Is it legal to rip a DVD to a smartphone?
Aestiquo , a specialist brand of home entertainment equipment, offers products that meet the needs of its users. We offer legal and safe ways to enjoy DVD content on your smartphone. We provide detailed explanations of copyright law and technical restrictions, as well as the correct operating procedures for the Aestiquo PD141/PD156 models.
Commentary on Article 30 of the Japanese Copyright Act
Japan's Copyright Act protects the rights of copyright holders while permitting private use within certain limits. Article 30 of the Act provides for "special provisions for private recording," allowing individuals to record the copyrighted works of others for their own private use. However, this provision is subject to strict conditions.
First, the purpose of recording is limited to "private use." This means that recordings are limited to personal enjoyment by individuals, and distribution to others or use for commercial purposes is prohibited. Second, recordings are limited to copyrighted works that have been publicly transmitted or publicly performed. In principle, commercially available DVDs and other software do not fall within this scope.

Furthermore, Article 30-2 of the Copyright Act prohibits the recording of copyrighted works protected by "technological protection measures" by circumventing those measures. Copy protection technologies such as CPRM (Content Protection for Recordable Media) built into DVDs fall under this category of technological protection measures. Therefore, copying commercially available DVDs by circumventing CPRM is a violation of the Copyright Act.
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs' commentary on copyright, even for recordings for private use, it is not permitted to circumvent technological protection measures (Source: Agency for Cultural Affairs, Copyright ). This is an important provision for properly protecting the rights of copyright holders.
Aestiquo PD141/PD156 Function Description
Aestiquo 's PD141 and PD156 are both DVD players with USB/SD card recording capabilities. These products support recording of CPRM-compliant DVDs in MPEG4/AVI format. Resolution is limited to 720x576 or lower, due to copyright protection restrictions.
The table below compares the main specifications of the PD141 and PD156.
| function | PD141 | PD156 |
|---|---|---|
| Supported formats | MPEG4, AVI | MPEG4, AVI |
| Maximum resolution | 720×576 | 720×576 |
| Recording media | USB, SD card | USB, SD card |
| maximum capacity | 32GB | 32GB |
| CPRM compatible | correspondence | correspondence |
| External dimensions | Approximately 36.3×25.2×4cm | Approximately 37.7×25.5×4cm |
| weight | Approximately 1.67kg | Approximately 1.79kg |
Both the PD141 and PD156 are designed as home DVD players and allow for easy recording. They are CPRM compliant, allowing recording within the limits permitted by copyright law. However, please note that recording using these devices is only permitted within the limits of Article 30 of the Copyright Act.
CPRM (Content Protection for Recordable Media) is a technology for protecting the copyright of digital content. It prevents unauthorized copying and distribution and protects the rights of copyright holders. Aestiquo 's PD141/PD156 are CPRM compliant, allowing for proper use.
Legitimate Operating Procedures
Below are the legal steps to rip DVD content to your smartphone using Aestiquo 's PD141/PD156.
1. Preparation for recording
1 Prepare and format a USB memory or SD card (up to 32GB). Turn on the PD141/PD156 and connect it to a TV with an HDMI cable.
2. Insert the DVD and start recording.
2. Insert the DVD into the device and press the "Record" button on the remote control. On the recording settings screen, select the recording quality (720 x 576 or less) and recording destination (USB/SD card). After setting, press the "Play" button to start DVD playback and the "Start Recording" button to begin recording. When you are finished recording, press the "Stop Recording" button. The recorded file will be saved to the specified media.
3. Transfer to smartphone
3. After recording is complete, remove the USB flash drive or SD card from the PD141/PD156 and connect it to your smartphone. Most Android phones can directly recognize a USB flash drive using an OTG cable. iOS users should use a compatible adapter.
4. Preparing the playback app
4. You will need to install an app on your smartphone that can play MPEG4/AVI format videos. Many standard players will play the videos, but if you encounter codec issues, we recommend using a general-purpose player such as VLC Media Player.
Violation risk warning
There are several risks involved in ripping DVDs to your smartphone. It is important to be aware of these risks and avoid them.
⚠️Risk of copyright infringement: Under Article 30 of the Copyright Act, private recording is limited to personal use. Distributing the recorded content to others or posting it on social media is a violation of copyright law, and may result in fines or imprisonment.
⚠️Circumvention of technological protection measures: The use of software or hardware to circumvent technological protection measures, such as CPRM, is prohibited under Article 120-2 of the Copyright Act. Violation of this law is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 2 million yen.
⚠️ Use of pirated software: There is a wide variety of software available on the Internet that can assist you in copying DVDs, but many of these have the ability to circumvent technological protection measures. Using such software is against the law and should never be done.
⚠️ Quality and stability issues: Illegally copied content not only degrades the image and sound quality, but also poses the risk of virus infection. In addition, some software may lead to copyright infringement and may even cause damage to your computer or smartphone.
alternative
Here are some legal alternatives for enjoying DVDs on your smartphone, allowing you to enjoy content while complying with copyright laws.
1. Use of video streaming services
Streaming services like Netflix , Amazon Prime Video , and Disney+ license and offer a wide selection of movies and TV shows. These services allow you to legally enjoy high-quality content on your smartphone. Many services also support offline viewing, so you can download content in advance and enjoy it on the go.
2. DVD rental service
Another option is to use a DVD rental service. You can record rented DVDs using Aestiquo's PD141/PD156, as long as you comply with copyright law. However, please note that rental DVDs have a return deadline.
3. Digital Transformation Services
You could also consider using a professional digital conversion service, which will legally convert your personal DVDs into digital files, but it's important to check the service's legality.
4. Use the Aestiquo projector
Aestiquo also offers high-quality projectors, such as the Q1 Mini Projector, which is compact and portable, and can be easily connected to a smartphone. By connecting it to a DVD player with an HDMI cable, you can enjoy DVD content on a large screen.

Important Notice Regarding Personal Information Protection
When handling digital content, it is important to protect personal information. Please pay attention to the following points.
- Make sure that the USB memory or SD card does not contain any personal information.
- If you choose to save your recordings to cloud storage, use a secure service.
- Please enable the lock function on your smartphone to prevent unauthorized access.
- Properly format or dispose of media you no longer need.
Please use the above information to enjoy DVD content legally and safely with Aestiquo products. Please respect copyrights and use them appropriately.