Hollywood Says It Could Get Burned By DVD Backups

USA Today ^ | October 30, 2002 | Jefferson Graham, (U-USA TODAY)

[an amused spectator]

Next week, the first commercial software that promises to let computer users make backup copies of DVD movies will be released, a product that has the potential to be Hollywood's version of Napster.

St. Louis-based 321 Studios, developer of DVD X Copy, plans to make the software available for download starting Monday at its site, dvdxcopy.com, for $100.

[an amused spectator]

I'll be happy to call it theft if Hilary Rosen, the RIAA and the MPAA guarantee replacement of my registered DVDs and CDs in case of theft, damage or loss.

Till then, the greedy swine can sit and spin.

[freedomcrusader]

I guess the VHS experience taught them nothing. They had the same complaints then, and it didn't reduce their revenues at all.

[longtermmemmory]

Anyone can make a movie. Anyone. distribution is the hard part. Studios are dependent on the distribution system in order to achieve the legendary hollywood book keeping creativity. (that is why each movie does not stand alone in the book keeping world, its always a slate of seasonal groupings)

Forget the big movies. What happens if a direct to DVD movie is finance by blockbuster and they ENCOURAGE renters to copy the movie. OR the rental includes the right to copy. It does not have to be Titanic to be profitable. The studios are under the mistaken idea they sell DVD's or VHS videos. They sell packaging. Packaging for a theater with group viewing, packaging for collecting, packaging for broadcast TV viewing and so on.

The studios are becoming the buggywhip company in an automobile world. They know this, so they are trying to outlaw automobiles. The "theft" they speak of is a red herring. There is more value added for the life of the copyright by keeping a movie circulating for longer periods.

[Mr. K]

hmmmmm.... very interesting.

[Lorenb420]

Your average movie in the store is on a 9.7GB DVD disk. For people with DVD burners (like myself), you can currently only get media that is 4.7GB in size.

So today I could copy any movie in my collection, however the problems with that are:

1. Need multiple DVDs to copy a single disc
2. You'll lose all the menus and have to re-create them

The article never even mentioned this, so I have my doubts if the software deals with these problems.

[apillar]

"The only test was in 1999, when a Norwegian teen posted a program to get around the encryption. The Motion Picture Association of America successfully sued to have it removed from the Internet."

And you can still get the program at any hacker type website...

[longtermmemmory]

the studios are trying to turn back time and outlaw the VCR. A big problem with the courts is that most judges are faily ignorant of technology. They depend on expert testimony and have no common tech sense to draw on. (some judge also depend on the competing lawyers to tell them what the law is)

[Lorenb420]

the studios are trying to turn back time and outlaw the VCR. A big problem with the courts is that most judges are faily ignorant of technology. They depend on expert testimony and have no common tech sense to draw on. (some judge also depend on the competing lawyers to tell them what the law is)

They are also going after Tivo and other PVRs, because people are using them to *gasp* skip commericials on TV programs. They are claiming this is illegal, and it's undermining their business.

[chilepepper]

Lets see... Hollywood is Leftist... The RIAA in Hollywood wants to impose draconian controls on what I see and listen to...

Hmmmmm... is there a connection between these two things???

May RIAA and Hollywood rot in hell...

[longtermmemmory]

If I buy a magazine and ignore the commercials have I committed a crime? NO

If I go to the movies and wait to enter the theater until after the 20+ minutes of commericals and previews, have I committed a crime? NO

If I tape a show off the air, and edit the commercials, have I commited a crime? NO

If I buy designer pants and remove the ridiculous designer tag on the back, have I committed a crime? NO

If I buy a used video/dvd have I commited a crime? NO

[1Old Pro]

For people with DVD burners (like myself)

I am looking for a DVD burner, do you suggest any particular brand. I assume that DVD's can be copied like CD's?

[Mad Dawgg]

"The studios are becoming the buggywhip company in an automobile world. They know this, so they are trying to outlaw automobiles. The "theft" they speak of is a red herring. There is more value added for the life of the copyright by keeping a movie circulating for longer periods."

Yuppers until the Digital Revoloution the Music and Movie industry had a strangle hold on Distribution of Media! Because before digital format a copy was not as good as the original (due to the noise barrier)

Now with digital 20th generation copies are still as good as the original and with the advent of the internet distribution is nothing. All one needs is a decent connection and you are in business.

The Movie and Music industries are huge bureaucracies which have had their foundations kicked out from under them and we will see it all crumble away in the next few years to leave a leaner meaner industry! Movies and music will rely on quality not if the backing of the industry!

[longtermmemmory]

It is not the loss of profit that terrifies RIAA or MPAA its the loss of distribution. Who needs the big studio if I can pay 50 cents and have my favorite movie downloaded.
(I may buy the delux box set for my library later but that is a packaging issue)

Consider BMWmovies.com. Not my cup of tea since it is a glorified infomercial BUT that is movie distribution sans studio. Subscribe to the entire season of startrek without the burden of upn. (you pay for electricity to sit in front your tv anyways) There is an attractive cost level that is attractive to the consumer. It must be waaaaaaaay lower than buying a ready package OR pay per view. It must must be less than $2.99. A price where it is easier for me to buy direct than to pester my friends or neighbors. The log jam will be broken when on studio/music company (a big big one not an independent) wakes up and smells the profit. THEN the others will sing the blues as they are bought up for penies on their former values.

