What is Copy Protection?
Definition: Copy protection is a strategy employed to prevent the illegal copying or use of computer software and/or data. Some critics of software copy protection believe that copy protection impedes the legal software use. The vast majority of software is not copy protected but relies on the laws to protect their intellectual property. Copying of software is a violation of federal copyright laws and international copyright laws. Examples of Copy Protection Software: Trialware or shareware versions of software that offer 30 free trial after which the application software will no longer function. There are different methods of deploying copy protection. Some software developers release crippled versions of their software and only release the full version after payment is received. The copy protection software scheme that we are referring to is, however different, in that these are full featured software versions. Crippled versioning is not a true copy protection scheme. Trialware versu
Copy protection involves technological barriers which either prevent electronic content from being copied or make the task more difficult. The techniques used have developed along with technology, most notably the growth of digital content. Some systems have caused controversy, as users believe they unfairly restrict what may be seen as legitimate usage. The first popular form of copy protection was Macrovision. This was a system used to prevent copying of video cassettes. It took advantage of the fact that some of the lines used to transmit a television signal do not appear on the screen itself. By inserting a specially coded signal in these lines, the protection meant that any copies had badly distorted pictures. Most DVD recorders are set up to stop recording if they detect a Macrovision signal from a video recorder connected to them. When video cassettes were replaced by DVDs, the threat of illegal copying increased. This isbecause the content is stored digitally, making it possibl
Copy protection is the Holy Grail of the music and film industries. There have been attempts to make DAT tapes, and then CDs, and DVDs, and now MP3. These industry attempts have not been notable only in their lack of success. At the heart of the problem is that everything on a computer is a copy – there are no originals! To play a music file, or watch a video, or read a PDF document, it MUST be copied on the computer. And it follows that, no matter how hard you might try, something that must be copied in order to use it can also be copied! Not exactly rocket science. After all, you can play a music CD and record the output from the speakers if you want to, and no copy protection system on earth can stop you. It’s just a matter of convenience. So PDF copy protection cannot rely upon the idea that you can stop people copying computer files. It’s just plain stupid. So how do you obtain PDF copy protection? Well the first thing to do is make sure that the file that people have access to ca
Copy protection prevents software and data from illegal use and duplication. Right now thousands of software and data files are being stolen. Piracy is a hundred billion dollar problem and it is getting bigger. Copy protection has become necessary to release products into the world market and sustain a successful business. The fact is, once your product gets on a share site or the source code is stolen there is nothing you can do. Years of work stolen! The following links are primer to help you understand and select a good copy protection system. • To finding good copy protection is to understanding it. The Basics of Good Copy Protection • Understand the different protection methods and identify which one is best suited to you. Copy protection Methods • Why copy protect your digital content? The Benefits of Copy Protection • How the legal system deals with Piracy The Legal Side of Piracy Before you choose a copy protection solution you need to understand the impact it will have your bu
How does it avoid piracy? Content Scrambling System (CSS) In this copy protection method, audio and video data on the DVD discs are encrypted with a specific key that can only be decrypted by DVD players authorized by the DVD CCA (DVD Copy Control Association http://www.dvdcca.org). Each title will have its unique encryption key. Most DVD players sold in the US are equipped with the ability to decrypt scrambled data. CSS is carried out in the glass mastering stage of replication. During authoring, the CSS flag needs to be checked. For this reason, a DLT master should be submitted. Macrovision Analog Copy Protection (ACP) Perhaps the most effective means of copy protection, patented and developed by Macrovision, it boosts the ability to protect DVDs against being copied to VCR and DVD recorder. It causes recorders to make distorted copies, with no entertainment value. DVD CCA requires that all DVD playback and recorder devices sold in the US recognize ACP technology. Clients needing Mac
