[mythtv-users] DVD jukebox?

[jedi]

On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 03:19:25PM -0600, Brian Wood wrote:
> 
> On Apr 29, 2008, at 3:06 PM, Yan Seiner wrote:
> > Yabbut....  The OP wants to play his store-bought DVDs, not rips.   
> > With a
> > hospital, I would assume that ripping might be frowned upon by the  
> > powers
> > that be.  Thus the rack-o-DVD players.  Plus it doesn't require any
> > technical expertise; just power up the machine, shove DVDs in there,  
> > and
> > go away.  When the time comes to change movies, push the eject button,
> > stick a new DVD in.
> >
> > I would definitely rip and play.  But in a comercial setting I can  
> > see the
> > benefit of multiple players.
> 
> If you want to be *totally* legal I suspect that this would be  
> considered a "public performance", and therefore playing "store  
> bought" DVDs in any manner would be a violation of  "licensed only for  
> private viewing in homes... any other use constitutes..."
> 
> Personally I'd guess you would not really have to worry about the FBI  
> or other local authority crashing your doors in, but I'm not an  
> attorney, nor do I play one on TV.
> 
> I guess to be totally safe you would have to obtain public performance  
> rights for each of the DVDs, probably a lengthy and difficult procedure.
> 
> I ran into a similar situation in trying to donate DVDs to a local  
> V.A. Hospital, they were unwilling to take the risk.

...something that I saw the last time I was at the pediactric
clinic was personal DVD players. They had enough to go around
for all the kids and a select of DVDs that each kid could choose
from.

   This is probably not suitable for the OPs uses but it might
be something to consider elsewhere (like the VA).

> 
> I think you really have to consult an attorney who is up on the  
> current law on these matters in your jurisdiction.
> 
> Silly, I know, but the law is the law...

    Someone got dinged in the UK because the employees were playing
commercial terrestrial radio too loud and the customers could overhear.

    Never underestimate the potential for nonsense when it comes to
copyright.