A recent reissue of the blockbuster Terminator 2 contains a DVD-ROM version of the movie with a new anti-piracy technique: 5-day viewing licenses issued over the Internet.
The new digital rights management (DRM) system also looks up a PC's Internet address--if the computer has a non-U.S. number, playback of the DVD-ROM will be prevented.
The Web-checking system means that even if the DVD-ROM is copied, only one PC at a time around the world can play it back--bad news for DVD pirates located in Asia and elsewhere.
And anyone thinking of copying the movie file from the DVD-ROM onto a hard drive and sharing it online can forget it: The file is only playable from a valid DVD-ROM disc--again, only after online verification.
View: Article
News source: C|Net Asia
The new digital rights management (DRM) system also looks up a PC's Internet address--if the computer has a non-U.S. number, playback of the DVD-ROM will be prevented.
The Web-checking system means that even if the DVD-ROM is copied, only one PC at a time around the world can play it back--bad news for DVD pirates located in Asia and elsewhere.
And anyone thinking of copying the movie file from the DVD-ROM onto a hard drive and sharing it online can forget it: The file is only playable from a valid DVD-ROM disc--again, only after online verification.
View: Article News source: C|Net Asia
Digital Envoy, a provider of rights management technology, and SyncCast, which specializes in media streaming, worked together to create the digital rights management (DRM) system.
The system works with the DRM technology integrated into Microsoft Windows Media 9 Series and has been included in the DVD-ROM bundled with the Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Extreme Edition) disc set, shipped in North America in early June for US$29.98.
The set contains a standard DVD, but the DVD-ROM has a high-definition version that provides three times more video detail, SyncCast spokesman David Nichols told CNETAsia. The movie file is encoded in WM9 format, required for the DRM operation of Windows Media Player 9.
The PC playing the DVD-ROM must be connected to the Internet, so as to obtain a license. Content owners can decide which type of license to issue; 1 time play, unlimited play, expires after 30 days, and so on, said Nichols.
"In the case of T2, Artisan (the studio releasing the DVD) decided to issue licenses that have to be renewed every 5 days. You can get as many 5 day licenses as you want but each license is only good for 5 days," he said.
This allows, say, a notebook user to view the movie for 5 days while on the road and disconnected from the Web.
While Nichols did not reveal fully how the DRM works, it is understood that it requires the online verification of details such as the user's IP address and the unique IDs of the disc, movie file and computer playing the file.
"If the user's IP and address is in the region designated by the content owner and they have a valid disc they are issued a license. Users who we determine are outside of the designated region are provided an email address to contact the licensor to request a license directly from them," said Nichols.
"Once they prove they have a valid disc, we issue a license to the user's computer. The user can play the file on any drive connected to his computer that has the license. If the user tries to play the content on a different computer, it won't work. If the user attempts to pass the content off to a friend, it won't work," he said.
The same DRM system can also be used to protect movie streams or downloaded movie files. Despite the checks, no user information is sent to SyncCast or Microsoft without the user's permission, he added.
SyncCast's and Digital Envoy's system are examples of various DRM technologies being tested. In Japan, Sony has been offering movie downloads that are timed to "self-destruct" after a given time.
Yeah! That's the copy protection we should strive for! That's the spirit!
Isolating the market to US only sounds like an excellent idea, and of course no one from outside the US should be able to order the CD.
[/sarcasm]
you do have only one disc, you know
it's a protection against copying the file and transfering it to someone else.
what happens if you havent got net access?
cant people just rip it?
" I purchased this DVD and I can't watch it cause I have no internet"
I also do not see how this will prevent piracy. With these kinds of releases they are begging to be cracked. Now folks who bought the DVD will want to crack it because of this. Where are the terms of legal usage? I'm sure this DVD won't break any selling records.
So the DVD version could very well be ripped and converted.
but the WM9 will be a bit tricky
1) Get an HDTV capture card
2) Output the movie via DVI > VGA > Component Cables (Y, Cr, Cb)
3) Plug back into HDTV capture card
Cut, copy, pirate.
First, the regular DVD movie is on disc 1. It's a normal movie with .VOB files you can do whatever you might normally do with them. Watch them on a normal region 1 DVD player or rip them or whatever.
