“Boygeniusreport published screen captures of the future iTunes 9,” Lionel reports for Hardmac.
MacDailyNews Note: Please see: New iTunes 9 screenshots depict Facebook social playlist integration, third-party device support – August 19, 2009
Lionel continues, “One of them displays a button defined as [“Import DVD.”] It would be a true revolution as Majors [have] never allowed [an official] application to perform such [an] action.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Not only that, but it’ll be Mac-only, too. 
Copyright law permits educators to create a backup archive of their legally purchased material AS LONG AS it’s in the same format as the original. I’m not certain if this applies to the general public. Any legal folk out there who can comment?
aka Christian,
In Australia it’s not on, at all. A long time ago (sixteen years) I used to prosecute copyright breaches in this country (Australia). I’ve followed the legislative development and case law in Australia since then and it is totally forbidden for the general public to make ANY type of copies of commercial movies.
If anything Australian law has become more specific in this area. As for educators, in Australia you cannnot make a copy of a commercial or educational movie without the permission of the copyright holders.
Why would DVD ripping be a Mac-only feature? Is Apple not releasing a version of iTunes 9 for Windows?
For the correct way to rip DVDs with handbrake, go to http://www.youtube.com/empowermac
This isn’t all that unlikely. Apple has already demonstrated the ability to wrap its own DRM around audio files. When one purchase online movie (or rents one) from iTunes, the iTunes server dynamically wraps the file in DRM at the time of purchase. Similar code could easily be added to iTunes, so that when one imports a DVD into iTunes, the resulting file ends up some form of MPEG-4, wrapped in fairplay, tied to that specific copy of iTunes and all devices (iPods, iTunes, AppleTVs) associated with it. While in theory the software would be violating DMCA by circumventing copy protection in order to make a copy, the resulting copy would NOT be identical (no VOB, IFO and other files inside VIDEO_TS), nor would it be available for further copying. The letter of the law may have been broken, but the spirit of the law remain intact.
As for MDN’s take, iTunes is available both on a Mac, as well as on Windows. If this feature were to make it to iTunes 9, it would most certainly appear there on both versions, unless Apple gambles on the exclusive Mac feature attracting even more Mac converts, rather than the deliberately missing Windows feature annoying them.
Thanks – Predrag – exactly my point. DRM can’t share it or make copies..
Just one small clarification, you can make a copy of a broadcasted movie in Australia and that is the only exception.
Apple should focus on crashing problem instead
@Jeff
I agree, seems if it is allowed it will be the iPod version of the movie. After you complete watching the movie then it is removed.
I do not see the DVD ripping happening.
It was illegal to rip a CD in sone countries when iTunes was first released, and that didn’t stop it. So there is a precedent.
@TowerTone:
Thanks, made me laugh! I prefer the “You have to when you get older” one though.
“You see, when the Mormons first arrived, they didn’t have any money…”
There is no way in hell the studios are going to allow people to rip rented DVDs for free.
*IF* Apple adds a commercial rip feature you can bet your ass:
1. It will only rip at 720p … just enough for Apple to claim “HD”.
2. You’ll have to pay an extra $2.49 for the feature.
3. You’ll only be able to use it on your own iPod and the video outs will be disabled.
TT
Ok, upon closer re-exam-ification
NOW I see all the, ahem … painful ram-ifications involved
A two-part-double-header-flip-it-over-do-it-twice-in-a-row-dual-tandem-tag-team
AND in THOSE particular “anatomical areas” ? …
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Of course that Poor Lady will be the one in the wheelchair
Only one way to describe her after that ordeal – Beleaguered
Speaking of which, anyone seen Cubert today ?
Last I heard was yesterday as he was wining and dining his iPhone right after he …
Did “it” the first time with his iPhone
Let’s just hope he wasn’t alone at the time …
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BC
Kids: Ripping a DVD is easy. You can DIY. You don’t need iTunes or Toast.
THE PROBLEM = DRM. iTunes will not handle any DRM except that built into iTunes Store sold movies.
No: Blu-Ray support at all, including its DRM.
No: DVD DRM support.
Yes: DVDs without any DRM infection that are for your market zone, or that have no market zone infection.
Meanwhile, DIY right now via freeware.