I do actually, another huge benefit to living in Canada is I will finally be able to see him on tour I have very good taste in music I have you know

Honey, I don`t doubt it for one moment

Well I think some of them actually have some protection on so that you can't keep copying them on to other locations or something...Not really sure...I do think this thread is over analysing the problem though...As mentioned it is perfectly legal to convert all your CD's to MP3 anyway so what about everyone with IPODs etc..I can't see them being stopped and asked to prove they have the original CD's..
I really am not sure how much time customs officers are going to want to spend looking through your CD / DVD / software collection...
Maybe it would be good for anyone to reply to this thread who has been stopped / asked about proving that they own the original discs for their music / software etc? I am sure this isn't a new problem..What about in the good old days of tapes...did they go through all the tapes and get you to prove that you had the original records, and what about video tapes of films that you recorded of the TV etc........I would think there would be some level of common sense applied....Going over with a suitcase full of copies of the same film would hopefully lead to some serious questions

What I have put in bold is about the worst advice given if you intend to check it in and expect it to still be in your suitcase when you open and unpack at the other end.

Every airline say on their website that you should never pack anything valuable in your checked in suitcase.

It is also quite pointless to lock the suitcase. Because once you have checked it in you have signed over every right to have it searched without your presence and if it is locked, to be broken in to. SHould there be any damage to your suitcase due to it being locked and them having to break the locks, you are not entitled to compensation.

Anything of value should always be in your carry on.

As for copyright law, Canada and USA are stricter than most other countries. In the days of the vinyl it wasn't even allowed to make a tape for yourself to play in your car.

As for software, at least here in Sweden, it used to be recommended that you make a copy of the floppy (remember those) and store the original in a bank safety deposit box. Thus enabling you to make a copy for personal use.

As for when you sell the software or music, you sell it with the license you purchased at the time. You are not allowed to keep a copy for yourself.

This is a good way to straighten out the thread and agree with all you say, what we really need is to find somebody that was actually stopped. Because I can`t imagine anybody wasting their time looking at what people have got on their hard drives or what cd´s they have got in their baggage as well. Which is why I said, that the postees should just take what they want anyway. The only reason the thread went into more detail is that a couple of people stated that the original OP would be breaking the law and running a risk.

Thanks - Wasn't trying to knock the thread or the posters as I subscribed to it before I posted as I was interested to see the outcome and peoples thoughts...I would suggest that, legalities aside, it is all down to the amount of risk you want to take..I for one have a load of "Backed Up" DVD's in case the originals get knackered and after reading this thread it has made me ask the question about whether to take them or not....I will almost defintely not...
I think when it gets onto questions about whats music / files / pictures you have on your hard drive or computer then that would be pretty much pointless to try and police...They would have to stop and search you for all manner of electronic storage devices..pen drives etc..you could even "smuggle" music on the memory card for your camera...Likelihood and therefore risk of them checking the contents of your hard drive and electronic media has got to be pretty damn low...Carrying CD and DVD copies on the other hand I would suggest carries a higher risk and is not worth the hassle..and that is not taking into account the legal rights and wrongs of copying stuff in the first place...
Cheers
Tim

i didn't say they were unauthorized - can they tell the difference when it's on your pc then?

re: music, what about stuff on your ipod? how can they tell if it's been downloaded, copied from a cd (via your pc) or bought legitimately via i-tunes?

think we're opening pandora's box!!

ps - just read the other posts and think this question has already been posed - sorry!

The idea that the customs might fuss over CDs and DVDs hasn't previous crossed my mind. When my partner moved here she brought copies of all her
CDs, maybe a 1000, as well as the originals, a back up of her hard drive and the hard drive itself. I mocked her diligence as I've never taken any back up of the drives on my various PCs.

Reading this site is enlightening, I find that I've routinely been breaking all sorts of laws I knew nothing about, apparently that's another one.

Sorry my mistake - hubby says he intends to put it in his hand luggage / laptop bag, not suitcase. Presumably this will be alright?

Yes, it hadn't crossed my mind before...I think for me the big issue would be having to explain this kind of thing when we were landing..Be it legal copies or not I don't think I would want to get into the discussion..Hard drives / Ipods and stuff doesn't bother me and I am sure someone could prove a case about it being a breach of your civil liberties if they wanted to interrogate your hard drive anyway

Wow have you never had a hard drive go? My dad had 2 go in the space of 2 weeks, and my husband had 1 go last year but luckily they were all backed up (phew!).

Sure, pcs break, they're quite fragile and I'm not especially gentle with them. I threw one out of a hotel window. I left one in the car overnight in winter and it never thawed. I sat on my backpack and broke the screen on one. On average I go through about one a year. I treat them as being disposable, like phones.

I can't see how such a discussion would get started. I think you'd have to give the officer reason to think there's something suspicious about your discs. I'd suggest not wearing a NAMBLA tee shirt or a swastika tattoo but otherwise I can't see that a reasonable number of CDs/DVDs, maybe 50 or so, would excite the authorities.

I think you are right....with the questionable robustness of some of the operating systems (Vista) It is best to treat the hard drive carrying your operating system as disposable and keep all your important files / pics / music on a separate drive or preferably 2....

Brilliant image of your PC being frozen over, hmmm never had that problem ever! Do I ask why you threw a PC out the window?

I have lost PCs in the past, one just recently, lost all my email contacts, web links etc. Stupid me, I didn't back it up even though I have lost stuff before.