diff --git a/server/src/ripstatus.ts b/server/src/ripstatus.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d30b7e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/ripstatus.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import type { DB } from './db.js'
+import { isConfidentMatch } from './matcher.js'
+
+export type RipStatus = 'ripped' | 'not_ripped'
+
+/**
+ * Resolution order per spec:
+ * 1. manual rip_override (non-null) wins
+ * 2. else a stored match_link means ripped
+ * 3. else confident fuzzy match against the user's digital_albums
+ */
+export function resolveRipStatus(db: DB, userId: number, itemId: number): RipStatus {
+  const item = db
+    .prepare('SELECT id, title, artist, rip_override FROM collection_items WHERE id = ? AND user_id = ?')
+    .get(itemId, userId) as
+    | { id: number; title: string; artist: string; rip_override: number | null }
+    | undefined
+  if (!item) return 'not_ripped'
+
+  if (item.rip_override !== null && item.rip_override !== undefined) {
+    return item.rip_override === 1 ? 'ripped' : 'not_ripped'
+  }
+
+  const link = db.prepare('SELECT album_id FROM match_links WHERE item_id = ?').get(itemId)
+  if (link) return 'ripped'
+
+  const albums = db
+    .prepare('SELECT title, artist FROM digital_albums WHERE user_id = ?')
+    .all(userId) as { title: string; artist: string }[]
+  return albums.some((a) => isConfidentMatch(item, a)) ? 'ripped' : 'not_ripped'
+}
diff --git a/server/test/ripstatus.test.ts b/server/test/ripstatus.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eae2914
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/test/ripstatus.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach } from 'vitest'
+import { openDatabase, type DB } from '../src/db.js'
+import { resolveRipStatus } from '../src/ripstatus.js'
+
+describe('resolveRipStatus', () => {
+  let db: DB
+  let itemId: number
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    db = openDatabase(':memory:')
+    db.prepare("INSERT INTO users (id, username, password_hash, is_admin) VALUES (1, 'sam', 'x', 1)").run()
+    db.prepare(
+      "INSERT INTO collection_items (id, user_id, discogs_release_id, title, artist) VALUES (10, 1, 100, 'Motion', 'The Cinematic Orchestra')"
+    ).run()
+    itemId = 10
+  })
+
+  function addAlbum(id: number, title: string, artist: string) {
+    db.prepare('INSERT INTO digital_albums (id, user_id, subsonic_id, title, artist) VALUES (?, 1, ?, ?, ?)').run(
+      id,
+      `sub-${id}`,
+      title,
+      artist
+    )
+  }
+
+  it('no album and no override → not_ripped', () => {
+    expect(resolveRipStatus(db, 1, itemId)).toBe('not_ripped')
+  })
+
+  it('confident auto-match → ripped', () => {
+    addAlbum(1, 'Motion!', 'Cinematic Orchestra')
+    expect(resolveRipStatus(db, 1, itemId)).toBe('ripped')
+  })
+
+  it('same title different artist → not_ripped', () => {
+    addAlbum(1, 'Motion', 'Massive Attack')
+    expect(resolveRipStatus(db, 1, itemId)).toBe('not_ripped')
+  })
+
+  it('match link → ripped even without fuzzy match', () => {
+    addAlbum(1, 'Motion (Remastered)', 'The Cinematic Orchestra')
+    db.prepare('INSERT INTO match_links (user_id, item_id, album_id) VALUES (1, 10, 1)').run()
+    expect(resolveRipStatus(db, 1, itemId)).toBe('ripped')
+  })
+
+  it('manual override wins over everything (both directions)', () => {
+    addAlbum(1, 'Motion', 'The Cinematic Orchestra')
+    db.prepare('UPDATE collection_items SET rip_override = 0 WHERE id = 10').run()
+    expect(resolveRipStatus(db, 1, itemId)).toBe('not_ripped')
+
+    db.prepare('UPDATE collection_items SET rip_override = 1 WHERE id = 10').run()
+    expect(resolveRipStatus(db, 1, itemId)).toBe('ripped')
+
+    db.prepare('UPDATE collection_items SET rip_override = NULL WHERE id = 10').run()
+    expect(resolveRipStatus(db, 1, itemId)).toBe('ripped')
+  })
+})