BD+DVD copy protection supposedly breached

[spacedteddybear]

The second line of defense to prevent Blu-ray discs from being copied has been breached: SlySoft, a software company based in Antigua, West Indies, said last week that its AnyDVD HD 6.4.0.0 disc copying program can now "make backup security copies of Blu-ray discs protected with BD+."

The first line of defense for Blu-ray discs, the Advance Access Content System (AACS) copy protection scheme, was defeated in late 2006. Efforts to keep the 32-bit AACS processing key off the Internet failed spectacularly in 2007 when foes of copy protection schemes posted the sensitive number in a variety of forms on Digg and other Web sites.

The technology behind BD+ was developed by Cryptography Research and sold to Macrovision in November 2007. BD+ is supposed to serve as a secondary layer of protection to prevent Blu-ray disc content from being copied.

In the July 8, 2007 issue of Home Media Magazine, Richard Doherty, a media analyst for the Envisioneering Group, said BD+, unlike AACS, wouldn't likely be breached for 10 years.

SlySoft, in a March 19 press release, repeated Doherty's prediction and noted that it had succeeded in circumventing BD+ only eight months after his statement.

"We are rather proud to have brought back to earth the highly-praised and previously 'unbreakable' BD+," said Peer van Heuen, head of high-definition technologies at SlySoft, last week. "However, we must also admit that the Blu-ray titles released up to now have not fully exploited the possibilities of BD+. Future releases will undoubtedly have a modified and more polished BD+ protection, but we are well prepared for this and await the coming developments rather relaxed."

BD+ is designed to be responsive to attempts to circumvent it, so it is likely that Macrovision will be able to take steps to re-lock compromised Blu-ray titles. Indeed, Macrovision suggests such action is forthcoming.

"Macrovision does not comment on specific techniques or procedures that may directly impact the BD+ security technology," said Eric Rodli, executive VP and general manager of entertainment at Macrovision, in an e-mailed statement. "BD+ is a security response system designed to react to security attacks, not prevent them entirely. As part of this system, updated BD+ security code is continuously developed so that BD+ customers obtain ongoing value from the use of this technology."

I can dress my links

 

[sparky77]

I would definately have to believe that. I make backup copies of all my regular dvd's due to the fact that the kids handle them and don't want the originals messed up. Some of which where supposed to be next to impossible to copy, and using free software it worked without a glitch.

The problem with copy protection is that in order for a machine to be able to play the media in the first place it must be capable of decrypting the data. If a machine can do it on the fly to play it, it can be decrypted just as easily to copy it. The media companies are just wasting time and money trying to keep people from copying the media and consequently raising the costs when they could lower their prices enough that people wouldn't waste the time trying to crack the encryption and just buy the media.

 

[dobyblue]

Slysoft says they are "rather relaxed"

I wonder if that's how their customers feel who will start having to wait several months each time Fox changes BD+.

To date, all of Fox's titles with BD+ have all used the same implementation. Hitman is the first title to use a new BD+.

Guess which BD+ titles currently aren't cracked? If you guessed Hitman, you're right.

Now imagine the scenario where Fox changes BD+ on EACH TITLE and all studios start doing the same.


I asked Slysoft about Hitman and they said it normally takes 4 weeks for a disc to get to Antigua and Barbuda and they won't be able to do anything about Hitman until they get an original copy of the disc.

It doesn't sound too promising at the moment.

If they're able to keep new titles from digital piracy for the first four weeks to 5 months of a title's life, that's a massive win against piracy for the studios. The legitimate customers of Slysoft will no doubt be okay with this waiting period too, as they will eventually be able to back up their titles. Only the pirates get screwed, as it should be.

 

[patnshan]

This stuff makes me smile big time, thanks for the article. The movie studios just don't get it, do they? Produce a good product, price the product reasonably, and support a reasonable fair use policy and people won't need to copy it. Some musician's have gotten it now. NIN, Radiohead, Iron Maiden. They understand how things are in an internet ruled world and are willing to change their practices. More DRM is not the answer as the hackers are generally smarter and more determined than those writing the DRM scheme.

I don't copy many DVD's or Blu Ray, but it's nice to know I can if I want to I guess this is kind of like Blu Ray 2.0, I probably won't use it but it's nice to have the option

Pat

 

[skads_187]

hahaha, I cant believe they actually thought no one would be able to crack it this soon. Dont worry guys, because BD is fairly new, its going to take them awhile. I know for dvd's they are doing the same thing. Big movies like Casino Royale (on dvd) had different encryption, but slysoft has been pretty quick with the latest dvds so far (as far as I understand). I am guessing, maybe its a matter of time, maybe until they start getting the originals faster?
If their making a lot of money off it. I would move to US, no?

 

[dobyblue]

If their making a lot of money off it. I would move to US, no?

Umm...the reason why they're in Antigua and Barbuda and not the US is because if they're trying to break encryption schemes in the US, they'll go to jail.

Whilst you may choose to believe that if you buy something you own it and can do whatever you want with it, the laws decree otherwise.