yes, every country has different laws, you can't copy CDs or DVDs leagally in the UK...
however, the poster who asked the original question is based in a university within America from his IP address.
and these forums are hosted in america. and there is a "fair usage" policy with regards ripping media that you've bought in America.
(you can transpose media, e.g rip CDs or movies to a computer if you have the original, this is illegal in the UK).
Programs that I've used are dvdx (freeware - google it)
dvddycrypter (freeware - google it)
and Slysofts AnyDVD (commercial - still google it).
I've never found a DVD that these can't rip.
with some DVDs you get copy protection errors, one way to get around these is to play the DVD whilst ripping it at the same time, playing the DVD removes the media locks that prevents copying it in *some* cases.