The next generation copy protections
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| Posted by | Jan Willem |
| Posted on | 22/08/02 21:06 |
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The diffent way of making backups will probably mean you will not be able to play your backups without having additional software installed. Currently the freeware application Deamon Tools has already support for playing CDs protected by the next generation protections. What it basically seems to be doing is feeding the protection software data of the physical parameters of the orignal CD, while playing from the harddisk. Also the CD emulation software SimDisc of the German company Engelman media is able to this, as is Fantom CD from the Taiwanese company Copystar.
They use additional files that describe the physical parameters of the CD and this data is passed on to the protection software that, because of this data, thinks it is reading from the original. Deamon Tools is able to use .MDS files (Media Descriptor) and the products of Engelman media use .XMD (Extended Media Descriptor) files which seems to be basically the same. You can also write the image to a CD-R and mount this in the emulation software, but you will not be able to write it to a CD-R and play it wihout having additional software running.
The physical data of the CD that is stored in the files needs to be extracted and is likely to be a slow process. The data has to be read at least twice and to be sure you get the right data it will probably be read at slow reading speeds.
But as you see, this all in it's starting phase, in the time the copy protection evolved, also the software that was able to back them up, has rapidly evolved. Altough also the protections will probably evolve, the principes they are based on are discovered, and it is likely software developers will be able to keep on track.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the market of CD-ROM software, games and audio is still large and developers and artists are still convinced that by protecting their media with copy protection they will make bigger profits. Therefor new copy protections are still appearing on the market, making use of the differences between CD-R and CD pressing technology. Current mainstream protections are hard to beat, but next generation protections have made it almost impossible to make a backup that will run without emulation software. This is however not really a problem, there are already freeware applications that are able to emulate the latest protections. Tagé¨s seems to be first one to be beaten, it's likely more will follow...
It's unsure if there will be a 4th generation copy protection technology, as also a new media has appeared on the market, DVD. This technology standard incorperates a copy protection technology and will probably be the next challenge for copy protection developers and those that write software to beat the protection.
If you have any questions about this and want more information then I suggest you take a look at our Optical Storage Technical Discussion Forum.
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Posted by SirDavidGuy on Thursday 22 August 2002 23:50
[QUOTE]This is the principe were protections with names as Tagès, CDCops, VOB ProtectCD 5 and Star-Force seems to be based on[/QUOTE]
Ah, but we've figured out Tages now, and it will now be a short time before it's copied.
CD-Cops and Starforce have at least a theoretical work-around, using the Tages trick.
Ah, but we've figured out Tages now, and it will now be a short time before it's copied.
CD-Cops and Starforce have at least a theoretical work-around, using the Tages trick.
Look guys and girls, many of you would probably disagree with me. But but making the games and music etc un-copyable i think wont make a difference to profits. Because were i come from (NSW Australia)games are like about AUS$90 to AUS$80. And if the games are un-copyable we just dont buy them. So in fact they might loose profits.
I would like to here what you guys have to say about this?
Thanx Ogre
I would like to here what you guys have to say about this?
Thanx Ogre
Posted by amanvell on Saturday 24 August 2002 08:07
Re. Ogre's comments.
If I see a game I really want, that I know is good and will be a worthwhile purchase, then I will buy it (assuming I can afford it). Unfortunetely, most games that are released are IMO not worth me shelling out $AU90 for, so I grab a copy of them. If I couldn't get a copy, then I wouldn't go buy it as I don't think it is worth it. Perhaps if more games were actually worth their prices more people would buy them (how many people have felt screwed after shelling out money for something that turns out to be crap?)
If I see a game I really want, that I know is good and will be a worthwhile purchase, then I will buy it (assuming I can afford it). Unfortunetely, most games that are released are IMO not worth me shelling out $AU90 for, so I grab a copy of them. If I couldn't get a copy, then I wouldn't go buy it as I don't think it is worth it. Perhaps if more games were actually worth their prices more people would buy them (how many people have felt screwed after shelling out money for something that turns out to be crap?)
Posted by nEXusJ on Saturday 24 August 2002 18:23
(how many people have felt screwed after shelling out money for something that turns out to be crap?)
Me for one. I got a backup of Medal of Honor: Allied Assualt and it was a great game....until it ended. It was way too short for my tastes. i am glad I didn't buy it for $60 CAD.
(I can't believe how short it was............)
Posted by john107 on Friday 27 September 2002 11:40
this article was well constructed. The main thing to remember here is ANY protection ever invented can be broken with enough effort. We should not forget the people who spend god knows how long breaking this stuff.And I go along with the theory that only if software is a reasonable price and quality it can control piracy.
Posted by simsluvr02 on Thursday 21 August 2008 22:58
hi.. i have the sims 2 double deluxe... n i cannot play it because it says conflict with emulation software detected.. n i have no idea what emulation software is and how to find it on my computer so i can play the game..i no this is the wrong section 2 ask. but it was the only way i culd comment srry lol.. so will someone plz!! help me!
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