encryption

Kevin Lee

Kevin Lee

Veteran
Is there a way to encrypt my dvds I produce? I was never worried about it before, I didnt care as it was just a hobby. Now I am spending so much time editing, I do not want people to copy my productions and give them out. This may be an encore question since I use that program to burn.
 
All encryption can be broken. Whatever safeguard comes up, kids with computers can break it. But you can protect yourself against the average consumer with no tech knowledge by adding MacroVision through your DVD burning software. That will scramble the signal if they try and make a copy DVD- DVD.

Are you charging money for the DVDs or is this just to protect the privacy of the work?
 
Actually, Macrovision is an anti analog copy protection scheme. It works by employing an amplitude modulated sync scheme that will cause "most" VCRs to fail to recored the analog output of a DVD player playing a disc that invokes the Macrovision flag. CSS is the digital encryption scheme and is accomplished by using a 2054 byte sector instead of a 2048 byte one. The problem is that CSS can't be used on recordable media, only on replicated discs. Both systems require a per disc royalty to be paid (usually collected by the disc replicator).
 
So if I hook up a standalone home DVD player to a standalone home DVD recorder, MacroVision will not interrupt the video to video signal traveling via Y/C or Composite?
 
No. Macrovision, being an analog scheme will in fact cause the analog recorder to fail to properly record the stream. Keep in mind that not all devices are Macrovision compliant (though most consumer ones are). A "home" DVD recorder connected via an analog video interface (composite, Y/C, component) will almost certainly be a Macrovision compliant device and will honor the sync modultated signal and not allow recording.
 
khmuse said:
No. Macrovision, being an analog scheme will in fact cause the analog recorder to fail to properly record the stream. Keep in mind that not all devices are Macrovision compliant (though most consumer ones are). A "home" DVD recorder connected via an analog video interface (composite, Y/C, component) will almost certainly be a Macrovision compliant device and will honor the sync modultated signal and not allow recording.
Click to expand...

So then that will scramble the signal if they try and make a copy DVD- DVD?
 
By "...DVD-DVD..." do you mean via analog means or by ripping the disc?

The Macrovision copy protection scheme is applied in the player (in the video encoder) but is invoked by a flag set on this disc. CSS (content scrambling system) is an on disc encryption scheme that makes file structure copy (just copying the VTS) unusable.

Without either scheme, any (analog or digital) copying method will be successful. Applying Macrovision will inhibit a compliant analog recorder from recording the stream, CSS will make a direct (un-decrypted) digital copy useless.
 
I have filmed all football games for a certain high school, made highlights including interviews of the players. (all with my DVX) I do sell these to help pay for supplies, and future upgraded items for my equipment. The kids just go nuts over it. All royalty free music I might add. Anyway, my concern is that they make copys for their friends, and family. I'll add extra copys to their order for a decent price, but would rather they come to me, than have a free for all.

I know about the decryption programs out there, I was just wondering if there was a simple protection I could do to it. I thought there might be a way thru Adobe products. So khmuse, do you think Macrovision is the way to go? Do you use this product?
 
Macrovision Does NOT work with half the products out there, they will output the source anyways.
If you can play it in a DVD player, it can be cracked
 
I use macrovision, but I tell you it's not gonna help you when kids are involved. They'll copy anything on the computer if they want to. You can goto DVD-9 (9GB capacity dual layer discs, which will discourage copying a bit), but I would attack the case from a different perspective. Have a clear warning at the start of the DVD, part of it reminding them who they're buying the DVD from, and that you're a part of their community (not big bad record company) and that copying the DVD is the same as stealing. Mention that someone can really get them in trouble if they tell a person of authority that they are copying DVDs at home. I would also keep the price affordable, make sure your advertising is prominent, and just remain a part of their lives.
 
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