Copy Protection

For all questions & tips related to Casablanca video editors.
johnneumann
Posts: 142
Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:03 pm
Casablanca Unit: Kron
Contact:

Copy Protection

Post by johnneumann »

Hi Everyone,

After replacing a broken DVD burner, I've gotten my Kron back in use thanks to helpful advice on the forum. The Kron has been in mothballs for eighteen months.

I needed to get it back up to speed to edit and remaster a DVD I created. It's hobby quality, but it's my one lone commercial product to date. Because I was able to achieve my outcome of getting the new disc out without upgrading the OS, I'm still in OS 4.1c.

I want to copy-protect the DVD, but I don't want to upgrade to the pricey new OS just for that one purpose.

Does anyone have any advice for how I can cheap-cheap-cheaply copy-protect my little project?

Is this an easy favor I can ask around for? Or is this an expensive service that folks with the right software offer? :(

-JOHN
CKNewman
Posts: 604
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:56 am
Casablanca Unit: Windows computer with Bogart SE 13.3, Arabesk 7, Audio Effects Pack v1.2b, Motion 3D XL-1 Pack 1, Sentry HD-Backup, Disk Juggler, Power Key, Aspector, Chromit, Effects Pack 8, Effect Pack 9, PiP Studio 3, Time-X, Ultimate Spice Box HD, Slivers, PIP Studio 4 ; Older windows computer with Bogart 8.4, Arabesk 7; Kron Plus with SE 8.3, most Generation 2 software except for CB Paint, Columbus, titling add-ons, and graphics symbols. Various TVs and a Kenner Give-A-Show Projector
Location: Boston, MA
Contact:

Re: Copy Protection

Post by CKNewman »

Macrosystem announced this product recently. This was all the information I could find.
http://www.macrosystem.us/HARDWARE/Copy_Protection.html
Craig Newman
TimKennelly
Posts: 1806
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:40 pm
Casablanca Unit: No Casablanca unit currently.
Location: Clio, MI 48420
Contact:

Re: Copy Protection

Post by TimKennelly »

There are no cheap copy protect methods and there are no sure copy protect methods.
My mom always told me that happiness was the key to life.
At school they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up.
I said “happy" and they told me I didn’t understand the question.
I told them they didn’t understand life.


Tim Kennelly
johnneumann
Posts: 142
Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:03 pm
Casablanca Unit: Kron
Contact:

Re: Copy Protection

Post by johnneumann »

Yeah, I'm starting to see there are no easy solutions. I thought copy protection was just a piece of code you add to the encode that makes it less easy to copy a disc. Apparently there is more to it than that.

I called a DVD copying facility (one with a good reputation) and they told me they can protect my discs at about 25 cents a disc about the buck and a half I'll be paying for duplication and disc printing.

It's a special interest DVD. I don't know if that means the underground of followers would all know each other and would happily bootleg each others' discs ... or if it makes it a small enough market that few people would have enough of a network whereby to copy and distribute my work.

And of course, it only takes another piece of software to break the copy protection. Copy protection is really only to guard against folks who don't know how to bootleg a DVD.

Any of you guys have any incidences or anecdotes to share on the value of copy protection?

-JOHN
Hardy
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:27 am
Casablanca Unit: Prestige Plus / SE4.1/7.0
Contact:

Re: Copy Protection

Post by Hardy »

Easiest kind of protection would be some watermarking with a small or translucent logo. Disadvantage of this method is that the whole project has to be re-rendered.
Volker
Posts: 311
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:48 am
Casablanca Unit: equipment: Sony HDR-XR520, Sony RX10, GoPro Hero1, Actionpro X7, Canon Ixus 70, 2xEnterprise MAX with Bogart SE 5/6, Samsung 42" FullHD LCD, Samsung 22" DVI Monitor, Samsung 22" HDMI TV Monitor
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: Copy Protection

Post by Volker »

If your DVD is not filled to the maximum, there is a trick that could work to prevent duplications with most of the DVD-copy programs:
For example if your video is 60 minutes long, just add a second "dummy" movie with a black scene of 60 minutes length. Burn the DVD. Then use a knife or a screwdriver to add a physical scratch to the surface of the DVD. But do this at the outer parts only because that part only contains that dummy movie which can be destroyed at no risk.

