Comments

bStro wrote on 6/13/2007, 7:01 AM
Copy protection is added by the replication / duplication facility when you have have a project turned into a "real" DVD (pressed, not burned). DVD Architect can add a flag to your prepared DVD files that indicates to the facility that you want this done. You'll find this option by going to File -> Properties,

It is not possible, with DVD Architect or any other software, to copy protect a burned DVD. Frankly, it's my opinion that copy protection on even pressed DVDs is essentially pointless these days anyhow. Just about any program that will copy a DVD also knows how to break Macrovision and CSS anyway.

Rob
ctrimarche wrote on 6/18/2007, 9:41 AM
Thanks for the reply Robert. I was under the impressing that this program would limit the number of copies that could be made from the master. You are correct about the copy protection being about worthless these days.
Andrew B wrote on 6/18/2007, 10:31 PM
Rob is right on regarding DVD-A and limiting copies.
I looked further into this for a recent project and discovered it was not very expensive to add protection. We did a limited run of DVDs and it was only a few hundred dollars more to add both CSS and Macrovision.
I would look at your audience to determine if it makes sense to add the protection.
Our end product was done as a fund-raiser for a non-profit performing arts company. The DVDs were low priced to begin with, but they were concerned that the parents would make extra copies for relatives. Most of these folks would have just hooked up the DVD player to a VHS machine (or used a DVD/VHS combo unit) to make lower quality copies. For this client, it was worth the small added expense and Macrovision stoped 99% of these folks from copying the DVD.
We also tried to make the original DVDs more attractive by adding special packaging. It makes it harder to re-create your product if the cover and disc label are really nice or the case is unique.
True, if someone REALLY wanted to make illegal copies of your work, they wil do it.
It was really funny when we helped them pre-sell these DVDs. A parent came up to me and asked if he would be able to copy the DVD (our signs mentioned that the DVD would be copy-protected).
I asked him what he did for a living and he said he was a PC Tech. I asked hiim if he could come over to my studio and work on my 5 PCs. I said it might take him a week or so to do all the work I needed done.
He said he would be happy to do it.
Then I asked him if he would do it for free.
He looked at me like I was crazy.
I asked him why he is asking me to work for free when he would not do it himself. Then I smiled and reminded him it was only a $25 DVD and ALL the money would go to his kids group. I asked him (still smiling) if his kids were worth $25...
He bought 4 copies of the DVD to send to the relatives.
I told him it was a good investment in his kids future. Plus the relatives will appreciate the higher quality product, replicated DVDs, and commercial quality packaging. He left a happy camper.
I'm sure he still made copies of the DVD though... ;)