Hardly cheap either, it at least doubles the cost of the disk.

If it was something one could do yourself at $0.25 per disk it might be worth thinking about.

I beg to differ.

Last time I got asked if I could copy a commercial DVD, the question came from a Professor of Ethics. No kidding.

He had tried to copy to a VHS deck using an S-video cable and got stumped by the Macrovision protection.

Each producer will have to weigh the extra cost for protection against expected losses without.

It depends on the content and the target market.

Yup - complete waste of time and money. Even Forbes Magazine (11/22/05) points out that many DVD copy programs aren't stopped with RipGuard.

Steve

You're missing the point.

The manufacturer doesn't claim to stop all copying.

This product is for producers who want to prevent casual copying by non-technical people and less knowledgeable pirates.

I have had this be a substantial problem in the past, but I saw a large reduction after I put legal language about "fines and up to 5 years in federal prison for illegal copying, even without a profit motive" on my invoices.

Nothing like "Club Fed" to get people on the straight and narrow.

:O)

"This product is for producers who want to prevent casual copying by non-technical people and less knowledgeable pirates."

That's a good one - I needed a good laugh today.

Steve

Macrovision doesn't prevent copying. It just prevents making a good copy. I've seen lots of home collections of VHS copied from Macrovision protected tapes. They look AWFUL! Of course, they're usually done at EP/SLP too which makes it even worse. Yet, they happily watch them. I've even seen EP/SLP copies of these EP/SLP copies. I guess to some folks, quality doesn't matter as long as they've got the movie.

That's a good one - I needed a good laugh today.

Glad you can laugh, because there is nothing better than that.

All protection systems have been hacked.

not mine! if i find an illegal copier i have a baseball bat.....

i know, dream on....

leslie