Copy Protection

[Douglas Spotted eagle]

You cannot create a desktop-burned DVD with copy protection without purchasing additional software. Even then, it’s a challenge. You can embed HD in a PDF document and password protect the PDF if you want.

Douglas Spotted Eagle
VASST

Certified Sony Vegas Trainer
Aerial Camera/Instructor

[Rob Strobbe]

DVD Architect has the option to set the flag(s) necessary for copy protection, but that flag is simply an indicator for a replication / duplication facility to add copy protection to the “real” (meaning pressed, not burned) DVDs they create.

Burned DVDs themselves cannot be copy protected using the usual means (CSS, Macrovision). There is a company out there that makes a DVD copy tower that supposedly can add some kind of copy protection, but 1) it costs about a grand, and 2) I doubt it uses any of the standard methods. Probably adds a rootkit or something.

At any rate, these methods are a minor obstacle at best. Just about any program able to copy a DVD also has the ability to bypass protection.

The best method of copy protection (esp if you’re only making burned DVDs) is to make it worth people’s while to get the DVD directly from you. Quality packaging, friendly service, future discounts (if you’re selling), and all that junk. 😉

Rob

[Rob Strobbe]

“You cannot create a desktop-burned DVD with copy protection without purchasing additional software.”

So it is possible? Details / link, please? Not that I’d bother, but I am curious.

Rob

[Todd Roush]

Nice explanation Rob.

The problem is that my pay-per-video performing arts and dance business has moms buying one disk and copying them thinking they’re very clever. What they don’t realize is that they are losing their videographers because a once good business is now no longer financially viable.

There are 2 other methods that I use but I would love a software version.

1. “Disk contains special write protection that will damage the burning device.”
2. Leave a lot of black space at the end of the disk and slice the last few tracks with a jewelers knife. Have to be really motivated to do this.

Im not looking for foolproof, just a minor deterrent. $35 a disk worth.

Cheers,

Todd

Todd Roush
Dreamscape Digital Media
Canon XH-A1’s – Dell Studio XPS i7, 920, 2.66 gig,6 gigs RAM (soon to be 12) 650 gig SATA, 1TB eSATA external, 3TB USB(storage). 512gig ATI video card, 28″ HannsG Monitor, 24″ Dell Monitor.

[Nick Hammer]

Hi Todd,
Can you explain to me how you manage to add write protection to a self burned DVD, that will “damage” the malicious writing device afterwards ? (your described method 1).
Also, on your second method, isn’t it so that only the last VOB file (in a sequence of x files of 1GB) will be damaged and therefore the previous will still be duplicable ?
Thanks in advance for your response.
Nick