so there is nothing I can do to protect my work...

FBI Warning.
Hint that your company is not responsible for any damage caused to equipment being used to make illegal electronic copies.
Burn a stenographic fingerprint to each individual disc so that when a pirate version shows up, you can attempt to sue the ar$e off the original customer.
Maybe machine a hole into the disc after the end of the video but not before the end of the data. This might at least delay the imaging activity as the error correcting circuits kick in on the player.

Not sure if any of these are valid in all countries, or appropriate, but they are ways nonetheless.

My favourite:
Market your wares with extra materials that endorse the purchase. Just the same as cigarette cards and other promotional items have done before DVDs. It'd probably be the easiest and most fulfilling way to make your product coveted. Even the packaging can be the path to guarantee those extra loyal purchases.

Burned DVDs cannot be copy protected.
===============================

I'm not 100% certain that is true. I've certainly been of that opinion as well but I seem to recall some of the highe end authoring software does provide both region encoding and CSS encryption. Maybe it was possible all along, just that they wouldn't licence the code to anyone other than replication houses.

Either way it will not stop anyone who's determined.
As others have said, make the value in owning the original, not just what's on it. Damn we lost so much with the end of vinyl and laser disks.

CSS encryption keys can't be written to recordable media. Macrovision bits can be added to authoring (not general) media.

Jim

The solution is very simple, my friend. Send your DVD-R master to a replication facility and pay to have it transferred to DLT. They will use the DLT tape to make the glass master and will add the copy protection for you. DLTs are going for decent prices on E-Bay these days, at least here in Canada. Compare the cost benefit of paying to get your master transferred versus picking up a DLT drive, some cartridges and a SCSI card -- it is cheaper to do it yourself. Once you have the DLT save up for Adobe Encore and master directly to DLT tape.

I sure hope DVD-A 2 incorporates Encore's end actions and DLT export features! DVD-A is so much easier to use!

Peter

A question about being able to set Macrovision bits (as mentioned by JSWTS)
I Shoot, edit and sell DVD and Vhs tapes of music recitals for local music teachers. I charge $15 for DVD's. One group of 15 parents bought a DVD, put it in a set-top player and made 15 Vhs tapes. I charge $13 for VHS tapes so I smiled nicely and mentioned the loss of around $130 to them. They smiled back and that was that. How do I add Macrovision so they can't DUB my next set? Thanks

How do I add Macrovision so they can't DUB my next set?

You'll have to have them truly replicated - you DID want 500 copies? Authoring media, mentioned above, requires a special burner (Pioneer S201???) and the more expensive authoring DVDs.

Hmmm... Doesn't seem like a low budget option to me. I understand Macrovision puts a changing amplitude signal in 1 or 2 lines of the video signal's vertical interval. A friend could build a black box for me that would do that. If I then digitized this Video and burnt it to a DVD would it work? Any comments...

At that point, how would YOU capture it?

Ok, I don't know if it would pass the vertical interval signals, but I would feed the video into my DV camcorder and let it do a "pass thru" conversion of video and audio to DV (firewire). I've used this before to convert some beta (old, I know) format videotapes to (eventually ) a DVD.

But the point is to mess up copying. At that point, YOU are copying.

All the wierd stuff in the vertical interval will either mean you cannot copy it OR it'll be stripped during A/D.

But back to your original problem, even with Macrovision you're only making it harder, not making it impossible and it can lead to problems for people with legit copies.

Nonetheless these people are being pretty unscrupilous, doesn't sound like you're ripping them off so why are they treating you so poorly. I'd consider a threatening letter.

It appears that, although it might only be implemented for DLT with a cutter master file, the ability to add Macrovision, line 21 copy generation indicators and even a copy generation fingerprint (small stenographical technique) is valid for general media.

