321 Studios to drop DeCSS support from its DVD copying software
Posted on 25/02/04 00:24 by Seán Byrne                             
321 Studios to drop DeCSS support from its DVD copying software

Despite the Judge's ruling on 321 Studios, the company has announced that it will continue to sell its DVD-copying software but without the capability to descramble CSS protected DVDs.  Consumers who plan on purchasing DVD Copy Plus or DVD X Copy from 321 Studios must obtain a separate descrambling utility online before they can duplicate a CSS protected video DVD.

 

321 Studios still try making it clear that DVD owners have the right to make back-up copies of their original discs, but as expected they also have tried their best to prevent consumers and themselves from conflicting with the law.  GristyMcFisty submitted the following news from the Inquirer via our  news submit :

321 STUDIOS, a maker of DVD-copying software said it would continue to sell a slighty modified product despite a ruling finding it in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Robert Moore, founder and president of the company, said it would remove the descrambling facility from its DVD Copy Plus and DVD X Copy and continue to sell them. Users would now have to obtain for themselves a separate descrambler from the Internet, he added.

Moore, said the ruling, "swings the pendulum of fairness toward the intellectual-property holders, and away from consumers. I think it's swung too far the [wrong] way," AP reported.

321 Studios maintains users have the right to make DVD copies for themselves in order to have back-up copies should the original disks become damaged.

But last week, San Franciscan. District Judge Susan Illston gave the company one week in which to stop making, distributing "or otherwise trafficking in any type of DVD circumvention software."

 

It looks like anyone who tries making backup or copy utilities for copy protected DVD video and even CDs end up becoming enemies of the music and video industry.  While the red book Audio CD standard provides very basic copy protection flags that only standalone consumer CD-duplicators make use of, it does not stop others from tampering with the standard to make non-standard copy protected Audio CDs as we see on sale across the music stores.

 

With 321 studios barred from using copy-protection circumvention in their software, it looks like anyone who also tries making utilities specifically aimed at ripping protected Audio CDs will face the same trouble.  I wonder if PC CD/DVD drive manufacturers are conflicting with DMCA legislation by 'correcting' their firmware to read protected Audio CDs... 

 

Feel free to discuss and read more about CD and DVD copy protection technology and circumvention on our Copy Protection Discussion Forum.

Source: The Inquirer

Reactions
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By Mad Burner, Wednesday 25 February 2004 01:14
Mad BurnerI guess SlySoft is going to be selling quite a few more copies of AnyDVD supergrin
By musipho, Wednesday 25 February 2004 03:09
Yeah but they'll be next to get sued for sure.
By The Reverend, Wednesday 25 February 2004 04:11
Thier located out on some Pacific Island. The long arm of greed will have to stretch far to grab them.
By masterbw, Wednesday 25 February 2004 04:25
Don't need their own DeCSS ability anyways. DVD Decrypter + CloneDVD will do the job 100% better than this crap.
By Androlight, Wednesday 25 February 2004 08:19
AndrolightI don't understand that MPAA is spending so much money on sueing software that includes decss code. CSS is not a secret anymore. The decss code is spread all over the world and any attempt to regain control of it is wishful thinking.
By mdmaxus, Wednesday 25 February 2004 09:15
This proves that MPAA is run by old and aging money grabbing idiots, none of them have any understanding or logic on how to use this all new technology towards better tommorow.
By Crabbyappleton, Wednesday 25 February 2004 15:15
CrabbyappletonThey are gearing up for the dual layer burning technology that has them scared out of their wits! They want to make it as difficult as possible for any copying to be done. devil
[edited by Crabbyappleton on 25.02.2004 15:16]
By RaMDaY, Wednesday 25 February 2004 18:47
Anyone with half a wit wil use the free DVD Decrypter when the DVD9 come out anyway.
By DrK, Wednesday 25 February 2004 19:55
DrKThe proverb "Don't shut the gate after the horse has bolted" springs to mind...
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