All files (c) Roger Pack 2010
All files released under the GPLv3 license [1] unless otherwise specified.  Ping me if you want/need this changed at all.

The edit lists, however are public domain.

Note: may call out to some 3rd party libraries/executables under their own (separate, open source) licenses.

So...is this legal?

Unclear.  In general ripping personal DVD's is legal.
And making "backup copies" of commercial DVD's (I think--I'm no laywer) may fall under fair use [3] .

It is controversial to use open source software to play/rip commercial DVD's.
There are a few conflicting views.  
Sensible-cinema doesn't actually do any decryption or decoding, nor has any knowledge of it.  
It doesn't even have knowledge
as to whether the DVD being ripped is encrypted or not.  We don't distribute sensible-cinema with
the ripping program, or any ripping codes, either (the user must install it later after being prompted).
You can ask the authors of that program if it is legal.  Apparently
libdvdcss (which the other programs that it calls out to use) has never been legally challenged in court (or so they say), 
and uses a slightly different algorithm than those that have, so the jury's out.
Also since we only call out to another (separate) executable, we're as legal as audacity calling out to winlame.dll for its
mp3 conversions, or perhaps similar to Handbrake calling out to VLC Media Player.  Use only after knowing the risk.
Using sensible-cinema is also might not be more unethical than ripping your DVD collection to your hard
drive so you can "keep your DVD's all in one place" or what not (which might be fair use), since it
basically saves away the original with sections removed.  Only original content is saved.
It's about the same as using VLC media player to watch a DVD, which also uses libdvdcss.
Also note that if you watch an edited DVD in a commercial DVD player, your are using a DVD player that conforms
with encryption specifications, so that might have some sway.
Note also that fair use at times does allow one to "record" things for personal use/backup (for example off the TV).
Note that sensible cinema does require the original DVD to be present when using it, also.

If general, if it's not legal in your country, then don't use it!
You are responsible for your actions and use of this program.
It is possible that the authors of sensible-cinema are not cupable of anything
regarding its use themselves, since they re-distribute no edited media, 
nor distribute cracking codes.  Check your country's rules first.
If it's illegal, don't use it!

Note: for sure do not redistribute/re-sell edited DVD's.  We have learned from clean flicks that
redistributing (well at least renting/selling) edited commercial DVD's is against copyright in the US.  We hope that sensible-cinema
is more legal, since you basically have to have the original DVD in hand.
Please don't redistribute.  If creating copies of commercial DVD's is illegal
in your country, then don't do it!  Use the "watch in realtime" option.  Unless that's illegal.
USING THIS SOFTWARE MIGHT BE ILLEGAL IN SOME COUNTRIES.
DO NOT MAKE ILLEGAL COPIES.

In terms of copyright, it could be legal under the The Family Home Movie Act of 2005,
at least in the United States, when viewed using the "playlist" option (v 0.10'ish, later removed--used VLC), or the "realtime" option (0.18.0'ish +, using mplayer).
In general, if I have the original DVD sitting next to my TV, I don't feel bad about watching
its edited copy, but please consult a laywer first if you have any concerns.

This program can also be used for editing home movies, etc (example, the "pack wedding" file herein included).

Note that this software might well be legal in the EU, 
as it is only software (if you watch it on your computer), and therefore possibly not subject to patents in certain countries
(see "What about patent licenses?" in [2]).

Also note that several ideas have been released in the code that are disabled in the final release.  Please see the blog
for release notes http://betterlogic.com/roger, as well as http://ruby-forum.com (ruby talk ML there), and rubygems.org
which lists the various releases, including release notes, when installed, and also github.com/rdp/sensible-cinema which,
lists commits and changes and release notes, and is publicly available.

A more ancient history of various brainstorming thoughts was described here:
http://betterlogic.com/roger/?p=2618

Note sensible cinema is distributed free for free, source code is also available (see README text file).

YOU MUST AGREE TO THE gplv3 in order to use this software.

Note also that we used parts of the 7-Zip program, that 7-Zip is licensed under the GNU LGPL license, see http://www.7-zip.org, where the source code can be found.

See also the README text file which contains some invention related notes.

[1] http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html, also gplv3 file.
[2] http://www.videolan.org/legal.html
[3] http://www.macworld.com/article/150731/2010/04/dvdripping_faqs.html

note also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_Decrypter