First download

Handbrake (Free) and you may also require VLC Media player (Free) and of course you'll need iTunes (Free) to transfer movie to your iPod.

Install those two needed applications

Insert DVD to be copied and stop DVD player and exit if it starts playing.

Open Handbrake

Click on Source and you'll get presented with a screen like the one here

Now it's important to customize Handbrake for your desired output, in this case we want the DVD to fit on an iPod so click on the top right of Handbrake to see the presets and select your desired output. We selected iPhone & iPod Touch and clicked on Start. If you need to identify what generation your iPod is you can click here

Once its finished you will get displayed a window similar to the one below

Now that the creation of the movie file from DVD is finished, now just double click on the movie (this example put them on the desktop) and iTunes will launch and copy the file over to your iTunes folder.

Just sync your movie with your iPod once you connect it. I created a smart playlist named kid movies. It automatically populates with Media Kind = Movie and Description contains Kids. Of course I need to right click on each movie and select Get Info and under the Video tab there is a Description box and I just enter the word kids so I know it is kid friendly. Now I just sync the kid movies smart playlist and it will sync the kid movies to my iPod when connected.

Works like a charm. Takes about an hour to convert from a 2hr DVD to mp4 file. Not bad for free.

Be careful you don't get charged for the copyright laws that I always see posted when I watch a movie I rented. Don't want to see you get in trouble for copying a movie.

Be careful you don't get charged for the copyright laws that I always see posted when I watch a movie I rented. Don't want to see you get in trouble for copying a movie.

I believe this is focused on those who profit on copying movies. So copy them then sell them to make money off something they had no hand in creating. I'm simply backing up the movie to a format readable on my iPod for my son to watch while on a 5 hour flight. I also am doing this to movies I purchased, not that it matters.

Thank You for your concern though and I do agree with you. If you are copying movies for the purpose of distributing the movie then you are more then likely breaking the law.

I wasn't sure what the laws state and it looked like you weren't sure either so I did some "research" and here is some information in regards to those warnings below but again, I don't see the harm in copying a movie to put on your secure iPod for the purpose of watching a movie on the plane. You aren't distributing it so I think you are okay but it looks like these warning could be twisted in the FBI favor if they wanted to.