Q. Whoa, whoa, whoa, isn't this illegal?

A. The motion picture companies and supporters of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) would like you to believe so. But this hasn't been tested in the courts. There's precedent under Fair Use for making backup copies of the media you own. So, it's a gray area. If you're concerned about potentially violating the law, don't do it. What is far dicier, from legal and moral standpoints, is ripping the media you own and distributing it.

Q. Okay, so maybe it's legal, maybe it isn't. Aren't kids who have no respect for the law the only ones who will do this?

A. Apparently you are childless, or, at least, you haven't had a five-year-old in the house for many years. It's an indisputable truth that where there are five-year-olds, there is jam, and that jam will find its way from the five-year-old's fingers to every DVD you own. Unless you enjoy purchasing multiple copies of Finding Nemo and Mary Poppins, you'll understand why perfectly respectable parents seek ways to back up their DVDs.