Poll: Ripping Netflix

[sara_merry99]

I was talking to someone recently who is a member of Netflix and has been for as long as Netflix has been around. What said person *does* with the DVDs from Netflix is to rip them onto the computer, thereby using Netflix essentially like The Pirate Bay (only, you know, without the viruses but with some assembly required

Comments

[snailbones]

It's not something I would do - if it's a DVD I really love then I'd shell out and buy it, and if it's not something I really love, then why bother! The only sub-clause to that would be if it's something I cannot get any other way - my one and only ripped film is one that just isn't available anywhere - and I looked a long time before I caved in and ripped a copy.

So that makes two of us old fashioned that way *g*

[sara_merry99]

My pixies have fairly complicated standards on things like this--but yes. If I rent it and like it, then I buy it. If I rent it and don't like it, or don't like it that well, then I've rented it and return it.

Because TV box sets are so expensive, the pixies give me a three episode try-before-you-buy allowance. If I like it after the three downloaded episodes, then I'll buy it. If I don't, I won't download anymore.

Both of those with the caveat that if they're not available in this country, I'll download (or rip) until such time as I *can* get them legally. And then replace the pirate copies.

[snailbones]

Yep - we're much the same *g* I do think that the DVD makers are trying everyone's patience by making the damn things regional - it's very frustrating, not to mention tempting, when there's something you want, but not available in your own country. Then, yes, I can understand ripping or downloading.

It's probably long past time the film and TV companies started to be a little less rigid - everyone would be a lot happier. *g*

[sara_merry99]

My DVD player is (or can be made) region free--one of these days I'm going to talk to one of my friends in Australia or New Zealand about a few things I want (Inspector Rex!) from Down Under. :D

[andeincascade]

Netflix is the devil spawn. I wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole.

[sara_merry99]

Oh, really?! Why do you say that? If you're interested in the service, but hate the company, I'm pretty sure Blockbuster has a similar sort of service.

I'm not considering getting it--I don't have time to watch everything I DVR--I was just struck by said person's certainty and sense of justification in what seems to (naive and hopeless) me to be pirating movies and TV shows.

[little_tristan]

I love Netflix. I'm really interested in Ande's take on it, too. I tried the Blockbuster version for a while, but they never sent anything in the right order. If I was watching a series, they sent discs randomly, one from season 2 one from 5 and one from 6, even if the right ones were available. I quit it after about 3 weeks.

Somehow the ripping thing doesn't seem like that big a deal to me, but I certainly respect people who don't want to. I don't download stuff for free online, music or movies, but given how expensive Netflix is, I kind of feel like I've paid for it.

[sara_merry99]

My folks are crazy about Netflix. They get all sorts of interesting documentaries and learn neat things. When they were here we watched one on the writing and editing of the Hebrew Bible and another on the Gospel of Judas. Cool stuff.

I thought Netflix was pretty cheap--like $10 a month for as many movies as you can cycle through in that time or something like that. Obviously, I don't really know how it works though.

[sassyinkpen]

I suspect your subject pool is a little skewed on this issue. Fangirls, in my experience, tend to be a little more in favor of supporting the shows and actors we love and are less in favor of wholescale pirating.

You and I have already had extensive conversations about this topic, so you pretty much know how I feel. (I'm perfectly willing to sample something that's been posted on-line, but if I like it, I will buy the real deal).

I'm with you - I wonder how common it is in more general circles.

[sara_merry99]

True true. I figure there's going to be a bit of a sampling bias. That's part of why I made the poll public.

I'd love to get the question out to a larger audience and see what the general attitude is.

[briarwood]

I've done it, but only when I don't have time to watch the movie before I have to send it back. If I want to keep a movie, I buy it.

[sara_merry99]

I can see that, totally. ::nods nods::

[rhianne]

::holds up hand::

Yep, I've done it, and still do, quite a lot, actually. Not with Netflix, though with a very similar service. I have just stopped belonging to that service, but I've been copying DVDs for quite a few years now.

I do feel like I need to caveat that with the fact that I still do buy legal copies of the DVDs that I copy. Basically, if I rent it and like it I'll copy it, but then I will save up and buy legal copies of them as well, at which point I throw the copied DVD away.

The reason I do this is because it takes me quite a long time to save up the spare cash required to buy a box set of DVDs, and if I love a show/film then I don't want to wait that long. So if I've rented it and know I like it, the copied DVD ties me over until I can afford to buy the real thing. But I do always buy the real thing eventually. Sometimes once they're on sale, admittedly, but that's just down to cash flow.

[sara_merry99]

See, I can totally relate to this. ::nods nods nods:: It can be tough to save up money and TV shows on DVD are pricey.

I'll also download something after I've bought it, if I want it in a format I can put on my media player (for example).

I'm willing to lay down my own hard earned money that said person has absolutely zero intention of ever purchasing any of these ripped things. Which makes a difference. At least to me.

[rhianne]

Yeah, it does to me, as well. Though I doubt my defense of buying DVDs 'eventually' would stand up in court! But knowledge of my own intentions is something, I guess!

[sara_merry99]

Maybe intentions don't make a difference in court, but they do internally. Absolutely.