In the Macrovision (levels 1,2,3) mode:
The 2048 byte sectors become 2054 byte sectors. The extra bits then describe the number of valid copies that can be made. On the tail of this, when there are none-permitted, the Macrovision folks have the intellectual property rights on the use of the next bits to turn on Analogue Protection Systems:

1. AGC confuser (theory is that only a TV will adequately reproduce the composite video signal)
2. i) Colorstripe (NTSC phenemonen) a bit
ii) Colorstripe a bit more
iii) Colorstripe a lot

A person pays a license to Macrovision to do the any of the above. The generation descriptor itself is a DVD Forum/DMCA tool which doesn't itself earn Macrovision money.

So with the correct licensing by Sony for DVDA and then a user obligation to unlock a disc or discs for authoring, macrovision protection seems to be valid for regular DVD writers.

CSS is apparently banned from general media as it isn't in an area where a DVD writer can reach (however if a DVD writer can be made to do dual layers, maybe this capability isn't impossible).

I read a couple of sources via google to determine this. One source mentioned that the Pioneer A03 can write the macrovision bits but indeed not the CSS keys and thereby making encrypted sectors useless.

I think videographers are going to be pleased to pay something to macrovision that helps combat many DVD players from writing to many of the VHS decks out there (via composite).

The problem is that this doesn't buy much protection as the hard thinking rogues are a step ahead of this game as are some hardware producers who want the USP of being DRM bypassable. Still, fair use copy is illegal in the US and some other countries.

Again, i'd rather spend the money on a nice box than a half good copy protection mechanisms that have been defeated all too often.

The more people copy event and commercial work illegally. the higher the upfront costs have to become. For as long as video remains an art that is.

Macrovision bits can indeed be put on recordable media, for sure authoring type media. I have not read anywhere yet where it has worked on general media, but in theory it looks like it could be done.

I think you need to make your profit on the front end for the work necessary to make the first disc/packaging/and the like. Macrovision and CSS add additional costs for each disc, and makes some sense with mass produced media.

Jim

Hello All:
It would be a very interesting attempt to put Macrovision bits on line 21.
RBartlett, do you have any thoughts on how one would do this ?
In my earlier thought re: a box to put bits on line 21 then digitize the video, I will try recording an NBC news regular off-air TV show this weekend. It will have all kinds of test signals on lines 16 to 20 (or so) then see if it is stripped off by in the digitize and author a DVD process.
The few people that do this copying of my DVD to VHS think it's OK to do so even if I say please don't. I realize that if they play my DVD in a computer and record the VGA card's output with a VHS machine the Macrovision will be disabled but that level of sophistication is beyond them. As I said, this is only representing a $130 - $150 loss to me (actually thats a lot out of the $500 - $600 i make!!! ) It's the point of the thing thats bothering me. ( Wow, I'm actually for limited copy protection!!) :-o Steve

Steve, those people have a real cheek, especially as they don't seem to have hidden what they did.

Assuming you have some kind of copyright statement on the DVD or on its case, I would at least be tempted to give 'em a scare by writing a letter saying you were referring the matter to your solicitor, and they would finish up being liable for court costs .....

NTSC Line21 data might be an avenue to explore. Some 720x486 rotoscoping work I've seen put into an analogue to DV encoder has kicked one o two decks to misread the footage and has resulted in some anticopy method coming in to play. Masking early lines has helped, but maybe DV kit can't generate the data - not sure.

I'd suspect that the macrovision bits are something you could dabble with using IfoEdit after building a directory preparation set from DVDA.
Not sure what the bits to set are and if there is something proprietary about how this works (algorithmic etc). It is surely illegal to use this without paying macrovision. However if you don't jump ship early on DVDA, this might be your only route to adding DVD->VHS protection.

If you went to replicate your discs with CSS encryption and region code / region code enhanced key methods. Then if your customers are seen to be trading in counterfeit DVD and/or VHS, then they will also have been likely to have de-CSS software loaded on their PCs. Which means they should be confiscated within the USA as this code is prohibited from importation.

When all said and done, the value of the original media and the decency of your customers are both important aspects. Change one or both as necessary!

It is easier for me to understand why someone might copy a film that they would otherwise have never bothered to watch. An illagal act almost worldwide. However to blatantly image a relatively cottage industry product and boast to you is deplorable.

