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Copy Protection for Your DVDs, Part 2

Feb 22, 2010 12:00 PM, By Jan Ozer

In the last issue, I detailed how to add VideoWrite copy protection to a recordable DVD using Microboards MX-2 Disc Publisher. As a refresher, VideoWrite is Microboards' brand for the Patronus copy protection from Fortium Technologies. In this issue, I'll report on tests that I ran to try to copy the disc and relate some discussions that I had with actual users.

First, regarding the tests, note that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) makes it illegal to break copy protection that's applied to DVDs, with fines up to $500,000 and up to five years in jail for a first offense. Before it was enacted, I wrote an article for a prominent consumer publication about how to copy a DVD to create an archive copy. With two children under the age of 3 at the time, and DVDs running $20 or so, it was pretty relevant to my existence.

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Then the DMCA passed, and several years later, the same magazine asked me to reprise the article, basically detailing in print how to violate the DMCA. I politely pointed out that detailing how to break the law might also be a violation, and that the few hundred dollars I would be getting paid didn't justify the risk. They agreed and that article never got written.

Long story short, I'm going to be circumspect about my tests and findings. If you check Fortium's website, you'll note a list of programs that they tested, and I started there. I downloaded several of the odious programs (Department of Justice, are you listening?) and found that VideoWrite worked as advertised—meaning that it prevented me from copying a disc using those programs.

Then I schemed a bit and thought of a workaround that actually worked. I sent a description to my contact at Fortium, who responded:

"Well done; this is a perfect example of why what we do is a moving menu! We were informed that this could be a vulnerability recently and because of that our current version—I believe you tested version 16—now stops this happening. More than happy to send you a copy if this helps you."

I did get the new software (version 19), and I'm happy to report that it did stop my new workaround. Overall, as we learned with DVD encryption, all forms of copy protection are breakable. Version 16, which I tested, would have deterred maybe 95 percent of the non-technical users of the programs listed on the Fortium site. The new version adds a few more percentage points.

How much is this protection worth? That's what I hoped to learn from actual users, so let's get to their comments.

Continue the discussion on “Crosstalk” the Millimeter Forum.
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