Ive been wanting to make my own home media server for a bit now along with doing some other things, but how do i do it can i use any tech device as a media server, do i buy a bunch of dvds and digitize them. what exactly are the steps that need to be taken?

  • Arghblarg@lemmy.caEnglish
    8·
    1 year ago

    Look into building a Linux or Windows (or Android TV box) ‘Kodi’ media server. Add a cheap external HDD to it and you’re good to go. Insofar as content …

    My knowledge here may be out of date, but at one time Canada’s copyright laws were very different from the USA. We as Canadians did (and may still) pay taxes earmarked for compensating all copyright holders; it was at one point totally legal to download anything, it just wasn’t technically legal to upload that same content for others to download. A weird situation, but maybe the DMCA’s been extended since via treaties to make that illegal even in Canada now.

    At least for the 1990s through the early-to-mid 20x0s, Canadians have always paid a copyright levy on any blank media (CD-Rs, DVD-Rs, hard drives and USB keys) that could conceivably be used to store copyrighted content. The media companies did their best to hide this from Canadians, but in effect, every Canadian was already paying SOCAN, ASCAP/BMI, Hollywood etc. for copyrighted content even if they never stored such content on their purchased storage media such as blank discs, hard drives or USB keys!

    As for ‘torrent’ and ‘magnet’ files, broadband providers in Canada must forward DMCA notices to downloaders if the copyright holders send them, but last time I checked these notices were basically toothless in Canada, and nothing more than scare tactics.

    Disclaimer: IANALNDIPOOTV (I Am Not A Lawyer, Nor Do I Play One On TV). Not legal advice. Sales Taxes Apply Where Required. Some Assembly Required. Contents May Settle During Shipping.