Me said:
Making one personal backup copy of any copyrighted work is legal as long as you own the original.
Oh, how I wish that were true.
Unfortunately most DVDs are copy protected with CSS encryption. Several years ago someone hacked that encryption with a very simple algorithm (so simple the code for it fit on a popular geek t-shirt), and when that hack was circulated onto the Internet countless DVD copying programs (shrinkwrapped, shareware and freeware) sprang up. The hack program/code is known as "DeCSS" (de as in decode).
Now, as I said, I wish it were true the making a personal backup of media and other copyrighted materials was legal. However, the "Digital Millenium Copyright Act" made it illegal to circumvent encryption and other security measures when making digital copies.
So, the fact that in order to copy most DVDs (as most are encrypted) you have to use a piece of software that breaks the DMCA law, clearly making a copy of a DVD for personal use cannot be legal by the letter of the law.
HOWEVER, I personally think this aspect of the DMCA is simply wrong, because it has, without such an intention, "undone" various copyright laws and taken away our rights as consumers to protect the materials we have bought and paid for.
So, I say, make your backups.
However, please do so with the correct understanding of the laws that apply.
TJR