Can any one Rent his DVDs to others ?

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  • I want to know if I'm having 10000 of DVDs can I rent them to others with any price I want ?
    If not why?
  • I don't see why not. Of course, the price is determined more by what people are willing to pay rather than what you want to charge.
  • Yes I know that it depends on how much they want to pay but I'm asking from the legal point. is it legal to rent your DVDs or is it againtst the copy right law
  • I thought I answered your question when I said, "I don't see why not." I don't know of any reason why what you want to do would be illegal. If it were illegal, then it seems to me that Blockbuster Video and all the other video rental stores would be breaking the law.
  • I thought that these people pays different fees to the DVD's producers
    and accordingly they can rent their DVDs
    So by what you are saying that it is legal for me to buy 1000000 of DVDs and open my rental shop. is that right ?
    also how about copied DVDs and non orignal ones. if I have my shop and someone wants to get his DVDs rented but they are not orginal can I rent them for him and will that be legal
  • [quote]I thought that these people pays different fees to the DVD's producers
    and accordingly they can rent their DVDs
    So by what you are saying that it is legal for me to buy 1000000 of DVDs and open my rental shop. is that right ?
    also how about copied DVDs and non orignal ones. if I have my shop and someone wants to get his DVDs rented but they are not orginal can I rent them for him and will that be legal[/quote]

    It's part of the doctrine of first sale. You can do whatever you want with something that you have legitimately acquired a copy of. First sale is first encoded in USC 17 section 109. It requires that a copy be lawfully made. Copies may or may not be lawfully made. If they are bootlegs, or if you have never purchased the movies legitimately, then they're probably not lawfully made.
  • Okay, So then are you saying that If I own the Original DVD's, I can make copies of these, and rent out the copies (as long as I still own the original).

    If that is true, then my follow up question is, What does the law say about rented DVD's being returned.... I'm sure you can see where I am going here, because you could in effect sell copied DVD's under the guise of "renting" them out, and just not worrying if the DVD's aren't returned.

    Looking forward to your input.
  • First Sale does not mean one can copy original DVDs and rent the copies; it only means one can rent the original DVDs themselves. First Sale is a limitation on the copyright owner's exclusive distribution right, so it allows the purchaser to make further distributions of the specific object -- book, DVD, etc. -- that has been legally acquired. First Sale allows library lending and it permits other owners of books or recordings to rent or lend their original copies to others. But it does not authorize anyone to make copies of the original; such authorization, where it exists, would have to come from another source -- explicit permission and fair use would be examples.

    So when we talk about a legal copy for first sale pruposes, we mean that the original in the hands of the person who wants to lend or rent must have been legally obtained. If you purchase a DVD froim a legitimate source, you may rent that legal copy. If you buy a bootleg copy or make an illicit copy of the DVD your brother-in-law bought, first sale does not apply to allow you to rent out that illegal copy.

    If you rent out a DVD without expecting a return, all you have done is re-sold that legally obtained original, which you are free to do. You can not, however, make multiple copies of the original for either rental or resale unless you have permission.
  • [quote]Okay, So then are you saying that If I own the Original DVD's, I can make copies of these, and rent out the copies (as long as I still own the original).

    If that is true, then my follow up question is, What does the law say about rented DVD's being returned.... I'm sure you can see where I am going here, because you could in effect sell copied DVD's under the guise of "renting" them out, and just not worrying if the DVD's aren't returned.

    Looking forward to your input.[/quote]

    No, that's not correct- you can't make copies and rent out the copies. I totally agree with what ksmith said.
  • Thanks for clearing that up, it did seem like far too big a loop hole to have not been noticed / exploited.

    My Initial interest was sparked by how infuriating it must be for Video / DVD shop owners to watch as the quality of their "stock" is constantly degraded by patrons who manhandle the Items they have rented.
  • I believe it is not legal to rent DVD. Printed on every disc is "All rights reserved. Licenced for private home viewing only. Unauthoised copying, lending, broadcasting prohibited " or words to that effect. When you buy a DVD, you don't own the movie. The movie company (Warner etc) own the movie. All you own is a licence to view it at home.
  • I believe it is not legal to rent DVD. Printed on every disc is "All rights reserved. Licenced for private home viewing only. Unauthoised copying, lending, broadcasting prohibited " or words to that effect. When you buy a DVD, you don't own the movie. The movie company (Warner etc) own the movie. All you own is a licence to view it at home.
    IANAL. I disagree with your premise, though. ^_^ Just because it's written in the DVD does not make it true, or (necessarily) legally binding, or mean quite what the people who put it there want you to think it means. "All rights reserved" does not mean that you ignore first sale, fair use, or other exemptions. You don't own the movie, but you do own the DVD. There's a distinction. The DVDs you rent have that same notice- but you're still renting them and watching them at home.

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