Content Rights Management

dseils wrote on 11/12/2003, 11:46 AM
A growing area of concern for me as a content roducer is the ubiquity of DVD burning software and equipment. I am already being asked, "Can I make a copy of this?"

Unfortunately short of commercial replication or making my disks with Scenarist, neither of which make economic sense, I have no way of protecting my disks and hence my source of income. gone are the days when generation loss could serve as a deterrent to those who would steal my work.

In speaking to a software and content provider, I realize that I am preaching to the choir, but I would like to seriously raise the issue of where relatively low-volume DVD producer/distributers like me can go to protect our work? Is is feasible for Sony to team with the various protection licensing groups to make available ar reasonably priced licensing agreement along with implementations of the likes of Macrovision, CSS and CGMS?

Don Seils

Comments

kameronj wrote on 11/12/2003, 2:27 PM
Don,

Allow me to chime in for a moment. Although I can feel what you are saying -you have to understand this one little fact about digital replication.....that is - regardless of what protection is utilized if someone want to make an "illegal" copy....they are going to make an illegal copy.

It's that simple.

Macrovision, CSS, CGMS - it's not a deterrent. Hell...to some - it is not even a speedbumb.

I prices Scenarist (and I"m not in that range ... yet). And, currently my DVD production is limited to building my library of VHS tapes I've shot over the years and doing some general event DVD making (weddings, etc).

Sure, perhaps for a casual user getting their hands on a "protected" disk may stop them in their tracks when it comes to making copies....but for your hard core person who wants to do it - oh they will make it happen.

Luckily for me (and for the folks that run in my circle)...just because we know it can be done doesn't mean it has to be done. I would rather purchase what I need and stay above board. But that's me. But that doesn't stop people from doing it.

Heck, I've even found stuff I've produced (audio...that is) freely being traded on Kazaa. So you know that's gotta suck because I'm not getting paid for it. So it sucks.....but, evidently the twirps to have my stuff must have really really wanted it (and wanted not to have to pay me for it). So I hope it makes their life a little easier.

vonhosen wrote on 11/12/2003, 2:30 PM
I do agree with both of you (it would be nice, but CP isn't that effective anyway)

Problem is that DVD-R(G) don't support it & neither does DVDA.

As you've discovered Scenarist is an expensive option but then you have to replicate with that.

If DVD-A would support copy protection I think you can get around not having to go to replication plant by burning to DVD-R(A) discs, which support it . The only burner that will burn to these (more expensive ) discs is the Pioneer DVR-S201, which you can get for about $2000 in the U.S.

(It was $17,000 6 years ago.........ouch)
JSWTS wrote on 11/12/2003, 3:42 PM
Copyright protection for preventing direct digital copying for the most part can only be provided via replicated discs. The Macrovision bits can be written to authoring type recordables, but as vonhosen posted, you can only do that with the Pioneer S201 or similar burner--hard to find and expensive. You only scramble the video output signal with that anyway, so you are only preventing dvd to vhs type copying. The CSS encryption keys can only accomplished with replicated discs, and that's what is used to prevent widespread direct digital copying. If you are really keen on making digital copies, as kameronj posted, it doesn't take too much effort. It does take having a dvd burner and some knowledge how to use it, so for the most part, there isn't going to be widespread copying of small projects.

It makes some sense with Hollywood type discs that are mass produced and distributed to copy protect. The extra cost is nominal because of the high volume, and the discs that they create generally have a much wider appeal than small project content, and hence, greater opportunity for piracy on a large scale. IMO, the added expense just isn't justified for small volume work. The cost of the disc itself is just a fraction of the total cost of preparing and ulitmately providing your customer's material on digital media. I give an extra copy or two anyway, because the durability of recordable media isn't as 'tough' as replicated media and it doesn't take too much to get a scratch that makes the disc unplayable. Small volume projects generally have a narrower audience and appeal, so you aren't going to make your money on volume anyway. Make your money on the content creation itself, and not the actual physical disc. Just about anyone can take their home video and have it transferred to disc at WalMart and the like for very little money. If that's all the customer wants, they aren't going to pay for any extra bells and whistles we might provide. Target the crowd that does want more, and don't sweat a few copies here and there.

Jim
dseils wrote on 11/13/2003, 5:57 AM
Thank you for your responses so far, gentlemen. Allow me to expand just a little bit on my dilemma. for many of our DVD projects, the approach of pricing it right--making our profit on the content creation--is an adequate approach. We can cover our costs without batting an eyelash on weddings and most types of corporate work. We aren't out much if a client makes a copy or two.

But in the area of live events, such as dance recitals, plays, sports highlights, etc. where the cost of production is marginally covered by the sale of copies, we face new challenges as more and more people put DVD burners in their systems. Lowering prices to make it not worth their while to produce dubs of my work for their friends is not a viable option. I don't believe I could make enough in extra sales to cover my costs on the extra duplication work.

All of this leaves me very few options. One option would be to return to a marketing model that places the risk on, say, dance studios. They buy a guaranteed number of disks at a cost that would guarantee that my cost is covered. Great for large studios, since they would always cover the expense and then some. but smaller studios would suffer. THe only way we could shoot them would be to take a loss and hope that the bigger groups would make the difference. Not a model for longterm success. The other model would be to raise our prices to cover the cost of illegal copies we would otherwise sell. Chances are, that would be a wash since the price would be more than many customers would be able or willing to spend.

So there has to be another way. In one forum where I posed the same question, it was suggested that I create a "dummy" event and then subtly damage it so that when an attempt to copy it was made, the process would be interrupted by the damaged sector. Pretty interesting!

As was suggested, I know that there is no protection scheme that is foolproof. For the hardcore or determined individual, it doesn't make a bit of difference what you do. But for the majority of casual and nontechnical users, most of whom are honest individuals, basic copy protection would be enough to give them pause.

Don
JSWTS wrote on 11/13/2003, 2:37 PM
"So there has to be another way. In one forum where I posed the same question, it was suggested that I create a "dummy" event and then subtly damage it so that when an attempt to copy it was made, the process would be interrupted by the damaged sector. Pretty interesting!"

I think damaging a disc to prevent copying is a recipe for having dissatisfied customers when the discs don't play on some players. The content of the non-dummy/undamaged files can easily be extracted anyway to one's hard drive and then burned to disc. DVDXCopy Platinum will do this without skipping a beat, and it's readily available as a commercial product. If someone is bent on getting by cheaply, you're not going to be able to stop it.

I doubt many here used Macrovision to protect their VHS tapes back in the 'old days' before digital media. Those tapes could easily be copied, and if people were going to do it, they didn't mind the minor quality differences of a first generational loss. I would be upfront with those you are dealing with for event videography like you describe and your concerns and how it can affect pricing. I think most people will respect the issues you bring up, and very few in the end would copy. If you think the copying is rampant with a particular group, don't offer the service in the future--it won't be worth your time.

Jim