Copy-Protection DVDs??

rubyeye · Post by **rubyeye** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 1:33 pm

This little thread posted by TaranT in the music section about the eventual copy-protection of all CDs in the furture had me thinking:

http://www.animemusicvideos.org/phpBB/v ... php?t=5971

*** would DVDs ever become "copy-protected" or should I say Un-rippable? I know there's the Macrovision thing but would there come a time when we see an official declaration of somebody announcing the creation of new DVD technology that's copy-protected, as the music industry is recently attempting to standardize?

Personally I don't think it's time for us, specifically AMV editors, to start looking for a new hobby, since it's almost a guarantee that even if such an innovation becomes a reality, somebody, somewhere will "crack the code" as it were and teach the rest of us how to outsmart those corporate fuckers. (my apologies to any CEOs out there).

I've cited on that thead my argument for the un-marketable developement of copy-protected CDs and how MP3 technology would seemingly reach an evolutionary dead-end. But what kind of argument could there be for DVDs, other than censorship, if that even applies??

iserlohn · Post by **iserlohn** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 1:40 pm

I just bought my first DVD-Audio last night (Blue Man Group: Audio) and my PC can't read the audio sector for playback. I didn't bother trying to rip it, though, and with all the watermarking I doubt it would be easy to recompress it easily anyhow.

That being said, BMG rocked my world anyhow and on the flip side provided a 5.1DD and 5.1 DTS edition of the album (full bitrate for both IIRC) in DVD-Video (with some fun stills) format. This, of course, rips fine and can be downconverted to 2.0 for MP3 or CD burning easily.

With that in mind, I'm tempted to buy the CD version anyways - the tracks are different lengths and in a different order and the mix really does have a different sound to it. Damn them for coming up with this really neat marketing ploy...and I know the CD's not copy protected because I've got the MP3s and they sound ripped, not like an analog pass.

Where's all this ranting going? Simple. Virgin didn't need to copy protect "Audio" to get me to buy it. They put out a sleek, sexy DVD edition with about 15-20 min. of QUALITY video extras, liner notes on the funky instruments, and a fun sticker as a physical extra. All this made it worth my $18. If none of this was around, copy protection wouldn't matter - I wouldn't bother to pay for it new...and possibly even used if I weren't using it in a project.

The best way to copy protect your goods is to make them appealing enough to buy. Pity the record companies haven't figured that out yet.

Hakura · Post by **Hakura** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 2:12 pm

Even if the time comes where DVD becomes unripabble, there is always capturing from the tv.

Lose a bit of quality but you can still do what you love ^^

Rozard · Post by **Rozard** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 2:16 pm

Or like I said in the previous, some smart person will come along and crack it.

RadicalEd0 · Post by **RadicalEd0** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 2:25 pm

DVDs already are copy protected, with CSS encryption. In fact ripping a DVD has been declared illegal because circumventing CSS is breaking trade secrets (fancy term for undoing the copy protection).
The way DVD players read DVDs is by using a specific key to unlock the CSS.
DVDs would be un-rippable if it werent for Xing, who released a software DVD player but forgot to encrypt that key within the software. Some guy stole the code and implemented it into the first ripper called DeCSS.
Its essentially this code that all major dvd rippers are based on.

Its said that HD-DVD will have a much stronger encryption but as Rozard mentioned as long as there is encryption there will always be a way to circumvent it.

Mechaman · Post by **Mechaman** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 3:05 pm

In fact ripping a DVD has been declared illegal because circumventing CSS is breaking trade secrets

Actually, it falls under the DMCA. Just another friendly reminder to Americans to vote, and keep abreast of politics.

What's sad is that CSS is a pathetically mickey-mouse encryption method. It's like chaining your bicycle with one of those vinyl-coated light chains, and then hiding a skeleton key for the lock in a pouch on the bike.

Mechaman · Post by **Mechaman** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 3:34 pm

But of course, you don't need to take my word for it. Remember kids, weak encryption is just as bad as no encryption at all.

The Wired Knight · Post by **The Wired Knight** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 5:49 pm

DVDs like to stick with macrovsion and the encodings therof and technically they are copyright protected. Does that stop us? Hell no.

Chaos Angel · Post by **Chaos Angel** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 6:16 pm

Of course, as long as there is someone to argue for the consumer's right to make back-up copies of what they buy in the event that the original is accidentally destroyed or lost, anti-ripping technology will continue to be suppressed.

And, of course, there is also what has been said about there always being someone who will crack the code, so I fail to see how it will be much of an issue. Worst case scenario, we rely entirely on capture cards.

RadicalEd0 · Post by **RadicalEd0** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 6:36 pm

the quote was actually originally from the military department in charge of keeping hackers out of government files, and I'm sure their encryption is much more secure than whatever hddvd would use