by Andy Cochran
Show writer

I recently went on a search for a program that would allow me to copy DVDs that I legally own onto my portable media player. I figured that since I own the media player and I own the DVDs, it should be legal for me to copy the movies to my device so I can watch them while on the road.

While there were a few products that worked, the vast majority were little more than gimmick products.

In the aisles of Best Buy, Circuit City and Office Depot there were a variety of software titles that bragged about transferring "your DVDs to your iPod, PSP or other portable device." That sounds perfect until you see the dreaded asterisk. The fine print (often on the side or bottom of the box) reads, "This products does not allow the transfer of copy protected DVDs."

What DVDs does it copy then? The name of the product is DVD Copy, but it doesn't allow you to copy DVDs. Unless, of course, you want to copy your home movies to your video player. Home movies are designed to archive history, not to be viewed.

Why is it illegal to transfer a video that you paid for onto a device that plays in a much lesser quality? Are people more or less likely to rent or buy a movie once they have seen it on the iPod-size screen.

The real irony is that it is perfectly legal to transfer music that you bought onto a portable media player, but for some reason this same law doesn't apply to movies.

Actually, no one will come after you for copying a movie that you own onto your iPod or portable device, but they will come after the companies that make software designed to perform such a task.

All I really want are all six seasons of Alf on my MP3 player, is that too much to ask?