Thanks for any advice you might have!
-Mike
Email: Mike@CougarHousing.com
Website: http://www.cougarhousing.com

Guy

First, in regards to bypassing or breaking the encryption protecting the DVDs, I did not have to deal with this. Because I made a bit-for-bit copy to an ISO of the disc, the copy protection is still in place and will still need to be verified each time I play the movie. Therefore, I have not circumvented the copy protection scheme, and therefore have not violated Section 1201a.

Also, 1201c states:

`(c) OTHER RIGHTS, ETC., NOT AFFECTED- (1) Nothing in this section shall affect rights, remedies, limitations, or defenses to copyright infringement, including fair use, under this title.

So what constitutes fair use? Let’s compare it to the policies instituted by the Stanford Copyright and Fair Use document. For example, the 4th criteria discusses the “Effect of the Use Upon the Potential Market” discussing if your use of the copyright material “deprives the copyright owner of income or undermines a new or potential market.” My use of these movies will not, because they have already been legally purchased by my family, for use in my family, and will stay that way because the work will continue to only be viewed by my family. The producer of the work has not been shorted any income (the DVDs have already been paid for) and has not undermined a new market because I’m not going to go out and buy a DVD I already own twice.

And the 5th consideration, “Are you good or bad?” hopefully doesn’t find a college freshman watching videos that are already at his house bad. But then again, it is the MPAA and who knows.

While we’re at it, disillusioning ourselves into thinking what we do is legal or illegal, think about the many many cases everyday where the common individual is probably violating a law, copyright or not at some point. Did you have friends over last night when you watched your single legal copy of a movie? Ooooh, busted! Did you really just go 56 in a 55? Gasp, you criminal! Guess what? This website is extremely related to BYU. I have a disclaimer at the bottom of every page, but do you think I could probably still get slammed for libel? You’d better believe it! For a couple of more humorous examples, check out some laws Mr. Kellner thinks you are breaking.

Now don’t go off and start a flame anyone about how i’m justifying breaking the law, choosing unrighteousness, or encouraging bad behavior. Yes, we all speed, no one’s perfect, and we all have tons of room to improve. The point is I truly believe that I am not breaking any laws. I have reviewed the material, and until the time I am told by a court of law that I am, I do not have a guilty conscience. If I am told by a court of law that I am, surely I will stop. Anyone else have any good points to contribute?

I’m sorry, but its not legal. Thats not to say that I am a fan of the DMCA but the copying of any dvd for -any- reason is illegal. Now don’t misunderstand me, previous laws relating to VHS/BETA seemed to indicate that consumers have the right to copy this material for private home use. However, the DMCA circumvents this issue entirely:

Section 1201 of the DMCA states: “No person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title.”

Since 99% of all commerical DVDs today include this copyright protection which prevents them from being copied, it is illegal to circumvent this in any way to copy them for any reason. This is also the reason why you will no longer find copies of X Copy for sale.

Are you likely to get busted for this? Not likely, unless your distributing them via P2P networks. However, don’t disilusion yourself into thinking its legal. Its not.

Sources
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:H.R.2281.ENR:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3513_7-5128652.html

I’m happy to see this blog entry.

Also, in response to Cathryn: yes, you must use your judgment when using the Bookexchange (or Book Exchange). The BYU legal department authored a disclaimer for the bookexchange that tries to convey the message of using common sense.

https://bookexchange.byu.edu/terms.cfm

Make sure that the professor is going to use the book before purchasing it, and make sure you have the opportunity to LOOK at the book before handing over any money.

If anyone has any more questions they are welcome to email me: bookexchange@BYU.edu .

