Posted by Goro on 03/01/06 15:00

syofcdyagwrq@yahoo.com wrote:
> Story here that copying DVDs for personal backup may be legal under
> 'fair use', if it uses a method which dodges the DMCA.
> A court in California will this month rule on the legality of an
> ingenious new software package that makes perfect copies of movies on
> DVDs even if they are protected with the latest anti-copying
> technology.
> The software has been developed by 321 Studios of St Louis, Missouri.
> The company says its DVDXcopy program does not violate the 1998 Digital
> Millennium Copyright Act, which makes it illegal to defeat
> copy-protection schemes.
> According to 321, the software is legitimate because it does not do
> anything that the DVD's copy protection is designed to prevent.
> DVDXcopy works by intercepting the digital video code just after it has
> been legitimately unscrambled by the DVD player, but just before the
> unscrambled code is converted into a protected analogue TV signal. It
> then saves the unscrambled video on the PC's hard drive before copying
> it onto a blank DVD.
> The copied discs play perfectly. It is even possible to copy the copy
> back to a hard drive, and then onto another blank DVD.
> Part of 321's case is that its product reinstates the right of
> consumers to back up their discs. The argument dates back to the taping
> of records in the 1970s, but few in the entertainment industry accept
> its validity.

?! I thought 321 went out of business years ago b/c of the CAD order
and that there was no DVDXCopy anymore?

from http://www.dvdxcopy.com/

CAUTION: Authentic DVD X Copy software is no longer being sold
anywhere. Many "closeout", clearance, auction and discount websites are
selling fake DVD X Copy Software products and "patches" that are not
authentic, CANNOT be activated or are cracked versions that DO NOT WORK
properly and/or that contain spyware. Beware of any sites that continue
to sell version 4.0.3.8 and that guarantee activation. DVD X Copy
products purchased from these sites are not authentic, not eligible for
support or updates and should be returned for a refund. For information
on alternative DVD Copy software products, click here.

-goro-

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