OT: Copy protection software

snicholshms wrote on 8/2/2003, 12:46 AM

Anyone using a "copy protect" software to protect the CD-ROM, DVD or VHS tapes they produce for clients? I know most techno geeks can probably get around these things but many of my customers are not that savvy.

Comments

farss wrote on 8/2/2003, 5:03 PM

The only thing I know about is copy protection on DVDs. It can only be done on pressed DVDs at the factory.

With audio CDs I don't think there is any mechanis, to copy protect. Same applies to VCD and SVCD. The copy protection used on CDs containing software wouldn't work for other types of data on CD. Basically it relies on creating a defective sector which must b there or the code will not load. Its very easy to bypass usually.

Audio CDs I seem to recall had some form of sub channel copy protection that copying software was supposed to protect. I've never found any CD copying software that will not copy any audio CD so again I'd say its pretty useless.

RBartlett wrote on 8/2/2003, 5:44 PM

Whatever your target medium. If your product has a high value and you wish to protect yourself and are prepared to spend time - if not money on the ambition to reduce the loss of revenue caused by malicious practice.

You could watermark your work in a way which identifies your customer. A different mark per instance of the target. You'd have to document the method used should you need to take action. It could be on the whole video or the menu.

I've a suspicion that for DVD, the macrovision engaging feature is a flag in the VOB structure and one that doesn't need RC/RCE encryption - but I'm guessing. Most copy protection systems are licensed per target. It is probably about as painful as getting your own barcode for a product. So maybe the folks behind macrovision do their thing with more complexity than this to stop people enjoying their casual protection for free. Casual protection being stronger in the US, where any consumer equipment without macrovision "support" or that tries to counteract the various levels of protection available - are banned from trade and criminal to attempt to purvey.

Lastly - you could make up a front logo claiming to have implemented a previously unknown copy protection mechanism. With a threat that attempting to copy the media could physically break something - this might protect you enough? The likely success of this depends on the value and cost of an additional copy too.

I suppose the big home video companies have the power of quantity purchase for getting these protection mechanisms on $3 VHS and $6 DVD.