A California judge's ruling against DVD-copying software is yet another erosion of consumers' rights in the digital age. By Peter Lewis

As consumers, we assume we have the right to make a copy of an audio CD for personal, noncommercial use. Example: I plunked down $16 for a copy of John Mayer's Heavier Things and promptly ripped it onto my computer. (That's the first copy.) Then I burned a backup CD (copy number two) that I listen to in my pickup truck. The truck is a hostile environment for CDs, so if there's a chance that the disc is going to be scratched, warped or otherwise damaged, I'd prefer it to be a copy rather than the original.

Unfortunately this means that you no longer can use DVD Xcopy to backup your DVDs onto your laptops for travel. This will probably not stop most of you, but be aware that it is now considered illegal is some states.