Ripping a DVD, what's the big deal?

So I've been trying to rip our raw wedding footage off of a DVD so I can edit it myself. It's my footage, I just have it in a DVD format and I have tried several programs to get the footage off of the DVD but none of them will write the thing in a format I can edit.

Is all of this copy protection from the film industry and the record industry going a bit overboard? I am starting to think that it's just a bit much. This footage was originally on a VHS tape and Sandra's dad made us a DVD with one of those DVD writers which transfers the movie from the tape to a DVD.

Unfortunately it makes it dificult for me to copy and edit my own footage. Otherwise I would have had some cool footage to show you, but instead all I get to do is complain. :o(

Maybe I'll have something for you tomorrow...