Thanks!
–
Nathan

First off, BYU has an off campus housing map. Any approved off campus housing must fall within the boundries marked on this map:
http://www.byu.edu/offcampushousing/newBoundaries.html

And in terms of finding the right place just for you, be prepared for trial and error. A number of factors go into good housing, and they’re all very much up to the individual:

1. Price
You can live in an BYU approved apartment probably starting at around $150 and it goes upwards to about $425. Please consider however, that this is dirt cheap in comparison to any other large university in the nation. My friends at UT Austin pay anywhere from $560 upwards….for places that aren’t guarenteed nice. A lot of places in provo are a scam in the BYU market, because they are old, old, old, and for just a few dollars more, you can move up drastically into nice, nice, nice. Again, its up to you: how much money do you want to shell out or save?

2. Location
My opinion is that the closer to campus you are the better. If you don’t have a car, like I did for the first TWO years, living close to campus is a godsend. I’ve lived in places that are kind of far away, the champion being King Henry. But, I took the bus everyday to school, and it wasnt that bad. Utah’s mass transit, is awesome. This past year I walked 5 blocks to campus and I actually came to love that walk. For this upcoming semester, (Fall 2005), I’m moving really close to campus, which I’m mucho excited about. So in other words, consider your transportation options, how much you enjoy walking, and the snow. Because when its snowing, you’re so going to love walking. (not.)

3. Social-ness.
Ah, the off-campus ward. Is it a good ward? What consititues a good ward? What the heck is a ward?
First of all, if you aren’t mormon, then let me explain what a ward is. A ward is the term mormons use for congregation. This congregation is established by location, by physical boundries. Even if you aren’t mormon, you belong to a ward, because you live somewhere, and chances are your home is inside the boundries of a mormon ward. The ward is the epicenter of mormon culture. Its your 2nd family. These are the people you associate with day in and day out because they are your neighbors, your work (or in our case school) associates, and your friends. The ward is there for you any time you need it, and it will probably be where you find a lot of your friends outside of the dorms at BYU.
At BYU, wards in large apartment complexes are typically made up of a floor of girls apartments, and a floor of guys apartments, or 1 girls buildings and 1 guys buildings, etc. The closer you get to center street in provo, the more spread out your ward will be. I personally think that being physically close to the members of your ward, like in an apartment complex, creates for better ward enviornments.
And what is a good ward enviornment? One where you can at least try to get to know everyone, and everyone can get to know you. You find more friends that way. And when you have a ward full of friends, having fun is easy, because you just call up, or walk down the hall, to find people who want to have fun. I’ve lived in big wards, small wards, and spread out wards, and I have to say, I liked the small ward in a large apartment complex. That’s a little rare– it was summer term. But there was always someone to go do something with, always a friend near by. Suprisingly enough, some of my best friends come from that summer ward. And even though we arent in the same ward together anymore, we’re still really close.
And again, what if you’re not mormon? You live with all of these people who belong to this ward, who worship together, and you don’t. Don’t worry. Tell your roommates, and even the bishop of the ward that you love your religion, but you want to be included. Going to ward prayer (which is mostly a social event), enrichment, ward activities, and service projects are all a great way to participate in your ward, even if you dont worship with them. They’ll be happy that you’re there.

And if all of these things aren’t just right for you, you can always move. Believe me, its all about trial and error.

I had no idea Heritage was remodeled for the 03-04 year… when I lived there it was pretty old. When it comes to dorms, two things matter: needs and price. No matter what dorm you stay in, the social atmosphere will be there. And, I highly recommend staying in the dorms as a freshman. I did summer term in the dorms, and then moved to an off-campus apartment my freshman year. In hindsight, it wasn’t a good idea. The wards are different, and living on campus as a freshman is just a better transitioning time… no matter how independent you think you are.

Anyways, as I recall, Hertiage was the least expensive, because you weren’t required to buy into a meal plan. DT was next in price range, and then Helamen Halls was the most pricey, because it was newest. (That might not be so true anymore…) However, if you’re trying to be a cheapskate and go for Heritage because you totally think you’ll cook… beware. when you’re tired, you’re out of money, and you have to make something… a meal plan comes in handy.

Otherwise, have fun cooking.

I think, given the number of people who keep their asides in the loop, I’m going to switch that setting to default that way in my next update.