With regards to blockbuster films:
Harsh penalties for copying isn't the solution. Just as it wasn't for prohibition. Just a moral attitude and hope that the majority of viewers have put their money into the correct pocket.

Move onto your next project and increase your fees to cover these people of poor moral fibre.

1.) Yes you could get an authoring DVD burner and add Macrovision with another expensive settop box. But many authoring DVD-R will not play in the newest players.
2.) DVD Architect does not allow to add flags during the authoring process to even allow copy protection to be added. Encore will add the flags. But again the master must be a DLT and your minimum run will be 1000 copies.
3.) Every replication facility will tack on between .25 and .75 cents per disc for the copy protection.
4.) Copy protection is easily defeated. Try this as a test.
Take an S-video signal out from a DVD player to an edit system.
Most sytems easily strip off the copy protection and you can digitize to the edit system or pass through to re-record it.
5.) Do a google search for DVD rippers and see what you get.
6.) I did a few of those kids things and the parents are as cheap as can be.
If they really want to save a few bucks to do it themselves there is nothing you can do. SO next time every parent will have to tape it themselves.

I doubt you will do anything that will prevent copying by monkeying around with it on your own. If you do, then you might have some new proprietary method that could be sold to the highest bidder. I can tell you that copy protection for recordable media is something that has been well researched and looked in to long ago. To prevent DVD to VHS copying, you will need Macrovision. As I posted before (and others since), you need an authoring app that will legally apply that (otherwise you are just as guilty of not paying your dues as your customers are for not paying you) and pay Macrovision for the copy deterrent. Macrovision protected content works on our players and VCR's, because the makers of these players have entered into agreements with Macrovision to make machines that will comply with the copy protection, AND still play the media (although some older players may not). Doing your own thing runs the risk that it doesn't play well, if at all. In addition, if you are able to get it successfully onto your hard drive, then you know that whatever you did was stripped from the signal anyway.

Why not enter into an agreement for these sorts of things that the video/dvd's will be provided through the organizers of the dance recital, and that a minimum of "x" number of discs must be ordered for you to do it at all. Or you could have the organizer get a 'disc' count from the participants, and set your price accordingly. Figure out what you would want if everyone wanted a single copy, and if everyone orders one, then it could be divided evenly. If only 'one' is ordered, then charge the full amount. In the end, it's best to get the money up front for all, than trying to get it later.

Here's a link to DVD Demystified that explains the copy protection schemes in greater detail:

http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html#1.11

Jim

To be honest, I think it's pointless.
There are SO many ways to get aroud it, just search the web. programs that just do it all for you. If you wanted, you could even burn your own DVDS from commercial movies.

So the thought of copyrighting something that is kinda "DIY" or "home grown", is just not worth the effort even.

Well, I tried the experiment of recording video with Vertical Interval Test Signals ( off air TV) on my DV recorder. Looking at the resultant .AVI file, no VITS were evident either from the video card's video output or the composite output of my camcorder (just letting itdo a pass-thru DV to composite conversion). The recording / conversion process must strip signals in the Vertical Interval. So much for me recording my own Macrovision.
How do I tell my Pioneer AO-5 to record macrovision data on line 21 ???
Maybe it isn't possible with my budget. I want to keep using DVDA as it will let me use AC3 audio, plus I don't have time to learn different software.
I just taped a Choral Society Evening on Friday. I have orders for 42 VHS tapes, 21 DVDs and one PAL DVD. I know the numbers for tapes is down from what it should be by about 12. What I'm thinking of doing is putting the Tape charge up by $4 and enclosing a letter saying something like... " Due to un-authorized reproduction by certain people the cost has increased." and see how that goes over. Its that or not offer DVDs and I hate to drop that option just because of a few smart-a$$ people.

I think you're making the same mistake the music bussiness is making.
Spending millions on a copyprotection scheme that is hacked even before it is released to the public. Spend your money on making your product even better (and/or cheaper) or add some extra's in the form of posters, ...
Just my 2 cents...

Cya,
Yveske