On disc 2 is a WMV file containing the ultra high resolution version. This version is MUCH higher quality than the DVD version on disc 1. You can copy the file easily from the DVD to your PC to anywhere. Feel free to upload it to the newsgroups or wherever. When the file is run, and it can only be run in Windows Media Player 9+, it uses the MS DRM software to determine: is it actually running from a DVD drive or elsewhere (this is easily defeatable, admitedtly). Then it engages license retreival from the Internet. You get a 5 day license. This means you can watch it as many times as you'd like in 5 days without needing an Internet connection again. When the five days is up and you want to watch again, it'll pick up another 5 day license again - as often as needed.
Now - the disc is clearly marked as region 1. That means the copyright holders have decided that it should only be viewed in North America. Like it or not, agree or not, legally that is their right and you are not being deceived. Region 1 marking and the fact it can only be played in N. America is clearly indicated.
Also, it specifically tells you that to view the high res movie on Disc 2 you need WMP9+ and an internet connection (plus tons of horsepower in both CPU and video -= think a minimum of Pentium 4 and Geforce 3; when I say high resolution I really mean it, this puppy is SWEET - the single best quality video I've ever viewed. Period).
So - they are excersizing their right to decide who views this and where. Don't like it? Don't buy it. Simple. The first run of the DVD has nearly sold out, by the way.
As for cracking the DRM? No one has done it yet.
As for capturing the analog output from your video card and burning a DivX copy back? Sure, go ahead. The quality will suffer greatly - there isn't a capture card out there that can handle the native resolution of this puppy -- and if you capture at reduced quality - well, you've defeated the purpose. The movie itself is easily rippable from VOBs on disc 1. Just snag those. The idea is, you can't steal the nice convienent .WMV file and post it or loan it to a buddy (p.s., it's larger than 4.7 gigs so you can't even fit it on a DVD-R)
The funny thing about this is that Artisan came to PR and promoted the new capabilities to local suppliers such as Borders and Blockbuster who proceeded to buy a lot of these movies because of the High-Res version. These movies are now bound to be returned when people finally figure out that the High Definition version is in Disc 2.
After watching the movie by making a dial-up connection to an ISP in Atlanta I decided to return it. The people in Borders had no idea that we had this problem in PR. And I was the only person that had returned the movie. This makes me think that many of the people who bought the movie either do not understand that the High definition version is for Windows only or they are waiting to see if the problem is fixed.
I would like to point out that the box mentions you need a Network connection, not an Internet Connection. Although you may argue that it is the same and internet saavy people know what they meant the average consumer will simply ignore all this hoopla on the back and purchase it based on the fact that if it is Region 1 it should work. But this is not the case.
In fact, I believe Region 1 has more countries than US and Canada (although I am not sure) and the notice you get is that it is only playable in US and Canada, it does not say anything about Region 1. If this is the case then they should have it in the box that the DRM system may be different than Region Encodings.
One last pet peeve. I hate the stupid DVD player they make you install. With all other DVD's it was not an issue because you could just ignore the Interactual Crap and watch the movie in WMP or WinDVD or PowerDVD or what have you. In this movie however, is install the Interactual crap or don't watch the movie.
Mario Acevedo-Bengoechea
Last edited by 8767 on 03 Jul 2003 - 12:02
Thanks for the info. That sounds ok to me but I still wan't to play it on a PC which deosn't have internet access. I may buy the DVD. The high def. T2 clip showcased on the MS Media Player site had really better than DVD quality but I think it optimized to run on XP and PowerDVD does a better job playing the clip the the MS Media Player. I tested it on WinME with 2.3ghz P4,512mb ram and a Gforce4Ti4200, the sound skips a bit, XP I think makes the difference.
Does this mean that we that don't live in center of universe don't get to see new movies in good quality but rather in RealMedia quality and normal versions, not any Extreme 200min new footage added editions?
So is it gonna b like winxp where if you cant do it over the internet you have to do it OVER THE GODDAMN PHONE?!?!?!?
What if you live out in the middle of nowhere? Only go into the city once or twice a year...no phone lines...your generator is your source of power...are you just going to be deprived of T2 goodness or what?
Oh no! I can't view .MOV files without QuickTime! I can't view .RM files without RealPlayer! Apple and RealNetworks are obviously monopolies!
these other formats can be viewed on linux my dear jaggedflame.
Even WMV's support isn't fully complete (last time I checked).
Anyone else still using VHS?
It's so cheap now nobody wants it!!!
The T2: Extreme Edition comes out on 2 dvds. The 1st plays on your dvd player to your tv. The 2nd is a dvd-rom? My friend has it and says it plays on it's own software not using WMP 9? It that incorrect?
I wish I had a fast computer to play this movie....
(for international call
Interesting anti-piracy ... i think theyll still find a way to get around it though
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