[longtermmemmory]

One other point. Consider direct distribution as Union busting. If I as a distributor do not need RIAA or MPAA to protect me then they too go the way of the dinosaur.

[Lorenb420]

I am looking for a DVD burner, do you suggest any particular brand. I assume that DVD's can be copied like CD's?

I ended up buying a Dell for a new computer, and I got my DVD burner with that. It's a Phillip's DVD burner. It supports: writing of CD-R, CDRW, DVD+R and DVD+RW. It can also read DVD-R, but there is no write support for it. It also can't read DVD-ROM.

One of the drives I hear a lot of good things about is Pioneer A04. This is what Apple uses for their "SuperDrives" in Macs. This one can write: CD-R,CDRW,DVD-R, and DVD-RW. It can also read DVD-ROM dics, but has no support for the +R and +RW.

They just released an A05 model. I haven't heard much about it yet. From the marketing stuff on their site:

Pioneer's DVR-A05 drive doubles writing performance across the board with 4X DVD-R, 2X DVD-RW, 16X CD-R and 8X CD-RW capabilities. The new 4X DVD-R recording speed translates into approximately 15 minutes to fully record a high-speed 4.7 GB DVD-R disc. Using data writing software bundled with the drive, the DVR-A05 also offers two-minute quick formatting for DVD-RW data discs, and allows finished DVD-RW discs to be "unfinalized" for writing additional data files. A DVD authoring tool and DVD/CD data recording application are also included with the drive, as well as blank 4X DVD-R and 2X DVD-RW discs.

As far as copying DVDs like CDs. You can in some ways but not in others. As I mentioned in an earlier post, DVD Movies are on 9.7GB DVD discs, but all the burners on the market only support 4.7GB DVD discs.

So if you took a movie and copied it, you'd need 2 DVDs, plus you lose all the menus and what not, and you'd have to re-create them by hand.

If it's just data (like backups or an operating system) on a DVD, then you should have no problems, apart from a possible size difference in discs (9.7GB vs. 4.7GB).

[ken in texas]

I've been happy with my Pioneer A04. They've just come out with the A05 which supports faster writing. It handles the DVD-R and DVD-RW media.

If I were to buy one now I'd look seriously at the new Sony model which supports DVD-R/-RW as well as DVD+R/+RW.

The jury is still out on which of the two formats (- or +) will win the long term battle. With the Sony you can hedge your bet. Of course, other manufacturers will come out with comparable models in the not too distant future.

[1Old Pro]

thanks, I wanted to copy my wedding DVD for givaways and I also wanted a way to copy VHS and edit it and put it on DVD. My latest Dell purchase, I could have opted for VHS editing software but then I would have to put it back on VHS.

So I guess I'm looking for hardware/software which would allow copying DVD's and making DVD's and editing VHS.

[gaijin]

The 60's saw the emergence of a thinking that made grey-zone criminals into folk heroes. Authors penned works that bragged, "Steal This Book!"

For the libs, getting their own twisted way wasn't really satifying unless they could be really "in your face" about it; brassy and pushy is their cup of tea. Most of the time they did this with zest, even if they were not profitting materially.

Today, the copying music and movies is rampant, to be sure, but even those average Joes who copy online material feel some residual need to appear to be within the bounds of the law: a grass-roots culture that casts pirates in the light of being endearing, wiley folk heroes has not really emerged.

Why not?

For decades, Hollywood has been doing its utmost to tear the country down. Why now should the country for its part not try to tear Hollywood up from its own filthy roots?

Let us take a page from the Hollywood playbook:

"If it feels good, DO IT!"

Unbridle your selfishness. It is now a cause -- it's idealogy. Learn to banish your well-intentioned mercy, and recognize it for what it is -- : copy with zest. Copy often. Quietly steal huuuuuge volumes of Hollywood material, and encourage others to do likewise.

And as you steal from Hollywood, take some time to give yourself a good pat on the back; you're not doing it directly to their kids, now are you?

You're not a monster....

[Lorenb420]

thanks, I wanted to copy my wedding DVD for givaways and I also wanted a way to copy VHS and edit it and put it on DVD. My latest Dell purchase, I could have opted for VHS editing software but then I would have to put it back on VHS.

So I guess I'm looking for hardware/software which would allow copying DVD's and making DVD's and editing VHS.

For copying DVDs, you should be able to use your regular burning software. I use Nero, it can burn both CDs and DVDs. It's easy to use, IMO, and I like it.

For doing video editing, I've never really done that kind of thing before. The only software I can think of offhand is Final Cut or iMovie, but both of those are Mac only.

I'm not sure what people use no the PC side. I'll ask some friends and see what I can find out.

[an amused spectator]

Some great points, and an excellent post, gaijin.

You really like to twist the knife after you put it in, don't you? Paybacks are a Hillary, Hollywood, neh?

;-)