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Managed Copy Concept Allows Copying HD Movies

Thursday, May 24th, 2007 at 4:40 PM - by

Under a concept called "Managed Copy," the AACS is developing a licensing agreement that, if approved by the studios, would allow consumers make legal copies of Blu-ray and HD DVD movies. The negotiations are not final, and consumers will have to pay for the privilege, according to ComputerWorld.

Currently, the negotiations are between the Advanced Access Content System (AACS) group which develops the technology and companies using the product, such as Sony, IBM, Disney, Warners Bros. and Microsoft.

AACS is proposing that the studios allow at least one copy and seeks to appease those critics that say movie copy protection (DRM) is too restrictive and deprives consumers of their Fair Use rights, such as moving the content to other devices.

The studios will decide how much to charge, if they agree, and must weigh the earnings against possible piracy by some customers. The AACS believes such a move will benefit the studios.

"We are optimistic that the studios will see this as a benefit that will drive sales," Michael Ayers, an AACS representative said.

Right now, with customers feeling somewhat annoyed by the DRM issue and the Blu-ray/HD DVD format war, increased sales would certainly be welcomed by all. It would also further differentiate the movie industry from the more draconian RIAA.

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A guest said: (hide)

Thu May 24, 2007 10:43 pm

I am not willing to pay for a DVD and then pay again for the ability to make a legitimate copy for my own use. Absolutely no way it's gonna happen. It's a great step forward I guess, but a step forward from that far behind the times isn't really that impressive.

And if it ends up being a MS technology you can bet it won't be cross-platform and it will be ridiculously complicated. I can't wait...

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A guest said: (hide)

Fri May 25, 2007 2:46 am

This is crap. The AACS is just interested in us paying extra to get SOME of our already existing fair-use rights back.

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A guest said: (hide)

Fri May 25, 2007 12:27 pm

Expect them to "decide to charge" about the same price as buying another copy of the same movie.

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A guest said: (hide)

Sun May 27, 2007 2:56 am

It ain't gonna work, bud. I know the piracy is an issue, but if they charge a fee and even put the amount of copies you can make, hackers are going to continue to break the protection locks.

The AACS right now is fighting a losing battle over the DRM debate, and right now, the Managed copy is just another nail in the DRM coffin.

Perhaps the only way the movie goers can do right now is to dump DRM all together.

Secondly, the AACS may think that they are ahead of the game, but allready, hackers are just jumping right back ahead of the studios, and they are just going to be confronted by more piracy.

They put a price, consumers are just going to get more annoyed being frusterated of having to pay extra bucks just to create a backup, and even more annoyed by the limited number of backups they create. Also, if they have to go onto the Internet, they are going to file a lawsuit over this as the "next Sony BMG copy protection craze" over this.

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