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Movie pirates have often justified their DMCA violations by claiming that “they were just making backup copies”. And while this might seem like a reasonable enough explanation for cracking the copy protection on your new Blu-ray disk, it is in fact, highly illegal. It’s taken over three years, but “Managed Copy” is hoping to finally put the backup issue to rest by allowing users to make legitimate backup copies of their Blu-ray disks as early as next year.
For those of you who are thinking that this sounds too good to be true, it does indeed come at a cost. Current Blu-ray players will most likely not be able to decode the copied disk, and although this feature will be included in new players, that doesn’t help people with older hardware. The number of copies will also be heavily restricted, carry an unknown price tag, and if you want a PC friendly version, the result is a DRM-laced, Microsoft only file. This leaves iPod’s, Zune’s, and other platforms out in the cold. This might change before next year, but it seems increasingly unlikely when you consider that the authenticity check requires an internet connection.
I suppose something is better than nothing, and while Slysoft clearly has the superior solution,at least this one is guaranteed to be legal!
So, do you think Managed Copy will catch on?
(Image Credit: Engadget)
Comments are closed on this article
winmaster
June 16, 2009 at 11:54am
How would a Microsoft only file be unplayable on a Zune. Doesn't Microsoft make Zune?
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The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Tekzel
June 15, 2009 at 5:49am
I LOL at the various industries vain attempts to control how I use their products. And deny that, no matter how much money they waste, they ever will. I will make backup copies the way I always have, someone will always crack their DRM.
mclovin
June 14, 2009 at 10:57pm
I'd never use something like this that requires an internet connection. How can I be sure that the servers will still be up five years down the line? But more importantly, how will I watch my movies when the zombie apocalypse comes and the internet shuts down permanently?
BaggerX
June 14, 2009 at 9:34pm
This is exactly the kind of crap that causes groups like the Pirate Party to catch on. I hope we get a US wing of the Pirate Party going so that we can get enough people to start speaking out about how insane copyright law has become and get it rolled WAAAAY back to the very limited duration and scope that it should be. There are better ways, but those ways don't serve the entrenched groups that have bought the current laws, so they will fight them tooth and nail. It's going to take a pretty big backlash against them to get anything changed. The law should serve the public interest. Right now it's just corporate welfare.
Walnut
June 14, 2009 at 6:47pm
They just don't get it, do they? People aren't necessarily interested in the legal solution, if it involves spending money that doesn't seem like it needs to be spent. You bought the disc, but if you want a backup copy, you have to buy it again? However, buying it again seems like it'll be both easier and cheaper than this new legal option. This isn't going to stop anyone. People who want to make copies will, once again, crack the protection and make copies.
Burninator
June 14, 2009 at 6:21pm
"carry an unknown price tag"
I have to buy new hardware, new software, pay on a per copy basis to make this work, and still not be able to use it on multiple kinds of devices? With the cost of Bluray titles dropping, it would seem to be cheaper and easier to buy a second copy like the studios what us too if we want to stay completely legal. IMHO, if this is the best they can do, I'm going to continue to backup my titles in the same manner I already do.
nekollx
June 15, 2009 at 9:36am
to many of my discs are unradable. I copy everything now so when my dies becoems all borked i can still enjoy that which i paid for!
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Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
comptech08
June 14, 2009 at 5:56pm
okay now this seems like anti-trust, only allowed on a microsoft type file?
