 or so, then rip. I'm in the middle of doing that to my DVD collection.
  - walteweiss 3y ago
    Why won’t you just buy a $100 USB hdd with whatever TB (3? 4?) it is these days, and store your movies there? Is it some legal issue here? Is the optical disk somehow different?

ornornor 3y ago

What’s the difference, monetarily? The library bought one copy of the dvd/BR and shares it with as many users as they can. How is that fundamentally different than downloading an “illegal” copy on file sharing? In either case, someone acquired the source material (afaik, “pirated” content is bought with actual money most of the time) and then shared without further revenue for the publishers. Isn’t that fundamentally the same except for saying that libraries can do it but not scene groups? Libraries are just a more convoluted and restrictive way of doing the same thing imho. While not everyone everywhere has access to a library system (let alone a well funded one), virtually anyone can download off the internet.

GoblinSlayer 3y ago
By downloading you create an additional copy of the work. Renting a dvd doesn't create a copy, the library doesn't retain access to a dvd it rented to you.
- ornornor 3y ago
  Isn't that a technicality though? 99% of the content I watch, I only watch once and never again personally. It's deleted/returned as soon as I'm done with it but I do keep a permanent copy in my memory as having read the book/watched the movie/tv show.
  - xp84 3y ago
    It’s not a technicality, in fact the spirit of the law is what matters. When you stream a movie on Netflix or hell even on actual over the air digital TV, by any definition bytes are being copied there too. However, you aren’t intending to copy it, just to consume the media and the “copy” is a technical implementation detail. When you rip the library‘a disk or BitTorrent the movie, you are making a copy on purpose, a copy you could keep (and I bet you or anyone would keep it if you enjoyed it so much you wanted to rewatch it many times). When you choose to erase it afterward, it doesn’t erase your infringing act you did in the first place. Note: None of this is a commentary on what’s “right” just discussing the legal ramifications. I don’t personally care what anybody does or have energy to convince anyone of anything.

zoogeny 3y ago

I do not own a DVD or Blu-ray player! I'm sure I could buy the DVD/Blu-ray on ebay (I saw it on Amazon for over $40!) and then buy a DVD/Blu-ray player. Or maybe it's on VHS or Laserdisc and I could obtain a physical copy of one of those and the necessary machines. That seems like a lot of work for a 2 hour movie. Probably faster to pay for a VPN and then stream from a region where it is available. Of course, none of that has anything to do whatsoever with the point. As we transition as a society away from physical goods and towards digital goods, we are placing ourselves at risk of companies erasing those digital goods. For now we have backups (like DVDs) and workarounds (like VPNs). Reasonably soon that won't be the case. It is possible that the favorite content of toddlers today (e.g. on Disney+) might just be totally inaccessible to them one day.

michaelleslie 3y ago
Goodwill (or similar) is your friend here. Physical media players are likely to get purged when someone's de-cluttering their home.
- Kye 3y ago
  If I understand correctly, the point is this won't be possible in the future with where things are headed. There won't be any physical media to play on it. It's not about what you can find at Goodwill or the library today. This is forward looking.
- beej71 3y ago
  Secondhand stores are also great for picking up CDs and DVDs for cheap.
beej71 3y ago
You can also buy USB DVD-ROM drives for $15 or so, then rip. I'm in the middle of doing that to my DVD collection.
- walteweiss 3y ago
  Why won’t you just buy a $100 USB hdd with whatever TB (3? 4?) it is these days, and store your movies there? Is it some legal issue here? Is the optical disk somehow different?