Copy Protection for Your DVDs, Part 2

Microboards MX-2 Disc Publisher

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.

Related Links

Copy Protection for Your DVDs, Part 1 This past year, I produced about 12 separate DVD projects ranging in quantity from five to about 200 DVDs. Simplifying the printing and replication of these projects was the Microboards MX-2 Disc Publisher... NAB Show 2009 Through My Ears, Eyes and Sore Feet, Part 2 I''m back with some thoughts on the streaming side of the house, where some interesting trends are coming together. ... Distribute Review: Microboards CX-1 Disc Publisher My favorite products to review, at least initially, are camcorders and notebook computers. Every time I open a new one, it feels like Hanukkah morning.... Millenniata M-Arc Disc and M-Writer The story sounds almost too good to be true, but the technology behind Millenniata's "1,000-year" archival system got its genesis from a visit by a Brigham Young University professor...

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.

Figure 1. Mr. Video Productions has purchased around 150,000 Patronus licenses and no longer sells DVDs that aren't copy-protected.

I first spoke with Jeff King of Mr. Video Productions, which (according to King) is the largest producer of cheerleading, band, and similar competitions in the United States. One interesting stat off the company's web page is that the company maintains a database of more than 33,000 DVDs—each, of course, containing an event shot by Mr. Video.

Another stat that King shared was that the company has purchased around 150,000 Patronus licenses from his U.S. distributor, Nuvidia, and no longer sell discs that aren't copy-protected. He reports no known compatibility issues, and while he admits that the copy protection isn't foolproof, he estimated that it works 90 percent of the time. He's definitely seen a pickup in reorders, especially from events where he produced and sold DVDs at the event.

To explain, for some events, Mr. Video carries along a tower duplicator, printing the discs beforehand and then replicating them at the event. Before using the Patrous copy protection, post-event sales had dropped significantly, presumably because locals were copying and sharing the discs. Since the company implemented the copy protection, reorders have picked up "significantly," he says.

King also says that the number of his videos that appeared on YouTube without his knowledge has declined dramatically, further proof that most buyers weren't able to rip the discs. He also reported that when his videos do appear online, he notifies YouTube, which will pull them down within a day. Even better, YouTube has a "two strikes and you're out" policy, so accounts that are busted twice for displaying copyrighted content are shut down.

Figure 2. Nuvidia in Overland Park, Kan., reports no compatibility issues with the Fortium Technology licenses it has sold.

Next I spoke with Randy Hermance from Nuvidia in Overland Park, Kan., which supplies the Fortium Technology to Mr. Video Productions and uses it in its own business. Hermance reports having sold more than 175,000 licenses with no compatibility issues. Nuvidia's customers range from large-event producers that reproduce in the thousands to small-event producers working on a "per-piece" basis and whose business had been decimated by illegal copying.

Hermance says that when he hears from his customers that Fortium's technology has been circumvented, Fortium is quick to resolve the issue. He also pointed out that Fortium uses external agencies such as Next Generation Security Software and Intellikey to test the compatibility and efficacy of its software before shipping, which he says he thinks is a big plus for the technology and a strong selling point.

Figure 3. Kent Hepworth, who shoots and produces DVDs for several blacksmithing organizations, reports no compatibility issues or other complaints with the more than 300 discs he has distributed with VideoWrite encryption.

My last interview was with Kent Hepworth, a retired mechanical engineering professor who shoots and produces DVDs for several blacksmithing organizations, such as the Alabama Forge Council. A blacksmith aficionado, Hepworth started showing up at meetings, seminars, and tradeshows with his camera and produced DVDs for his own use. He showed the DVDs to the organizations, which requested permission to sell them. They became so popular that Dr. Hepworth had to buy a Microboards CX-1 and then an MX-2 duplicator to reproduce them, and he has produced more than 150 separate DVDs.

One of the societies reported that it was losing revenue from illegal copying and asked if there was any way to protect the discs. That's when Hepworth upgraded to the MX-2 and started using the Fortium Technology. He reports that he's sold more than 300 discs with copy protection with no compatibility issues or any other complaints, and that his customers feel more confident that they're not losing sales due to illegal copying.

Overall, these results were pretty impressive: no compatibility issues, increased sales, fewer videos on YouTube. The big question in my mind was accessibility. Do you need to purchase an MX-2 or similar big-iron product to use the technology?

I circled back with the Fortium folks to discuss how smaller producers could acquire this copy protection. It turns out that you don't need a special type of hardware. You just need a standard DVD recorder and USB port for a dongle. You can get the ball rolling by contacting Fortium.