I guess that many copy-programs fail to read and duplicate this DVD. But your DVD player still can play the "real" movie without problems.

Ok, please do this at your own risk...
Volker Hill - Germany
CKNewman
Posts: 604
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:56 am
Casablanca Unit: Windows computer with Bogart SE 13.3, Arabesk 7, Audio Effects Pack v1.2b, Motion 3D XL-1 Pack 1, Sentry HD-Backup, Disk Juggler, Power Key, Aspector, Chromit, Effects Pack 8, Effect Pack 9, PiP Studio 3, Time-X, Ultimate Spice Box HD, Slivers, PIP Studio 4 ; Older windows computer with Bogart 8.4, Arabesk 7; Kron Plus with SE 8.3, most Generation 2 software except for CB Paint, Columbus, titling add-ons, and graphics symbols. Various TVs and a Kenner Give-A-Show Projector
Location: Boston, MA
Contact:

Re: Copy Protection

Post by CKNewman »

So the DVD chapter menu would show two chapters but only one would play?
Craig Newman
Volker
Posts: 311
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:48 am
Casablanca Unit: equipment: Sony HDR-XR520, Sony RX10, GoPro Hero1, Actionpro X7, Canon Ixus 70, 2xEnterprise MAX with Bogart SE 5/6, Samsung 42" FullHD LCD, Samsung 22" DVI Monitor, Samsung 22" HDMI TV Monitor
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: Copy Protection

Post by Volker »

Well, ... yes.

Maybe you can hide this entry somehow in the menu by using a transparent icon / film name.
I did not think about that...
Volker Hill - Germany
LouBruno
Posts: 6446
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:49 pm
Casablanca Unit: STUDIO ULTRA ,SAPHIR, MS TRAVEL ..with ALL SOFTWARE, Cassie Travel Laptop PRO- Bogart Windows, MSI APACHE laptop with BOGART and all Current BOGART & Arabesk. Saphir 2.
GLIDECAM HD-2000, I-Pad latest, Sony HX-99..4K still camera

SONY FDR-53 4K,
, SONY FDR AX-700 HDR 4K video camera, GoPro HD2&3, SONY HDR-CX150 small HD pocket camera, SONY AX-53. Panasonic HC-20

Two Samsung BD D5700 Blu-ray players. OPPO 4K player.
JVC DT-V20L1 HDV monitor, All Music2Hues and Digital Hotcakes, Nikon D-80 still camera, NIKON D7100 HDSLR 18-300mm lens, D500 Nikon, 10 professional bicycles, two camels and a donkey :-) ........ Gocycle@gmail.com
Location: Lancaster, PA
Contact:

Re: Copy Protection

Post by LouBruno »

That's correct, the editor can also make an "EGG" chapter icon and shrink it into the menu.
Volker wrote:Well, ... yes.

Maybe you can hide this entry somehow in the menu by using a transparent icon / film name.
I did not think about that...
TimKennelly
Posts: 1806
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:40 pm
Casablanca Unit: No Casablanca unit currently.
Location: Clio, MI 48420
Contact:

Re: Copy Protection

Post by TimKennelly »

No offense Volker, but the long term durability of a burned DVD is already highly suspect and I consider purposefully damaging the integrity of the DVD to be unethical.

I know if I paid for a DVD movie, Wedding DVD, etc and found it had a significant scratch on it brand new I would be demanding an undamaged new one.

There is also the issue that pruposefully doubling the footage with a dummy video requires you to choose to degrade either or both the video and audio quality to make it fit.

My opinion is if you cannot run your business without either building the costs of software based copy protection into the product (it is not really that expensive with the new dedicated duplicators) or building the cost of estimated pirating losses in your market you should get out of business or hire someone who understands how to run and market the business.
My mom always told me that happiness was the key to life.
At school they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up.
I said “happy" and they told me I didn’t understand the question.
I told them they didn’t understand life.


Tim Kennelly
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 64 guests