Surprise, DMCA exists in one form or another depending on what county you are from. Thanks to WIPO around 200 countries have similar laws.

https://www.wipo.int/en/web/about-wipo/member-states

Is your country on this list?

To this point Congress was ready to eliminate the VHS home taping technology. Believe it or not Mr. Rogers came in to save the VHS from regulation death because he believed parents could record shows to watch with their children.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/29686/how-mister-rogers-saved-vcr

Notable quotes

“The VCR is to the American film producer and the American public as the Boston strangler is to the woman home alone.” - Jack Velanti

“I have always felt that with the advent of all of this new technology that allows people to tape the ‘Neighborhood’ off-the-air … they then become much more active in the programming of their family’s television life. Very frankly, I am opposed to people being programmed by others. My whole approach in broadcasting has always been ‘You are an important person just the way you are. You can make healthy decisions’ … I just feel that anything that allows a person to be more active in the control of his or her life, in a healthy way, is important.” - Mr. Rogers

Piracy is infringing on copyright. Ripping DVDs is most definitely consider a form of piracy. Although without sharing it, I think a jury could see it as non-infringing personally.

I do agree there is a huge difference between ripping media and downloading/sharing it as far as civil liability goes.

I take some umbrage with calling either ripping or downloading stealing though as it does not deprive the owner of their property. The correct term would be commercial copyright infringement.

Due to the DMCA by circumventing the copyright to rip your DVDs you are technically breaking the law. You would most definitely be considered a pirate.

I heard on AIM that Winamp is good.

I ran mumble for years, insanely easy setup.