Don't know how much this will help you, as I don't do direct-to-ipod conversions. but to take the copyright off of DVD's, there is a free program called DVD decrypter. I then use DVD shrink (another free program) to make the decrypted file the size I want, then back to DVD dycrypter to burn it.
Maybe that will give you a place to start.
Maybe that will give you a place to start.